Light materials seen helping U.S. trim oil habit

By Timothy Gardner

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. companies could lead the way in adopting light high-tech materials that help vehicles save fuel regardless of what the politicians in Washington do to overhaul fuel standards, an energy consultant said on Monday.

Amory Lovins, the CEO and co-founder of the non-profit research center the Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado, said using composite carbon fiber materials for frames and other parts instead of steel can make cars lighter but as safe or better, which saves gasoline and diesel.

The U.S. military uses already uses composite materials in some jet fighters. Lovins, who has advised the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense on energy, said greater adoption by the military in using composites could bring them into wider use.

"As the military in search of efficient land, sea, and air platforms focuses its infrastructure on making structures out of light, strong materials, that will spill over into the civilian car, truck and plane industries," he said in a telephone interview during the Reuters Global Energy Summit.

He said corporations could adopt light materials with the speed that they used to adopt technologies developed by the military such as the Internet and global positioning systems.

"That is the biggest single technical step we need to lead the nation off of oil," he said.

The United States has not overhauled fuel economy standard for compacts, sedans and other passenger cars for 16 years. Cars must average 27.5 miles per gallon under U.S. law. Legislation proposed by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce panel would give U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta the authority to boost standards.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry group, said overhauling standards for cars may be premature. Mineta said earlier this month he will proceed carefully and with regard to U.S. automakers, which are struggling financially.  Continued...