Base Frame Design of Lightweight Vehicles

For logical reasons, more and more small vehicles are used in inner-city traffic. The ratio of transport mass to vehicle mass must be improved. Lightweight vehicles and small, efficient engines reduce fuel consumption and consequently CO₂ emissions. Flexible design of vehicles facilitates compliance with both industrial and economic requirements. These requirements can be met by means of 3-wheeled or 4-wheeled vehicles. Uniform design of the base frame reduces the diversity of required tools and thus the manufacturing costs. Development of a flexible base frame for 3-wheeled vehicles by simulation resulted in a weight reduction from 6% up to 20%. Looking further into the future, a state-of-the-art lightweight vehicle concept MILA Alpin for multipurpose application including all-terrain capability. A flexible design for a base frame allows to diversify the vehicle design. Simulation tools help to optimally use lightweight design potentials.