Technical Paper
PNGV Hybrid Material Automotive Body Structure Development
1999-09-28
1999-01-3224
In 1997, Multimatic became involved in a project that is part of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program. The intent of the program is to develop technology that will allow very efficient passenger vehicles to be mass-produced. Ideally, the vehicles will offer performance and features comparable to those of current production mid-size sedans while achieving 80 mpg fuel economy. The goal of Phase 1 of the Hybrid Material Body Structure Development Project was to develop the lightest possible automotive body structure for a vehicle based on a current production mid-size sedan. The resulting design was to meet or exceed the stiffness performance of the existing steel structure while achieving the highest possible weight save.
