By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 18, 2015 : The National Aluminium Company Ltd [Nalco] chairman cum managing director, Tapan Kumar Chand wants more aluminium-intensive vehicle to reach the market.

“Use of aluminium in automobile industry has not only increased fuel efficiency but also reduced the vehicular pollution. While the developed countries use on an average 140 kg of aluminium per vehicle, in India it is about 40 kg only. Nevertheless, by 2016 the use of this lightweight metal in auto sector in India is expected to go up by at least three times,” Chand said on the sidelines an Auto Fest here.

In fact, at the global level, the leading vehicle maker Ford is making its 2015 model F-150 pick-up truck with aluminium bodywork. Earlier, the light-weighting benefits of aluminium have already been showcased in cars such as the Audi A8, with its aluminium frame, and the Jaguar XJ, built with an aluminium sheet-intensive monocoque body.

Stating that replacement of one kg of heavy metal by aluminium reduces 22 kg of carbon dioxide emission during the lifecycle of a vehicle, Chand said, “Most importantly, at the end of a vehicle’s life nearly 90 per cent of the aluminium is recyclable.”
“Initially, aluminium gained a foothold in wheels and transmission casings. Now, it is widely used in hoods, trunks, doors, bumpers and other structures. Breakthroughs in welding technology have opened up further vistas of possibilities,” Chand added.