LASER APPLICATION ENABLING TRENDS IN ENHANCED FUEL ECONOMY

摘要

To reach the target Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard of 54.5 MPG in 2025, car manufacturers are refining their manufacturing processes, and laser technology plays an essential role in assisting the automotive industry to reach this target. Laser technology contributes in a significant way to lightweight design. First, narrow welding flange and flangeless designs are made possible via conventional and remote laser welding. Furthermore, novel lightweight materials such as plastics, hot forming steel and CFRP are welded and cut with lasers. With more types of new materials come into use, laser based solutions show promising potentials to join dissimilar materials such as steel to aluminum and metal to plastic. In additional, lasers are used for hermetic sealing of aluminum housings and welding of contacts of Lithiumion battery for electric cars. For combustion engine vehicles, there are numerous laser applications including laser welding of powertrain components and drilling micro spray holes on fuel injectors, to enhance fuel efficiency.