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Gorilla Glass Windshield Could Improve Vehicle Fuel Economy – See How

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Corning's Gorilla Glass Could Help to Improve Vehicle Fuel Economy By Reducing Weight
Corning’s Gorilla Glass Could Help to Improve Vehicle Fuel Economy By Reducing Weight

Jeff Evenson, Corning Senior Vice President, says he expects that at least one high-end automaker to use Gorilla Glass in the next year, realizing a few points of fuel economy increase.

Improving vehicle fuel economy isn’t just a matter of reducing engine size. Reducing engine load by reducing weight is another key aspect.

Really, there are a number of considerations that go into improving vehicle fuel economy, including engine power and efficiency, vehicle weight and aerodynamics. At the same time, vehicles need to be safe and useful. After all, what good is a 100mpg balsa and paper car in even a 30mph crash?

Reducing weight while maintaining safety is probably one of the biggest hurdles that automakers confront when looking for ways to increase fuel economy. New materials, such as aluminum and magnesium body panels, have been shown to be just as strong as, but just as safe as, heavier steel.

Vehicles also use a lot of glass in the windshields and side glass, even the sunroof and some panoramic roofs. Corning believes that the next market for Gorilla Glass could be in automobiles. Gorilla Glass is lighter and stronger than standard automobile glass, and quieter as well.

You can watch the video here and find Jeff Evenson’s presentation at the MIT Technology Review Mobile Summit. Skip ahead to the Question & Answer portion, about the 25:00 mark for the specific “Crazy Application” question.

Image©Corning

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