Steel Fabrication and Production and Its Role in the Automotive Industry and Electric Vehicles
Because of its makeup, steel is a strong alloy with a lot of flexibility. Steel’s properties make it one of the most widely-used steel products for building, construction, and other common appliances. Throughout the 20th century, steel sealed its place in our automotive, aircraft, and construction industries. As new technologies advance, steel fabrication continues to stay at the forefront of some of today’s cutting-edge products and commodities.
Here’s how steel fabrication continues to play an important role in the ever-changing automotive industry and the growing interest in electric vehicles.
Steel Production Across Industries and the World
Steel production plays a major role in industries across many sectors. Steel fabrication turns the raw metal into a product that is then used in home construction, assembly lines, construction, or other factories and warehouses.
Steel fabrication is common in various industries including the construction sectors, mining industry, energy sector, automotive industry, transportation, and more. Because of its use across many sectors of our production, it is an essential product for the growth and stability of our economy. Steel has become one of the most recycled materials in the country.
When it comes to the construction industry, steel industries, steel is a preferred material because of its strength, affordability, and longevity. It’s why many tall commercial buildings use structural steel to reinforce the building. Because it is lightweight and dependable, it is also often used in warehouse construction. The mining industry, for example, uses steel to manufacture many of the necessary tools that are used within the industry. Equipment such as trucks, loading machines, shovels, are made out of steel and offer reliability. Of course, the energy sector is another part of the economy that uses steel fabrication as an essential part of its operations.
According to the American Steel and Iron Institute, the iron and steel industry generates more than 520 billion in total economic output. At the same time, they contribute about two million American jobs, as was estimated in 2017.
The leading producers of steel in the world are China, India, Japan, and the United States. According to data from the World Population Review, the United States produces 87.9 million metric tons of steel. This places it as the world’s fourth-largest producer.
The Role of Steel in Automotive and the Electric Vehicle
As the world clamors for better and more efficient ways to produce energy, the production of many of our products will shift to materials that are easily manufactured and have less environmental impact. The steel industry has always been a central part of the automotive industry. According to some, the use of lightweight sheet metal and steel fabrication in the electric vehicle and battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry will continue to play a big role as the cars evolve and require the use of versatile, strong, but lightweight material.
The lightweight characteristic makes steel a much-desired product for these types of vehicles. Even as battery capacity improves, it cannot fully compensate for a heavy vehicle. Manufacturers are then looking to this trusted alloy to supply them with the right material.
According to recent data, the global sales of BEVs increased by almost 39 percent in 2020. It seems that the United States is making a push towards clean energy and part of that is to incentivize the increased production of electric vehicles. Some companies are already heeding the call. General Motors announced its aim to offer 30 battery electric vehicle models by the year 2025.
And as the automotive industry evolves and adjusts to changing demands means that steel will likely play a major role in the evolution of vehicles to full electrification. Steel will play a role in the architecture design that requires the integration of the battery enclosure into the underbody structure. These enclosures will likely be constructed out of steel.
Tesla’s Use of Steel for their Strong Auto Body
It’s hard to talk about electric vehicles without mentioning Tesla. In an announcement about its Tesla cybertruck, Elon Musk discussed why they use steel as part of the truck’s exoskeleton. Musk confirmed the use of 300 series stainless steel as the best material used by his team.
This high-level steel is corrosion-resistant, accessible and affordable, as well as extremely strong. The exoskeleton is the external shell that must be made for ultimate durability and to protect passengers. This steel alloy is actually a proprietary blend created by Tesla specifically for the enhancement of their vehicles. It’s a testament to how versatile steel fabrication can be, as it can be designed to fit very unique and specific applications and functions.
The outer exterior of the truck composed of this steel alloy means increased strength and affordability.
Looking for Steel Fabrication Services in El Paso? Call Steel Specialties
Steel is useful for today’s high-demand industries. Steel fabrication requires specialized experience in the manufacture of strong and quality steel that withstands harsh conditions and can be trusted in industries such as construction, automotive, and more.
Looking for more information on trusted steel fabrication in El Paso? Call Steel Specialties today.
