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MOTORINDIA
l
May 2012
87
per-litre price. On this basis mag-
nesium has actually been cheaper
in the past than aluminium. For the
years 2002 to 2010 the metal has
been on an average 40 per cent more
expensive than aluminium on a per-
kg basis but 10 per cent cheaper on
a per-litre basis. During the initial
years of building up a magnesium
industry in India the access to a re-
cycling facility will be a particular
issue and cost factor.
Whether, from a point of view of
total cost, magnesium is the better
material for a given part is not easy
to assess. One will have to analyse
and compare factors such as the
basic feasibility of magnesium in a
given product environment, typical
usage patterns, production volumes,
and the remain-
ing life time of
a component in
the life cycle of
the final prod-
uct.
In some in-
stances
the
weight reduc-
tion is hon-
oured by the
receiving OEM with a substantial
bonus of several dollars per kg
saved. In addition, one should as-
sess the reduced fuel consumption
during the lifetime of the product.
For a reasonably comprehensive
analysis one has to integrate at least
the factors which are indicated in the
accompanying box.
A promising starting point for In-
dia’s vehicle manufacturers could be
the two side plates of the 10 millions
of 2-wheelers that are produced
every year – today mostly made of
aluminium and clearly offering bet-
ter mileage on a large scale if made
of magnesium.
w
Significant cost effects when substituting aluminium with magnesium
technology