The use of carbon fibers and polymer matrix composites enable car-body weight reductions of an estimated 25 to 70 percent compared to competing materials, according to IHS.
The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation's (IACMI) project will also look into how to decrease cost and cycle times, which currently limit the use of carbon fiber in automotive structural parts.
The growing trend toward "lightweighting" vehicles is driven in large part by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) fuel efficiency standards mandating 54.5 miles per gallon for auto fleets by 2025.
