TOKYO —
Honda Motor Co Ltd has increased the usage ratio of high-tensile steel plate for the body frame of the new Freed compact minivan, which was released Sept 16, to improve the rigidity of the body by 22%, compared with the previous model.
In the case of the previous model of the Freed, the usage ratio of 590MPa-class high-tensile steel plate of its body frame is 30% (mass ratio). And the usage ratios of 440MPa- and 270MPa-class high-tensile steel plates are 10% and 60%, respectively.
On the other hand, the usage ratio of 590MPa-class and stronger high-tensile steel plates of the new model’s body frame is 41% (590MPa class: 19.5%, 780MPa class: 15%, 980MPa class: 5%, 1.5GPa-class hot-stamped material: 1.5%). The usage ratio of 590MPa-class steel plate is smaller than that of the previous model while 780MPa-class and stronger steel plates were newly applied to the new model.
The 1.5GPa-class material was used for the center pillar. The 980MPa-class steel plate was applied to the side sill, the front part of the roof rail, etc. And the 780MPa-class steel plate was used for the front frame. So, the 780MPa-class and stronger steel plates were applied mainly to the front part of the body frame.
The hybrid (HEV) model of the new Freed has an IPU (intelligent power unit) equipped with a lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable battery under the first row of seats. The 780MPa-class and stronger steel plates were used for the front part of the body frame partly to increase the rigidity of the body and protect the IPU from a collision.
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