What are Cars Made of Other Than Steel?

While recently working on a car, I was surprised to discover a sharp engine knock that was occurring because of a worn timing gear. I was even more surprised to find gear teeth made of plastic fiber compounds, similar to compressed fiberboard. These had ground away, preventing them from engaging a hardened crankshaft gear.

Today, non-traditional materials make cars and light trucks more dependable, efficient and environmentally friendly. Lower electric vehicles (EV) prices are partly due to their use of sustainable materials, like micro glass bubbles, and boron nitride composites that dissipate battery heat.

Parts fabricated from steel, complex structural composites, plastics, alloys and polymers lower the overall weight of a vehicle, increasing fuel economy. These materials and the way they’re fastened preserve body rigidity while providing excellent ride comfort and passenger safety.