Toyota sold over 9.5 million cars in 2020, making it one of the largest automotive manufacturing companies in the world. One of the main reasons for this is because of the increasing demand for better quality cars.
To meet this demand, the automotive industry is always looking for ways to improve its performance and reduce costs. Plastic components are a promising area for manufacturers.
Car plastic components have become increasingly important because they have a long lifespan. That means manufacturers don’t have to worry about replacing them every few years.
If you’re considering custom plastic components for your next vehicle, read on for 3 things you need to know.
- Plastic Engine Parts Contribute to Fuel Efficiency
If you’re concerned about fuel efficiency, you’ll be happy to know that a plastic component can contribute to this.
One pound of plastic composites typically replaces two to three pounds of heavy metal in a car. This makes vehicles lighter and therefore, more fuel efficient.
Engineered plastic components can also be designed to be more fuel efficient through the use of better lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). For example, BMW has been using CFRP for years on its i3 electric vehicle’s roof and chassis reinforcements. These parts weigh less than their steel counterparts but provide similar strength and rigidity.
- Plastic Components Are Lighter
Another advantage of using plastic components is that they are lighter than steel and aluminum. This means that you can use less material in your component, which reduces its weight by as much as 50% compared to a metal component with similar properties.
The lowered weight will improve your vehicle’s handling characteristics since it has a lower center of gravity. The car will also have better balance than comparable metal cars.
- Reducing Engineering Guesswork
Plastic parts are often used because you can make them using cheaper production methods than those used for metal parts. This means that when you go through the manufacturing process with a plastic component, there is less waste and fewer materials needed overall. The caveat is that avoiding waste requires you to reduce plastic engineering guesswork.
Another benefit of using plastic components is that they are more reliable than metal components. With plastic prototypes, you can evaluate your component more thoroughly before committing it to production. As they’re cheaper and easier than metal ones, you can run multiple tests on the new product to ensure that it meets your standards.
Design Your Car With the Most Efficient Parts
Plastic components are a key part of the automotive industry. They help make cars lighter, more fuel efficient, and cheaper to produce. Using plastic components has also made cars more durable and recyclable.
If you’re looking for a convenient way to design the perfect car, plastic components are a great place to start! However, if you’re still unclear about how to proceed with your car project, check out our technology section for more information.
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