Modern cars depend on nanotechnologies to enhance performance and sustain quality over time, from obvious solutions such as better paint, more durable and scratch resistant components, ultra-thin anti-glare layers for windows and mirrors to futuristic energy harvesting bodywork with programmable crumple zones.
Nanomaterials (NMs) are microscopic particles with sizes ranging from 1-100nm, which boast unique physico-chemical properties than bulk materials. As more applications use AM inks and fabrication techniques to incorporate nanomaterials, their incorporation is becoming an increasing trend.
Lightweight
The automotive industry is continuously searching for ways to reduce vehicle weight for improved fuel economy and safety reasons. A 10% decrease in weight can yield between 6-8% improvement in its fuel economy; one effective strategy to lighten a car is through lightweight materials like aluminum or composites.
These materials are more energy-efficient than cast iron and steel as they require less energy to accelerate, leading to lower production and recycling carbon footprints.
Nanotechnology has enabled vehicles to benefit from new materials with innovative features thanks to nanotechnology, including scratch-resistant, dirt-repellent, self-healing car paints and ultrathin antiglare layers for windows and mirrors. There are plans for more futuristic applications like power harvesting bodywork that captures solar energy to charge its battery while shape shifting skin can alter its appearance to suit its driver all achieved using high performance plastics or composites made of natural fibers.
Strength
Nanotechnology allows manufacturers to design vehicles that are safer, lighter and more fuel efficient by creating stronger materials and improving existing ones. Changes may range from making paint scratch-resistant and more durable, to designing materials which crumple under impact energy or capture and reuse braking power.
As environmental regulations become ever stricter, car manufacturers are being pressured into improving emissions and fuel efficiency of their vehicles by making use of lightweight green materials. One effective solution could be using new eco-friendly lightweight materials.
Nanotechnology can also be used to reduce harmful exhaust gases. For example, in petrol-powered vehicles equipped with three-way catalyst systems containing nanomaterials that quickly convert carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitric oxides to harmless molecules.
Durability
As vehicles become more advanced, manufacturers must balance efficiency and cost-effectiveness against ethical sourcing and environmental impact when selecting raw materials for specialized car fabrics or lithium batteries. Manufacturers must balance these demands.
Volkswagen Nanospyder futuristic concept car uses an intricate latticework of billions of programmable nano-devices as body panels; these dual as both power sources and heating or cooling elements. By doing so, this material reduces the need for microengines or other electronic components.
Durability tests are becoming an increasingly vital aspect of e-vehicles. With more cars opting for electric drive trains, car manufacturers must ensure that their new models comply with high durability standards without compromising performance and battery life. Simcenter solutions help car manufacturers meet this delicate balance by offering the appropriate amount of test coverage; our results reveal durability has a substantial effect on demand with estimated mean durability elasticities of around 1.7 and the competition effect being approximately 85-89% greater than cannibalization effect.
Energy Efficiency
Manufacturing cars requires considerable energy resources. Therefore, automobile manufacturers place great importance on energy-efficient production practices. Nanomaterials offer manufacturers an effective solution in terms of energy-use reduction – due to being lightweight yet strong materials they allow them to lighten the weight without losing strength ultimately saving fuel and reducing harmful emissions.
Nanomaterials can also help increase energy efficiency by decreasing the amount of power required to operate car’s electrical systems, since their compact nature makes batteries and motors last longer per charge.
Nanotechnology can also be employed to create an engine using platinum nanoparticles to convert harmful exhaust gas emissions to cleaner ones, significantly decreasing emissions from vehicles.