Electric Vehicles, also known as EVs, use electric batteries for their propulsion. An environmentally friendly alternative, EVs first came into existence in the mid 19th century. For about 100 years internal combustion engines using gasoline, petrol and diesel dominated the transport industry. Now, with more awareness regarding sustainability and environmental hazards, EVs have resurged as a promising solution.
At the end of June 2018 more than 3.5 million passenger electric vehicles and about 421,000 electric buses had been sold globally, bringing the total number of EVs sold to 3.97 million. Governments are also encouraging the use of EVs in public transport due to the advantages they offer. EVs do not generate pollution as they produce no effluent gases, and the energy source of electric motors is mostly environmentally friendly.
The use of EVs in passenger cars and public transport drove demand for aluminium rolling sheets and extrusions. Aluminium has become a vital part of the EV industry, as it provides amazing features for their construction: light weight, formability, high strength and corrosion resistance. All these properties are considered in the manufacture of an EV and aluminium proves to be the most suitable option.
Aluminium demand for EVs in 2018 was expected to be around 250,000 tonnes, assuming average aluminium content of around 250 kg per vehicle. The content of rolled and extruded aluminium products in EVs is expected to remain significantly higher. EVs are the future of the transport industry, and this future can be successfully attained by using the right technology and resources. Aluminium plays a vital role in this industry, so future demand for aluminium and its extrusion is bound to increase in the coming decades.