How expensive is carbon fiber on a car?
#SeriesTopic14 on Titanium Applications in Automobiles
In the automotive industry, titanium and carbon fiber are two high-performance materials that have attracted much attention. They offer significant advantages in the vehicle manufacturing process, but also bring corresponding cost challenges. This article will compare the prices of titanium and carbon fiber from the aspects of material cost, processing cost, performance cost, production scale, maintenance cost, environmental protection cost, market price fluctuation and supply chain management.
1. Material cost
Titanium and carbon fiber are used in vehicle production in varying amounts and at varying costs. Generally speaking, the price of carbon fiber is relatively high, between US$200-300 per kilogram, while the price of titanium is relatively low, between US$10-20 per kilogram. Therefore, titanium has clear advantages from a material cost perspective.
2. Processing costs
Both titanium and carbon fiber have high difficulty and cost during processing. Carbon fiber requires complex processes such as weaving, prepreg, and lamination, while titanium requires high-temperature processing such as smelting, forging, and heat treatment. Therefore, from a processing cost perspective, both have their own merits.
3. Performance cost
Titanium and carbon fiber each have their own advantages in automotive performance applications. Carbon fiber has the advantages of high strength, light weight and corrosion resistance, which can improve the fuel efficiency and handling of cars. Titanium, on the other hand, has the characteristics of high strength, low density and good corrosion resistance, which can improve the durability and safety of cars. Therefore, from a performance cost perspective, both have their pros and cons.
4. Production scale
In high-volume production, the cost-effectiveness of titanium and carbon fiber differs significantly. Because the production process of carbon fiber is more complex and the production scale is smaller, the production cost is higher. Titanium has a larger production scale and can achieve mass production, so it is more cost-effective. Therefore, from the perspective of production scale, titanium has greater advantages.
5. Maintenance costs
Titanium and carbon fiber also have different maintenance costs during car use. The maintenance of carbon fiber is relatively simple, generally only requiring regular inspection and replacement of parts. The maintenance of titanium needs to be more meticulous, requiring regular cleaning and anti-corrosion treatment. Therefore, from a maintenance cost perspective, carbon fiber has greater advantages.
6. Environmental protection costs
Titanium and carbon fiber also have different environmental applications. Carbon fiber can improve the fuel efficiency of cars, reduce carbon emissions, and has environmental advantages. Titanium will produce a lot of pollution during the production process and is not degradable, which will have a certain impact on the environment. Therefore, from an environmental cost perspective, carbon fiber has greater advantages.
7. Market price fluctuations
The market prices of titanium and carbon fiber fluctuate greatly. Since both materials are high-performance materials, their prices are greatly affected by market supply and demand. Therefore, from the perspective of market price fluctuations, the costs of both titanium and carbon fiber are uncertain.
8. Supply chain management
There are also differences between titanium and carbon fiber when it comes to supply chain management. Since titanium production is mainly concentrated in a few countries and regions, the supply chain is relatively short and management is simple. The supply chain of carbon fiber is relatively long, and production processes and standards vary from region to region, so the requirements for supply chain management are higher. Therefore, from a supply chain management perspective, titanium has greater advantages.
In summary, there is a clear difference in the price comparison between titanium and carbon fiber in the automotive industry. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages from the aspects of material cost, processing cost, performance cost, production scale, maintenance cost, environmental protection cost, market price fluctuation and supply chain management. In the automobile manufacturing process, appropriate materials should be selected based on specific needs and actual conditions to achieve a balance between performance and cost.
$1,900 – is what you’ll pay for some carbon fibre wing mirrors. Suddenly the $400-or-so price tag for an original pair doesn’t seem so bad.
OnlineLoans finds out why carbon fibre car parts cost so much:
Key Points:
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Carbon fiber is five times as strong as steel
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Carbon fibre strands are 2% the thickness of human hair
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Manufacturing costs time, energy and the environment
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Some high-end car bodies are made entirely from carbon fibre
Firstly, some carbon fibre car parts background
Carbon fibre is made from thin strands of carbon. How thin? 1/50th the thickness of a human hair.
Pound for pound, carbon fibers are twice as stiff as steel and five times as strong as steel. This means a lot less of the material is required to equal steel’s strength, making carbon fibre car parts ultra-lightweight.
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How is it made?
In a nutshell, precursor chemicals containing carbon are heated to extreme temperatures. Non-carbon atoms are ‘shaken out’ in the high heat, leaving a long strand of mainly carbon atoms.
The fibres are woven into sheets that are bonded together and moulded into car parts or other objects.
Time and Energy Cost
Large amounts of these two valuable commodities go into making carbon fibre car parts.
Time:
When you’re dealing with fibres 2% the thickness of hair, nothing is going to be fast. These tiny fibres are spun together – up to 24,000 of them in one strand. These thicker strands are woven into sheets then bonded together and shaped into the required car parts. Paying someone to do all that isn’t cheap – neither is the machinery.
Energy:
Heating the raw materials to a high enough temperature to burn off non-carbon atoms costs money. This process is aptly named ‘carbonisation’.
The average home oven maxes out at around 260℃ at which carbon barely breaks a sweat.
You’ll need up to 3000℃ for the precursor materials to sweat out the non-carbon atoms. This leaves about 50% of waste product.
More Energy
Furthermore, the weaving or braiding machines that stitch together thousands of strands of carbon fibre need more time and energy (and money).
“All the strands must be parallel and stretched evenly – one mistake and all the other strands can break.”
(Carbon fibre weaving. Source: rothbiz.co.uk)
Environmental Cost
Carbon fibre car parts may be strong, lightweight, profitable and look cool but they have a secret. A dirty one. Up 50% of the raw materials end up as non-carbon waste. Of the useful 50%, after trimming and fitting, around 30% winds up as offcuts on factory floors.
Recycling carbon fibre isn’t easy. It can’t be melted down and reformed like most metals as carbon fibre gets its ‘powers’ from aligned strands. It can be chemically dissolved but this results in shorter and more jumbled fibres than new ones, reducing strength.
They should just make fake carbon fibre.
They do. Car parts look cool when in carbon-fibre form – manufacturers know this. Wraps and coatings are available to make surfaces look like the popular charcoal-grey woven pattern.
Carbon fibre highlights can make certain car types, like performance cars, stand out from their base models.
They should make cars completely out of carbon fibre.
They do. From just car parts to whole car bodies. Cars like the McLaren Senna and the Koenigsegg Agera RS have bodies and as many car parts as possible made from carbon fibre.
The problem for most is the price tag. The McLaren Senna; yours for $1.7 million and $2.5 million for the Koenigsegg Agera RS to be in your driveway.
(Carbon fibre McLaren Senna body. Source: autonxt.net)
Carbon Fibre Car Parts Conclusion
The automotive industry is a champion of unique features and methods. Manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve car parts – carbon fibre is just one of them. With recycling and manufacturing processes constantly improving, the price – both dollar-wise and to the environment is getting cheaper.
Find out why headlights cost so much to discover more about the quirks and curiosities of the auto industry.
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