Carbon fiber has always been the reputation of lightweight car trump card, Toray, Teijin, Mitsubishi Rayon three Japanese chemical companies occupy the share of the global carbon fiber half of the country, but this material has not been formally adopted in Japanese cars. Why BMW can come out on top?
 
The use of carbon fiber will greatly increase the cost of carbon fiber in automotive materials is the biggest obstacle to universal use. I3 in Japan, priced at 499 million yen (about 304,000 yuan), the product line in the BMW is not high. The reason why the success of the car to reduce the cost of the increase, to achieve the full use of carbon fiber, relying on the Japanese chemical companies and BMW's relations of cooperation.
 
A joint venture between SGL and BMW, a German manufacturer of large materials, uses Mitsubishi Rayon's original carbon fiber yarns, which are processed into CFRP (carbon-fiber-reinforced resin-based composites) using resins and other materials.
 
CFRP molding takes a lot of labor and cost, so previously only used for the price of up to tens of millions of yen sports car. This time, in cooperation with the three companies, the molding time is reduced to 10 minutes, so that the cost reduced to a practical level.
 
Joerg Pohlman, managing director of the joint venture, said: "The innovation in molding technology has been achieved by improving the stacking of carbon fibers.
 
In addition, i3's chassis is also under a lot of effort. EV before the basic are directly follow the existing gasoline engine car chassis, but the drive system to electrical system. BMW i3 in the large-scale use of carbon fiber to become a reality at the same time, also developed a special chassis for carbon fiber body.
 
As long as the i3 with the Japanese representative of environmentally friendly vehicles to compare, you can clearly see the lightweight i3 achieved considerable success.
 
Relative to i3 of 1260kg, Nissan's EV "LEAF (hear the wind)" to 1440kg, Toyota's plug-in hybrids "Prius PHV" for 1420kg. In the three cars, i3 motor maximum output power maximum, because equipped with a large number of will increase the weight of the battery. But nevertheless, i3 weight is far lower than the other two cars.
 
Following the i3, the BMW in 2014 will soon launch plug-in hybrid "i8" will also use CFRP body, the future will continue to increase the use of CERP models.
 
"The total supply of carbon fiber to BMW is expected to reach 8% of the global market." BMW has become the world's carbon fiber market has affected the existence of the development.
 
Active use of carbon fiber is not just a BMW car company. Daimler and Toray, General Motors (GM) and Teijin also launched a cooperation. Now, these companies are for the expansion of carbon fiber in the body of the adoption of technology development.
 
On the other hand, the Japanese car prices on the use of carbon fiber performance is more negative. This is the world's top three carbon fiber business partners in Europe and America are the car that can be seen.
 
For one reason, an automotive industry source pointed out that this is because the Japanese car prices and iron and steel enterprises are closely related to the reason. In developed countries, very few countries, like Japan, iron and steel enterprises in the industrial field has a high status. Toyota and Nippon Steel to live in the relationship as the representative of the Japanese car enterprises and Japanese steel companies like the "two legs" like mutual support, leading the world to develop lighter, more solid automotive steel history.
 
Through the use of cutting-edge steel materials, the Japanese car to establish a light fuel-efficient, safe and durable brand image.
 
For such a successful experience, the Japanese car enterprises development and production staff always prefer to use steel materials. Moreover, if the material other than steel, iron and steel to the premise of the automobile development methods and stamping and other production equipment must be replaced. One thing that can not be forgotten is that the iron and steel industry, which is the source of revenue for the automobile business, has also been "blocking" the car from being replaced by other materials.
 
Suzuki "full use of iron and steel"
 
In Japan, even high-end cars are difficult to replace carbon fiber and other cutting-edge materials, ordinary cars even more so.
 
Suzuki released a new generation of chassis in April. New chassis fundamentally adjust the structure, by improving the shape, so that the weight than in the past reduced by about 15%. However, the company stressed that "the chassis is not used to increase the cost of alternative materials, but the implementation of a comprehensive approach to the use of steel." Suzuki's output in the emerging market countries, in the company's view, in order to maintain cost competitiveness, as in the past to steel as the center is the best choice.
 
In the future, environmental protection and energy saving, driving performance, etc., automotive lightweight will become more and more important issue. It is undeniable that the lighter steel is undoubtedly a major pillar to solve this problem.
 
However, in the face of flexible thinking, to look outside the field of iron and steel enterprises in Europe and America, the Japanese car enterprises rely on the lightweight steel, I am afraid can not ensure that the lightweight competition to win. From the 2013 fiscal year (as of March 14) earnings report, the Japanese car prices have achieved good record, but they exist in the corner, perhaps it is recognized as Japan's strengths - materials.