| If you asked 100 consumers what aluminum products | | | | are increasingly showing up as structural components, |
| they use, about, 95% will say aluminum foil. Of all the | | | | but unlike steel, they cannot easily be bent back into |
| uses for aluminum. Aluminum foil is identified as the | | | | shape after a crash. Instead, said the Journal, these |
| number one product that consumers can identify as | | | | components often get replaced, boosting repair |
| something made of aluminum. Everyone uses those | | | | costs. High end cars like the Jaguar XJ use aluminum |
| thin shiny paper sheets to line their ovens and | | | | in the body. Other cars that are use aluminum |
| barbecue grills. Aluminum foil is the product of choice | | | | extensively include: |
| to wrap up leftovers. Aluminum cans were the | | | | * Audi A8, with its aluminum body, aluminum front |
| second most identified consumer product as having | | | | and rear axle, and numerous other aluminum |
| an aluminum composition. | | | | components |
| But there are other uses for aluminum that impact | | | | *The Honda Insight with its aluminum monocoque |
| our life and our pocketbooks. These product make | | | | body and an aluminum alloy in-line 3 cylinder engine |
| our lives easier and more productive and help reduce | | | | *The Lincoln LS, featuring a sheet aluminum hood, |
| the costs for goods and services. Some typical | | | | deck lid and front fender, and forged aluminum |
| applications for aluminum include siding for residential | | | | wheels. |
| homes and commercial buildings. Aluminum is widely | | | | Automakers are increasingly choosing aluminum to |
| used in the transportation industry for cars, airplanes | | | | improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and enhance |
| and railroad cars. | | | | vehicle performance. The trade off for this advanced |
| Herein lies a potential problem for consumers. | | | | technology will be a "disposable cars" Pete, a |
| Aluminum because of its characteristics of strength, | | | | mechanic in San Jose, CA states "The parts and |
| being light weight and malleable reduces the weight | | | | materials for these "aluminum intensive cars are so |
| of cars. The Aluminum Association reports that In | | | | expensive that is makes more sense to total them |
| 2000, transportation accounted for 32.5 percent of all | | | | out for parts. The technology for replacing the parts |
| US shipments. That same year aluminum passed | | | | hasn't caught up. These cars are almost impossible to |
| plastic--with average content of 257 lbs per vehicle | | | | repair because of the way they are built. A minor |
| to become the third most-used material in | | | | accident can cause real damage." |
| automobiles. | | | | These aluminum intensive cars will also have an |
| Car manufacturers have a goal of designing light | | | | impact on car insurance rates. More often than not |
| weight, fuel efficient cars. Aluminum seems to fit this | | | | when these cars are involved in an accident, the |
| requirement. Aluminum is not only being used for | | | | insurance company will have to consider them totaled |
| door panels but manufacturers are extending The | | | | so your insurance bill will increase. |
| use of aluminum to the structural make up of the | | | | So what is the trade-off - fuel efficiency versus high |
| car's power train suspension components and body | | | | cost of repair and maintenance.? Do we need ugly |
| parts. | | | | heavy cars that increase gas consumption? The |
| The Wall Street Journal reported July 22, 2004. | | | | non-disposable car may look bland, be slower and use |
| These lighter metals like boron, steel and aluminum | | | | gas But the real truth is this car would not sell. |