Steel wheels are often perceived from the public as the cheap and low value solutions against their aluminum alloy counterparts which provide attractive aesthetics and high perceived value.
Thus, innovation drivers for steel wheels were closely related to the increase of their aesthetic possibilities through style solutions.
Following recent trends in automotives, such as the need for affordable electric vehicles, the increased attention to sustainability, and the new perspective of the mobility “as a service”, steel wheels can possibly see a sort of re-born, thanks to the optimized weights, low carbon footprint, aerodynamic approach to the aesthetic and the relatively low cost.
MW innovation solutions for steel wheels will be discussed in this paper and evaluated according to their impact on weight reduction, stiffness, CO2 footprint, comparing them to their conventional steel and alloy counterparts.
A particular focus will be given to a hybrid wheel concept, composed by a multimaterial solution that can play an interesting role in between the conventional steel and aluminum alloy solution. Other innovations will be also presented with particular attention to their possible combination and their combined effect on the analysed KPI: weight, stiffness and CO2 footprint.
Innovation in steel wheels: challenges and future perspectives
Proceedings
International Munich Chassis Symposium ; 2023 ; München, Germany June 20, 2023 - June 21, 2023
2024-12-24
12 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
Future technological challenges for steering wheels
Automotive engineering | 2011
|Perspectives and Future Challenges
Springer Verlag | 2025
|SAE Technical Papers | 2002
|SAE Technical Papers | 1919
|Engineering Index Backfile | 1919
|