Mobility concepts and the role of steel

Micromobility transport options typically move at less than 30 km/hour and are designed for short distances. The excellent strength-to-weight ratio of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) makes it an ideal material for micromobility applications such as bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters, e-steps, skateboards, and shared bikes.

While personal ownership is still important in this sector of the transport market, there is an increasing tendency for these solutions to be shared. Steel offers the robustness and affordability required to ensure a long life and excellent return on investment. And at the end of its life, steel is 100 percent recyclable without loss of properties.

The world is approaching a critical milestone in automotive and mobility history when what we know as normal is about to change significantly. That revolution has already begun. We have already developed advanced solutions for battery electric vehicles (BEV). 

Discover ArcelorMittals iCARe^®  electrical steels to increase the overall performance for the traction machines of electric vehicles

We’re already rethinking transportation and moving to a more efficient concept for moving people and things. We’re about to discover the social advantages of Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electrified (CASE) vehicles. And we’re completely changing the way we view transportation ownership with the introduction of businesses which offer Mobility as a Service (MaaS).

By 2030, when new regulations come into effect around the world, autonomous vehicles and automated car sharing services are likely to be more common. In turn, this will increase the number of EVs on the road significantly.

However, this is unlikely to result in a fall in the amount of steel used in their construction. Vehicle autonomy will not prevent all accidents. Weather and human drivers on the road are just two of the challenges that need to be addressed through passive safety solutions. At the same time, steelmakers such as ArcelorMittal will continue to improve the strength of their offer, ensuring that steel will maintain its dominant position in mobility.

Rail solutions such as trains, metro, and high-speed rail are already amongst the greenest solutions for the mass transport of people and cargo. Ultra high strength steels are already being deployed to improve the sustainability of these transport modes.

Advances in steel technology will make these solutions lighter, stronger, and more robust. And with ArcelorMittal’s commitment to carbon-neutral steelmaking by 2050 in Europe, mass transit is set to become even greener in the future.

And with the advent of new transport modes such as Hyperloop, mass transit is about to get more flexible and a lot faster!

ArcelorMittal solutions for rails  Hyperloop

• ArcelorMittal advanced steels are already being deployed in the next generation of autonomous vehicles which are being developed today.
• We are also working with partners to create the steels needed for future mobility solutions – from e-bikes to Hyperloop.
• Hyperloop developing at the speed of sound