Effect of zinc coatings, Materials for Automobile Bodies

In the author’s experience IZ shows a similar performance to mild steel sheet, the lubricity being enhanced slightly by absorption and retention of the lubricant in the fissures typical of the coating. IZ is notorious for appearing to be deficient in mill applied lubricant but coating weight tests suggest it is present, an effect attributed to the absorbent nature of the network of cracks. The natural tendency of the fissured structure is to powder and even flake – although recent modifications to the substrate (Nb/Ti now being preferred to Ti) and optimization of thickness (45 g/m2 recommended) have improved the tendency for ‘pimpling’. This effect, when zinc-rich particles deposit on the punch and are impressed through the sheet to give a shallow mound, only shows on painting or stoning which means a high number of panels requiring rework are produced before the defect is recognized. This is now less of a problem with EZ coatings as process disciplines, which reduce particle generation, e.g. use of side-trimmed strip, regular die cleaning and blank washing, have been progressively introduced. FLDs have also been constructed in an attempt to predict coating behaviour under various strain regimes. Reverting to coating lubricity, electrozinc coatings have been slightly beneficial but the press performance of drawn parts such as sparewheel wells and door inners has definitely been improved by the use of hot-dip coatings, although tools should be inspected regularly for signs of pick-up.

Materials for Automobile Bodies
Geoff Davies F.I.M., M.Sc. (Oxon)
Butterworth-Heinemann
An imprint of Elsevier
Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP
200 Wheeler Road, Burlington MA 01803
First published 2003

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Norway March 2016 (Updated)

The Rise and Rise of Norway Edition

The record spree of the Norwegian EV market continues in its never ending trend, in March there were 4.684 EV's sold, up 24% YoY, with the EV Share growing yet again to 30%, with the bulk of growth coming from PHEV's, which have seen their share in the overall market grow from 5% last year to the current 12%.
  

Underlining the previous thoughts, and looking exclusively at the EV monthly models ranking, the surprising Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (686 units, all-time record for a plug-in hybrid) has won the Monthly Best Selling title, a first for a plug-in hybrid, while the recovering Leaf has made it to Second Place, with 676 units, its best score in well over two years, with the VW e-Golf dropping to Third, almost being caught by its plug-in hybrid brother, the Golf GTE, that with 526 units, not only has beaten its previous record (362 units, last July), but came close (As in 14 units close) to surpass for the first time its all electric brethren.

The big disappointment of the month was the Tesla Model S, despite the 487 units registered, it ended the month only in Fifth, far from the outrageous performances of previous years (1.140 units in March '15, 1.493 units in March '14). Is Tesla getting too expensive for Norway, or are buyers there just waiting for the Model X?

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	686
2	Nissan Leaf	676
3	Volkswagen e-Golf	540
4	Volkswagen Golf GTE	526
5	Tesla Model S	487

Looking at the year to date EV ranking, the main news are the rise of the Golf GTE to #4, dropping the BMW i3 (A telling tale of the current market trend is that the Rex version is starting to gain traction) to #5, while last year runner-up, the Tesla Model S, climbed five positions to a more suitable Sixth Place, with the Kia Soul EV experiencing a good month, climbing three positions to #9.

A special mention for the good numbers of the VW Passat GTE, with 173 units, its best month to date, allowing it to climb four positions to #14

With 30% share, the EV's performance in the general ranking is becoming increasingly more relevant, of the 1.411 units sold by the leader VW Golf in March, only 345 didn't had a plug, meaning that 75% of all Golf's sold had plug-in capabilities.

If we split models by fuel source, the Outlander PHEV was the best selling model in March, followed by the Nissan Leaf and VW e-Golf, with the Golf GTE closing a 100% Plug-In Top 4 in the overall ranking.

But this is not all, after the #5 Toyota Auris, we have the Tesla Model S in #6, and a bit lower, the Renault Zoe in #9, making 6 plug-ins in the Top 10! Sooner than later, i will have to make an overall Top 10 ranking to follow all these EV's...

Looking at the manufacturers ranking, Volkswagen (29%, down 1%) continues in the lead, followed at a distance by Nissan (14%) and Mitsubishi (12%), with this last one replacing BMW in the lowest plce of the podium.

Pl	Norway	March	YTD	%	'15Pl
1	Volkswagen e-Golf	540	1.765	16	1
2	Nissan Leaf	676	1.413	13	3
3	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	686	1.325	12	4
4	Volkswagen Golf GTE	526	950	9	6
5	BMW i3 *	177	719	7	5
6 7	Tesla Model S Audi A3 e-Tron	487 217	705 616	6 6	2 7
8	Renault Zoe	291	538	5	8
9	Kia Soul EV	144	356	3	11
10	BMW X5 40e PHEV	114	333	3	19
11	Volkswagen e-Up!	81	304	3	9
12	Mercedes B250e	129	298	3	10
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 29 31 31 33	Volvo V60 Plug-In Volkswagen Passat GTE Mercedes C350e Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV Nissan e-NV200 / Evalia Peugeot iOn BMW 225xe Active Tourer Citröen C-Zero Renault Kangoo ZE Mercedes GLE500e Porsche Cayenne Plug-In BMW 330e Peugeot Partner EV Smart Fortwo ED BMW i8 Ford Focus Electric Mitsubishi I-Miev Citröen Berlingo EV Porsche Panamera Plug-In Toyota Prius Plug-In Mercedes S500e	71 173 81 41 59 31 66 18 1 13 9 39 15 5 2 4 1 7 1	291 257 251 212 199 118 93 83 59 58 45 39 32 18 16 8 7 7 3 3 2	3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0	12 20 22 N/A 14 13 N/A 16 17 27 24 N/A 18 15 25 21 26 23 N/A 28 30
	TOTAL	4.684	11.110	100

* - 174 Bev + 3 Rex

e) Estimate


A small note to Fuel Cells, to date, there were 5 registrations this year, 4 Hyundai ix35 FCEV and 1 Toyota Mirai, with this tally making 0.01% of the total market.

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