Reducing Automotive CAPEX Entry Barriers

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Program:
IDEAS
Award:
$497,525
Location:
Van Buren Township, Michigan
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
01/01/2015 - 09/30/2015

Technology Description:

Ricardo will develop a detailed cost model for 10 key automotive components (e.g. chassis, powertrain, controls, etc.), analyzing the investment barriers at production volumes. Prior studies of innovative manufacturing processes and lightweight materials have used differing cost analysis assumptions, which makes comparison of these individual studies difficult. The backbone of the project will be a detailed economic model built on a set of common assumptions that will allow the root cause of cost barriers to be identified. The model will then evaluate emerging alternative manufacturing techniques to determine how they might reduce or remove these barriers. This model will utilize a consistent set of assumptions, allowing for an accurate comparison of potential manufacturing techniques. If successful, this cost model will enable private-sector firms to make informed investment decisions, increasing the deployment of innovative vehicle technologies and saving the average consumer money.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Ping Liu
Project Contact:
Dr. Marc Wiseman
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
marc.wiseman@ricardo.com

Partners

United Technologies Research Center

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