Did you know that transportation sector alone contributes towards the largest share of the greenhouse gas emission?
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are not just the wave of the future but also a more sustainable approach toward a greener and cleaner environment. EVs are a mode of transportation that uses electricity to function. Compared to conventional vehicles, EVs are much more user-friendly and convenient for the environment. They utilise an electric motor powered by electricity from batteries or a fuel cell, as opposed to traditional vehicles that use gasoline (petrol) or diesel-powered engine.
Therefore, to solve issues like increased pollution, global warming, depletion of natural resources, etc., electric vehicles are considered a potential substitute for current-generation automobiles.
Similarly, keeping in mind the environmental and low carbon footprint concern, the metal which is used popularly in the making of EVs is aluminium. The automobile industry depends on aluminium because of its strength, malleability, conductivity, reflection, and corrosion resistance. Aluminium is a light metal with a density that is around one-third that of steel.
Aluminium, a key material in both the production of electric vehicles and the development of the requisite charging infrastructure, is the cornerstone to the success of the EV narrative. The push for EVs is giving the role that this light and sturdy metal will play even more significance as a higher-performance metal.
Aluminium is currently preferred over steel for a variety of pieces, including the chassis, interior panels, shock towers, and housing for motors and batteries that power electric automobiles. Aluminium is also significantly lighter than steel.
The birth of the electric vehicle can be dated back to 1828, when Anyos Istvan Jedlik invented the first electric motor, which was later, used to develop the first little electric automobile, followed by Scottish inventor Robert Anderson who also created a rudimentary electric vehicle between 1832 and 1839. Even though the idea of electric cars has been around for a while, it has attracted a lot of attention in the last ten years due to the growing carbon footprint and other environmental effects of fuel-powered cars.
As per the sources, the Tesla vehicle models employ about 200 kg of aluminium to keep their entire weight to around 2,000 kg. The body and chassis of the Tesla Model S are made almost completely of aluminium, which is extracted from bauxite ore. Because aluminium is lightweight, the battery's range may be increased beyond that of conventional EVs.
In the manufacturing of electric cars and in the aerospace industry, where it helps reduce overall structure weight while maintaining structural strength, aluminium is the most affordable and lightweight metal used. On average, each electric car is thought to contain about 250 kg of aluminium. Automobiles with aluminium bodywork cost more than those with steel bodies as a result.
