With the growing application of aluminium in auto components, the fuel-efficiency of vehicles has gone up while vehicular pollution gone down considerably. Replacement of 1 kg of heavy metal by aluminium reduces 22 kg of carbon dioxide emission during the lifecycle of a vehicle, said Nalco CMD TK Chand.
“While developed countries use 140 kg aluminium per vehicle on an average, it is about 40 kg only in India. Nevertheless, by 2016, the use of this lightweight metal in auto sector in India is expected to go up by at least 3 times,” said Chand on the sidelines of the ETV International Auto Fest, which was inaugurated here on Friday.
“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 elaborated. But most importantly, at the end of a vehicle’s life, nearly 90 per cent of the aluminium is recyclable, he added.