Feasibility Study on Ultra Lightweight Vehicles using CFRP : Estimation of the Effect on Long-Term CO2 Emission and Oil Consumption

Abstract

Substitution of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) for the structural material of transport vehicle is quite effective in mass reduction, fuel efficiency and, hence, the mitigation of global warming. In this paper, life cycle energy consumption and CO2 emission of gasoline and fuel cell vehicles are estimated first in both conservative and ultra lightweight cases. Then the effect of these ultra lightweight automobiles on the world-wide CO2 reduction from 2010 to 2040 is simulated under the Asian motorization.