Aluminum alloy to reduce weight of the Lucid Air EVI quess, that as soon as they notice and test the incredible affect of small amounts of Scandium on the properties of Aluminum alloys they will deploy it to revolutionize the EV manufacturing.
AP&T’s new aluminum technology helps reduce weight of the Lucid Air luxury electric car
Making cars lighter, more energy efficient and safer is a challenge for the entire automotive industry. American electric car manufacturer, Lucid Motors, chose a new, innovative technology to address the challenge. The Lucid Air, launched in 2021, uses several unique, light-weight components made of hot-formed high-strength aluminum, designed, manufactured and industrialized in collaboration with AP&T and the fischer Group.
Developing the solution – simulations and prototype tools
During 2017, the development work accelerated, with the use of computer aided engineering analysis. AP&Ts forming experts executed FEM sheet metal forming simulations, which predict possible risks of cracks and wrinkling that could occur during the forming process. Lucid’s engineers leveraged the feedback from these simulations to iterate on the car body component design.
That same year, AP&T presented the first full-scale production line for hot forming high-strength aluminum to demonstrate the potential of the new technology. The innovation received the prestigious Altair Enlighten Award. This recognition confirmed that AP&T was on the right path and gave extra momentum to the collaboration with Lucid Motors.
In 2019 and 2020 tests were conducted to validate the robustness of the process and develop test data. While the design of the component is vital to fulfill the car body crash requirements, the strength, elongation, material and crash folding pattern all play a critical role as well. Lucid’s material engineers and car body designers collaborated with AP&T’s sheet metal process engineers and identified the ideal materials to meet the required component performance.
https://www.aptgroup.com/company/case-studies/lucid-motors