Lightweighting

[malcolm]

Various items:

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (http://www.imeche.org/events/event.asp?id=825)

The Disputed Cost of Light, Strong Cars - Beyond the Barrel (usnews.com) (http://www.usnews.com/blogs/beyond-the-barrel/2008/3/20/the-disputed-cost-of-light-strong-cars.html)

CLAMP - DOE/GATE (http://www.engin.umd.umich.edu/research/gate/)

[malcolm]

Another step?

Honda and Nissan working to mass-market carbon fiber - Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/honda-and-nissan-working-to-mass-market-carbon-fiber/)

[malcolm]

Another setback?

Manufacturers raise the price of carbon fiber - Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/manufacturers-raise-the-price-of-carbon-fiber/)

[dpeilow]

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has a lot to answer for :frown:. We saw this filtering through already in the satellite market.

I already expect this has a lot to do with the cost increase on the Roadster so brace yourselves for more.

It also probably has a lot to do with the choice of Aluminium on the Model S.

[malcolm]

The search continues...

http://www.global-automotive-lightweight-materials.com/4/agenda/23/agenda/

And some useful update info here:

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/manufacturing/docs/news_lux_insight.pdf

Apparently $5/lb to $7/lb is the magic target for the widespread use of carbon fibre-based composities in automotive applications