The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), commented Monday on the release of the draft Technical Assessment Report (TAR) by the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Transportation and California’s Air Resources Board. The report – the first step in the mid-term evaluation of fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions regulations, examines a wide range of technology factors relevant to the 2022-2025 model year standards.
“As noted in today’s report, mass reduction is an important contributor to fuel economy and we continue to work with automakers on solutions utilizing advance high-strength steels (AHSS),” said Lawrence W. Kavanagh, president of SMDI. “The mass reduction and overall value delivered with these advanced steel grades are why they are the fastest growing class of automotive material.”
As automakers look for solutions to reduce vehicle mass and increase fuel economy, material selection is an important factor. AHSS meets these requirements with the lowest emissions impact as noted in the recently released Importance of the Production Phase in Vehicle Life Cycle GHG Emissions white paper.
“The North American steel industry collaborates with automakers to ensure the development of new, advanced steel technologies will significantly contribute to meeting fuel economy requirements,” said Dr. Jody Hall, vice president, automotive market for SMDI. “In addition to reducing tailpipe emissions, steel’s lower material production emissions compared to alternative materials could provide further reductions from the transportation sector."