Altair, a provider of software and cloud solutions in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics and AI, has named the winners of the 2023 Altair Enlighten Award. The award, presented in association with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), honours sustainability and lightweighting advancements that yield benefits in reducing carbon footprint, mitigating water and energy consumption, and that leverage material reuse and recycling efforts.
“The Altair Enlighten Award is a special award that showcases how the automotive industry’s leading minds – from the biggest names to its newest startups – are applying advanced technologies and responsible AI to create a better, greener industry,” explained James Scapa, founder and CEO of Altair.
“Lightweighting, optimisation and sustainability are more important than ever in the modern automotive industry. Altair is proud to honour the innovations that will drive the future of a sustainable industry.”
So which lightweight and sustainable innovations most impressed the awards panel across the six categories?
Module Lightweighting
Winner: Toyota, Adient, and Multimatic – IsoDynamic Seat, Accra SuperStructure
Multimatic’s Accra technology is a high-volume, hot-form manufacturing process that uses form-blow hardening (including rapid water quenching) to manufacture ultra-high strength (boron) steel. Thanks to these production adjustments, the process reduced mass by 17%, reduced packaging space by 40%, and increased torsional load strength in key areas by 30%.
Runner-up: Nemak – BMW HPDC E-bracket
Nemak has developed a new alloy material for high-pressure die casting (HPDC) and reduced the BMW E-bracket’s overall weight by 30%, resulting in a final weight of 16.74kg (36.9 pounds).
Future of Lightweighting
Winner: Marelli – Lightweight urethane for interior products
Marelli has developed a new lightweight polyurethane foam that can be applied to all foam-in-place (FIP) applications, particularly the main dashboard panel. It reduces part mass by 40% with new tooling, 8% from current tooling, and reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 80% compared to the current polyurethane foam in use – all while retaining a high-quality feel and appearance.
Runner-up: Solvay Specialty Polymers – Ajedium PEEK slot liners
Ajedium PEEK slot liners can reduce battery pack weight by 12kg (36.4 pounds) and the e-motor size by 4kg (8.8 pounds). Additionally, there is no requirement for high-power dedusting equipment or climate-controlled storage to prevent moisture uptake – which reduces energy consumption – since PEEK slot liners can be inserted via existing equipment. The reduction in aluminium casting motors uses less energy and material than before.
Honourable Mention: WorldAutoSteel, Ricardo plc – Steel body structures for fully autonomous vehicles
As the world’s first autonomous vehicle constructed to fulfil the most stringent crash requirements, WorldAutoSteel and engineering partner Ricardo developed a concept vehicle that features a 282kg (621.7-pound) body structure, and a 25% mass reduction over an expected reference vehicle. It also has the potential to reduce total lifecycle carbon emissions by 86%, which will help meet global net-zero goals.
Honourable Mention: Michigan Technological University for Auto/Steel Partnership – Steel E-motive side closure mechanism
By developing this mechanism using advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) instead of aluminium, there is the potential to reduce carbon emissions by a factor of three, while also reducing manufacturing costs.
Sustainable Product
Winner (passenger vehicle): Polestar – Polestar 2 MY24
The 2024 Polestar 2 features next-generation electric motors, faster charging, greater efficiency and longer range – now up to 654km as measured by the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Despite the significant increases to performance, range and efficiency, the Polestar 2 also boasts a reduced carbon footprint, with some versions now producing up to three tons less carbon dioxide compared to the launch version released in 2020. In addition, Polestar uses blockchain technology within its supply chain to expand raw material traceability and address social and environmental issues.
Winner (Class 8): Nikola Corporation – Nikola Tre FCEV
When developing the new Nikola Tre FCEV, Nikola emphasised recycling – 100% of car scrap produced in the production of pre-consumer batteries was recycled and/or reused, and 100% of hazardous waste produced during production was safely recycled. Nikola also implemented a circular reuse programme for all battery pallets, and the vehicle manufacturing process consumed no water.
Runner-up: Lucid Motors – Lucid Air sedan
California-based EV manufacturer Lucid Air has launched its flagship Lucid Air sedan, which has broken industry records for range, charging speeds, aerodynamics and performance. The Lucid Air lineup – with its core technology designed and engineered completely in-house – can add 300 miles of range in just 22 minutes of charge, carries an industry-leading aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.197, and includes trims with an EPA-estimated range of up to 516 miles and mileage efficiency of 4.6 miles per kilowatt-hour.
Sustainable Process
Winner: ArcelorMittal – Use of biomass for carbon-neutral steelmaking
The ArcelorMittal Port-Cartier pellet plant became the first in the world to substitute pyrolytic oil for heavy fuel oil on a continuous basis. By using this biofuel, produced locally by BioÉnergie AE Côte-Nord Canada, ArcelorMittal not only reduces its emissions but builds a true regional energy ecosystem by uniting the two great resources of the Côte-Nord region: iron and forest.
Runner-up: Brose Antriebstechnik GmbH, Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Berlin – Reman-Drive – Remanufactured E-bike drive
Brose introduced a remanufactured, lower-cost drive that saves 21kg (46.2 pounds) of carbon emissions per unit, while maintaining quality standards. The process recovers and restores previously sold, worn-out, or non-functional products to “like new” conditions and saves material, costs, and carbon emissions.
Honourable Mention: Kasai Kogyo – Kasai Hi-Papia, Kasai original sustainable material
Kasai Hi-Papia (KHP) is composed of 100% recycled polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and pure talc. In addition, material scrap from the KHP manufacturing process is reused. KHP has helped spread the recycling plastic market and reduce the amount of material needed by fabric manufacturers. KHP’s adaptable production system enables higher flexibility to support different recyclable plastic content in various regions.
Enabling Technology
Winner: Toyota, BASF Corp, and US Farathane – World’s first adoption of resin frame for IsoDynamic seat
Toyota converted more than 17 multi-piece steel parts into just one moulded part, thus using far less raw material and decreasing waste. In addition, the process also generated an estimated 20% cost reduction and a 30% weight reduction. This design is the world’s first adoption of lateral, vertical and horizontal dynamic motions, with adjustable dampers for the driver and passenger seats in off-road vehicles.
Runner-up: NIO – HPDC material and processing methods for efficient structural design
With the goal of minimising environmental impact, NIO used a new alloy material that doesn’t require heat treatment, and used a more accurate, more efficient laser-cleaning process. These changes reduced part mass by 31%, reduced part count by 98% (turning 54 stamped parts to one), and slashed manufacturing time by 60%.
Responsible AI
Winner: Volteras – A novel way to connect the electric vehicle ecosystem
Volteras’s API gives businesses access to electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem data with a two-week integration that would take organisations years to integrate otherwise. Its products allow organisations to reduce energy waste and emissions, better manage EV fleets, optimise charging across home chargers using its smart charging algorithms, and more.
