Project description and overview:

Volgren together with the project participants, CleanTeQ, Hess, and Deakin University, have identified an opportunity in the global bus manufacturing industry to commercialise their research on super high strength aluminium alloys to reduce the weight of bus bodies and chassis.

Over the past 2 years, research undertaken by Deakin University and CleanTeQ has developed high strength aluminium alloys containing small additions of scandium, a rare earth metal that has the ability to substantially increase the strength of aluminium and therefore reduce the overall vehicle weights. The resulting product is seen as a significant contributor towards developing the next generation of lightweight aluminium electric vehicles.

The benefits of the new aluminium alloy include:

• 20% increase in strength
• 30% reduction in weight
• 25% reduction in component cost
• Enhanced corrosion resistance
• No impact on extrudability
• Better surface finish on extruded components
• Reduction in fuel/energy costs as a result of reduced vehicle weight
• Reduction in carbon emissions as a result of reduced vehicle weight

To further realise this opportunity, the project participants must now:

1. Optimise and confirm final aluminium alloy composition for a practised bus chassis application
2. Produce and test prototype the components for validation of the performance characteristics of the new aluminium alloy in a bus body and chassis.

The project will allow Volgren to use the patented technology in the manufacture of their buses, providing a competitive advantage both domestically and internationally, and an entry into electric vehicle manufacture where weight is a major factor, and across multiple sectors where strength to weight ratios of alloys are critical.