The editor recently watched an auto parts exhibition, and it was also a posture. It turns out that many parts in the car can be replaced by plastic. Not to mention the exterior or interior, some structural and functional parts are actually made of plastic! Lightweight is really getting crazy.
However, to be honest, sellers have been emphasizing light weight, but consumers don't care how lightweight the car is.
No wonder, the editor calculated the account. Some data show that the weight of a car is reduced by 100kg, and the fuel consumption per 100 kilometers can be reduced by 0.3L to 0.6L. If the oil price is calculated at 6 yuan per liter, for consumers, 100 kilometers will save 1.8~3.6 yuan.
This figure is also pitiful. Manufacturers have invested a lot of research and development expenditures, and only tens of hundreds of kilograms have been reduced. In the hands of consumers, the money saved can only be used to buy onions, ginger and garlic.
However, consumers are concerned: Are these plastic things really reliable? You must know that many consumers do not understand the use of plastic for bumpers, and feel that it is cutting corners, not to mention that structural and functional parts are made of plastic.
Plastic VS safety, is it really a natural contradiction?
On this issue, the editor also specifically consulted Stepphone Neol, Asia Pacific Director of Ingruijie Fuel Systems, which is a supplier of Auto Group (a supplier that mainly supplies plastics and related composite materials for auto parts). In fact, he said, instead of being dangerous, some parts were made of plastic and were safer.
First of all, the energy absorption performance of plastic is better, and the bumpers and anti-collision beams are made of plastic, which can better protect pedestrians and occupants in the event of a traffic accident.
Don't understand? Imagine if you were in a car accident, would you like to hit an iron plate or a plastic one? Someone asked, wouldn't my car be completely unrecognizable when it was in an accident? The editor will ask, is it more important for people or cars?
For another example, the fuel tank is also made of plastic to make it safer. Because in the event of an accident, the metal fuel tank may spark due to the collision. Although the probability is small, it is more likely to explode than the plastic fuel tank. Now, 80% of cars have plastic fuel tanks.
Another advantage of plastic is that it is more malleable than metal. Therefore, in terms of appearance design, it is easier to design some shapes to protect pedestrians and drivers. Reasonable anti-collision design can make the car fall forward instead of backward when the car hits the pedestrian, preventing the pedestrian from being drawn under the car.
These things turned out to be plastic
Even if it is safe and even has so many benefits, many consumers still disagree. But OEMs can't take it seriously, after all, the laws and regulations are there. Fuel consumption standards are becoming more and more stringent. In addition to the development of new energy vehicles, for traditional vehicles, lightweighting can be said to be one of the most effective means of saving energy and reducing emissions. Therefore, whether consumers care or not, lightweight is still the general trend.
After talking so much, let's take a look at which parts are now replaced by plastic, and let's rise and rise together. Don't panic when you see these parts are plastic in the future. Then don't forget to show a very understanding look to solve the misunderstanding of car plastics for others.