AHSS/UHSS applications for trucks and light commercial vehicles

From SUV/pick-up trucks to commercial vans to heavy-duty haul trucks, manufacturers who switched from traditional carbon steel to lightweight aluminum, or even carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), are now excellent candidates for more economical and durable advanced high-strength steels (AHSSs) and ultra-high strength steels (UHSSs).

LCV and truck manufacturers are eager to join SUVs and pick-up trucks in leveraging the auto industry’s decades-long experience using AHSS/UHSS steels to make cars safer and lighter – while carrying more and lasting longer. The following is a quick review of the many AHSS/UHSS application possibilities available today for manufacturers of light-duty trucks, delivery vans, other light commercial (“city”) vehicles, and heavy-duty vehicles.

Truck and LCV frame rails

Just converting a truck frame from traditional (e.g., 827 MPa) steel to 1100 MPa martensitic steel can save 90 kg. And aluminum’s reduced stiffness – when compared to steel – makes sagging a problem, ruling out aluminum frame rails for a range of weight-sensitive trucks, such as tankers. In addition to heavy-duty vehicles, frame rails made from Docol^® AHSS steels can provide stiffness and durability to lighter vehicles – including light commercial vehicles, delivery vans – even SUV/pick-up truck combinations.

Suitable steel grades:
We want to transfer our knowledge in lightweighting cars while increasing safety performance – but we can only do so together with you, the truck and LCV manufacturer. Consider Docol^® Martensitic (M), Complex Phase (CP), High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) with metal-coated (MC) grades.

Truck and LCV cross members

Docol AHSS steels are a much more economical approach than aluminum for lightweighting truck and LCV cross members, with much better stiffness and resistance to twisting and fatigue.

Suitable steel grades:
We want to transfer our knowledge in lightweighting cars while increasing safety performance – but we can only do so together with you, the truck and LCV manufacturer. Consider Docol^®Martensitic (M), Complex Phase (CP), High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) with metal-coated (MC) grades.

Truck cabins

Manufacturing a truck’s sleeper cab to be lightweight – but comfortable – is key for many OEMs targeting long-haul trucking companies. AHSS/UHSS steels are ideal for lightweighting truck cabin structures – plus they use forming processes already used by most vehicle manufacturers.

Suitable steel grades:
Consider Docol^®Martensitic (M), Complex Phase (CP) or Dual Phase (DP) grades.

Truck and LCV bumpers

Weight-saving, cost-effective bumpers and bumper reinforcements in gigapascal steels are already being used by car OEMs – now it’s time for truck and light commercial vehicle manufacturers to leverage these strong, light materials for excellent crash protection.

Suitable steel grades:
Consider Docol^®Martensitic (M), Press-Hardening steel (PHS), Complex Phase (CP) or Dual Phase (DP) grades.

EV battery protection

A lightweight UHSS battery enclosure not only protects a truck’s or LCV’s large EV battery packs – it can also provide torsional stiffness. The Docol EV Design Concept includes energy-absorbing sill beams, energy-transferring floor cross members, and 3D cold-roll-formed battery-carrying structure.

Suitable steel grades:
Consider Docol^®Martensitic (M), Complex Phase (CP)  or Dual Phase (DP) grades.