At the Shanghai International Auto Show in 2017, 1,400 vehicles from 18 countries and regions competed with each other. In addition to the attraction of many luxury cars, in the context of energy saving, emission reduction and lightweight development of automobiles, the most interesting thing at this auto show is that there are 159 new energy vehicles on the same stage, accounting for more than 10% of the total, which is the largest in history.

Due to the low energy density of batteries and the heavy weight of new energy vehicles (especially electric vehicles), the lightweight problem of new energy vehicles is more prominent than that of traditional vehicles in order to achieve longer driving mileage.

Because of its low density, good corrosion resistance, excellent plasticity, easy recycling and other excellent properties, aluminium has become the preferred material for new energy vehicles to achieve lightweight. With the continuous maturity of technology of domestic manufacturers and parts manufacturers, the proportion and components of aluminium alloy used in domestic new energy vehicles are also increasing. For example, the pure electric small SUV (ARCFOX-1) exhibited at the Beijing Auto Exhibition is made of aluminium alloy frame structure and a large number of non-metallic composite outer panels, which reduces the body weight to a certain extent. The ES8 household electric vehicle on display at the first auto show in Ulai Automobile Co., Ltd. is made of 100% aluminium in the body frame. Even the motor and battery pack are made of aluminium alloy. It strives for the best in lightweight.

"Distance anxiety" has always been a bottleneck in the development of electric vehicles. With the help of lightweight design and lightweight materials, many new energy vehicles on display at this auto show have improved significantly in the range, generally reaching 300-500 kilometers.

In the new energy commercial vehicle, the application of aluminium alloy is also deepening. At the auto show, Suzhou Aojie Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Aojie Share") brought five urban pure electric logistics vehicles designed by the company with loads ranging from 2 cubic metres to 16 cubic metres, which combined all-aluminium body with new energy power and redefined urban new energy logistics vehicles. Among them, three new cars, LEV-4, LEV-7 and LEV-13, were first released.

The company staff told reporters that Aojie has focused on the research and development of all-aluminium lightweight body since 2007, and has accumulated many patents so far. This time, after in-depth research, aiming at the current situation of urban logistics operation and transportation demand, the company has designed and developed a number of new technologies, which are suitable for different levels of logistics vehicles and solve the pain points of urban logistics distribution.

According to reports, LEV-4 and LEV-7 are specially designed according to the logistics loading and transportation characteristics of the last kilometer of the city. Lightweight technology is applied to the structure and material of the vehicle. Structurally, through the new design of power chassis, electrical batteries and frame, the frame of the car body adopts lightweight all-aluminium body with a total weight loss of 240kg, which makes the whole weight of the car only 1250 kg, nearly 30% less than the same type of car in the market. At the same time, the maximum driving mileage of these two models can reach 200 kilometers under the working conditions. At the same time, they are equipped with battery quick replacement configuration. It takes only 2 minutes to complete the battery replacement, which can effectively solve the limitation of the range of pure electric logistics vehicles.

The 13-cubic metre light truck LEV-13 is the first pure electric light truck in China to adopt an integrated design. With the design structure and all-aluminum lightweight body, the whole vehicle can achieve a weight reduction of 350 kg. The model can meet the transportation demand from city logistics center to network.

It is reported that during the auto exhibition, Aojie shares signed 5,000 strategic cooperation agreements for the application and promotion of pure electric logistics vehicles with China Railway Traffic Co., Ltd. and Shentong Express Co., Ltd.

Electric Logistics Vehicle (ELV), as an important sub-area of the promotion of new energy vehicles in China, has developed rapidly in recent years. Suitable for the promotion of all-aluminium body electric logistics vehicles at different levels, it is also expected to further open the application space of aluminium alloy in new energy logistics vehicles.