$6.2M In Funding to Help Make Lighter, Greener Cars

15 Jul 11

The automotive industry is innovating to create lighter cars that will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become a richer, greener and fairer nation.

Announcing four Green Car Innovation Fund grants today, Innovation Minister Kim Carr said the new projects would bring new technologies, skills and job creation to Australian manufacturing.

“Over $6.2 million is being awarded to component manufacturers CFusion, Toyoda Gosei Australia, Composite Materials Engineering and Hirotec,” Senator Carr said.

“The components being developed to retool our automotive industry will help cars that are friendlier on the environment and the pocket — in this case, we expect the four projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 133,000 tonnes and significantly reduce fuel consumption.”

CFusion is using funding of around $1.4 million to commercialise the world’s first one-piece carbon fibre automotive wheel, at about half the weight of aluminium wheels.

Toyoda Gosei is using funding of over $2.3 million to introduce and refine technologies for manufacturing lighter components, namely body sealing products and safety system products, such as air bag modules and plastic interior trim products.

CME is using funding of $797,399 to develop a high strength, lightweight sandwich panel to be used in the load floor of Australian vehicles. This product will significantly reduce the weight of the load floor whilst meeting all of the performance requirements for this component.

Hirotec is using funding of over $1.6 million to produce lighter automotive components including aluminium hoods and deck lids using innovative product design to significantly reduce the overall weight of passenger motor vehicles.

Senator Carr said the Government’s $5.4 billion New Car Plan, which includes the Green Car Innovation Fund, was transforming the Australian automotive industry and ensuring significant co-investment from around the world.

While the Fund closed to new applications in January to help fund flood recovery, it is continuing to generate approximately $2 billion in total project investment in the manufacturing sector. Visit www.innovation.gov.au for more information.

For information on new opportunities for clean technology research and development, visit www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au