MI 2020 Solutions FINAL

SECTION 04
TRANSPORTATION
01
REINVENTING THE WHEEL
FOR GLOBAL MARKETS
AUSTRALIA
CHALLENGE
Transport is responsible for
almost a quarter of energy-related
greenhouse gas emissions
worldwide, and emissions are
increasing at a faster rate than
any other sectors in the past
decade. Emissions produced by
light vehicles account for over half
of the total. Without intervention,
global transport emissions could
grow by 70% to 2050.
INNOVATION
Australian company Carbon
Revolution has developed a
world-leading technology to
tackle carbon emissions in light
vehicles. It has developed the first
mass-produced carbon fibre car
wheel as an alternative to heavier
aluminium wheels, which are
used in approximately half of
all cars globally.
The one-piece carbon fibre
wheels are up to 50% lighter than
aluminium wheels for equivalent
strength, and can deliver a 6%
improvement in fuel efficiency
when they are fully integrated
into vehicle design. Their use
could significantly improve vehicle
fuel efficiency and reduce CO₂
emissions intensity by reducing
vehicle weight.
ACTION
Carbon Revolution’s carbon
fibre wheels are already being
used in growing volumes in
high performance vehicles
manufactured by Ford in the
US. Carbon Revolution is aiming
to expand its annual wheel
production to over 100,000
by 2021.
The Australian Government through
the Clean Energy Innovation Fund,
committed 10 million AUD to Carbon
Revolution’s 50 million AUD capital
raising in 2016.
POTENTIAL
Carbon Revolution is looking to
capitalise on manufacturer interest
to extend the use to more affordable
models. The company is planning an
initial public offering to raise as much
as 100 million AUD in the near future,
to expand the plant’s capacity to
250,000 wheels a year. After that,
it will seek to expand into offshore
production markets, closer to major
global automotive markets. The local
operation will be used as a test bed and
also serve as a production site for larger
but small-volume wheels for trucks and
aeroplanes.
USEFUL LINKS:
carbonrev.com
cefc.com.au/media/files/cleanenergy-innovation-fund-helpsaustralian-manufacturer-reinvent-thewheel-for-global-markets.aspx
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