| Abstract Scope |
Material development and processes to integrate and join various components of the vehicle, are critical focus areas to VTO in enabling lightweighting of Vehicles. More importantly, the ability to implement sustainable automotive materials, and reducing dependence on critical materials are key targets for both the Material and Joining core programs. Vehicle lightweighting provides opportunities to increase electric vehicle (EV) drive range, reduce battery size and cost, and decrease emissions.
One material in focus is Magnesium. In FY23, VTO released DE-FOA-0002893 to stimulate and energize investment in Magnesium production in North America. The objective is to develop low cost, low carbon footprint methods of domestic magnesium production for vehicles. VTO is targeting expanding the current domestic landscape to include additional primary and secondary methods to produce magnesium. In addition, VTO’s current work portfolio includes work on Magnesium Joining and Corrosion, which made for a natural transition to the FOA topic. |