Altair together with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) has announced
Ford Motor Company as the winner of the 3rd annual
Altair Enlighten Award for its use of various lightweight materials to minimize weight of the 2015 Ford F-150. The award was presented today during the 2015 CAR Management Briefing Seminars (MBS) in Traverse City, Mich. The Enlighten Award is the automotive industry’s first award program created specifically to acknowledge innovation in vehicle weight reduction.Ford’s entry, one of 17 nominations that competed for the award, was selected as the winner for taking 700 pounds (318 kg) off of the
Ford F-150 while improving its performance, safety, and efficiency. Ford engineers took a holistic approach to weight reduction by incorporating advanced materials into the entire design of the vehicle, including the frame, body, powertrain, battery and interior features such as the seats. The weight savings help the truck tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker and stop shorter, and it contributes to fuel efficiency.High-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloys were used throughout the F-150 for the first time, saving approximately 400 pounds (181 kg) from the vehicle’s body. Ford’s engineering, research and manufacturing teams overcame the challenge of shifting from the traditional steel body to the advanced aluminum production. This is a noteworthy example of taking aluminum to a high volume application.
Additionally, Ford increased use of high-strength steel from 23 percent to 78 percent. By doing so, it increased the stiffness of the frame while reducing the weight by as much as 60 pounds (27 kg). The 2015 F-150 established a new standard for full-size pickups by bringing together improved capability and efficiency, along with cutting-edge smart vehicle technology.“We are happy to congratulate Ford for winning the 2015 Altair Enlighten Award,” said Dave Mason, Vice President of Global Automotive at Altair. “It’s encouraging to see Ford implementing a holistic lightweighting strategy, which resulted in impressive weight savings that were incredibly significant to the judging panel.”
