Through atomic-level design of aluminum alloy materials, researchers have fundamentally addressed these issues. The new aluminum alloy maintains stable mechanical properties at high temperatures up to 180°C, with creep performance approaching that of pure copper.
The economic benefits brought by the "aluminum-for-copper" technology are significant. Upon full-scale promotion, each vehicle can reduce its copper usage by approximately 10 kilograms, leading to a 10% decrease in costs, with noticeable effects on overall vehicle weight reduction. According to estimates, this technology is expected to open up a new market space for low-voltage wire harness materials valued at 36 to 48 billion yuan. Based on the current growth rate of new energy vehicle sales, the penetration rate of aluminum in automotive wire harnesses could reach 65% by 2030.
04Environmental Value: Emission Reduction and Sustainable Development
The smelting of primary copper produces a significant amount of carbon dioxide. Replacing copper with aluminum not only reduces the use of copper but also significantly lowers carbon emissions. After testing, the "aluminum-for-copper" technology has successfully achieved a 60% reduction in copper usage, a 43% reduction in weight, and at least a 20% reduction in costs. If widely adopted, this technology could help the industry save approximately 500,000 tons of CO2 annually.
Further analysis indicates that if the technology is fully promoted, it is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by about 850,000 tons per year, providing crucial support for the industry's transition to a low-carbon future.
