PROJECT APN005

Industrialisation of Carbon Fibre Wheel Production for the Global OEM market

Automotive manufacturers are under increasing pressure to reduce the mass of their vehicles to address fuel economy limits put in place by legislators, and to increase the range of EVs to quell customers’ range anxiety. Taking mass out of the rotating unsprung mass of a vehicle is the best way to tackle both aims.

This project supports the expansion of manufacturing capabilities for Carbon Revolution’s single piece Carbon fibre wheels. These wheels provide significant improvement for overall vehicle performance, reducing vehicle weight from 30-50% when compared to Aluminum wheels. Additionally, almost all Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) validation specification standards are achieved with Carbon fibre wheels.

Intended innovations to emerge from this project include the development of low-cost fibres and fabrics for automated high-volume manufacture; alternative surface preparation techniques to achieve the highest aesthetic quality finishes of Carbon fibre composites; thermal protection of Carbon fibre composite wheel structure to exceed heat resistance; new methods to stabilise fibres and fabrics when preformed to increase mechanical performance and processability; and new recycling processes that can take large amounts of waste and turn it into a high value product that can be used back into Carbon fibre wheels.

ACM CRC Research Programs

Project Partners

Carbon Revolution
Deakin University

Project Leaders

Ashley Denmead, Carbon Revolution

Year commenced

2023

Cooperative Research Centres are a great way to bring industry and researchers together leveraging resources, expertise and funding to advance Australian business and Industry. ACM CRC is key to Carbon Revolution advancing its manufacturing capabilities and product performancen.