Stainless Steel: The Future of Transportation

At the present time, around 44 trillion passenger-kilometres are travelled annually and, by 2050, it is predicted that this figure will increase three-fold to 122 trillion passenger-kilometres a year. As the world makes its transition to become more envi­ron­men­tally-friendly, stainless steel is set to play a more crucial role than ever before in the provision of green, energy-efficient transportation.


In this edition of the BS Stainless blog, we look at three ways in which stainless steel is being used in the transportation industries


New Rail Transit System in India
Jindal Stainless is set to supply over 2,000 tonnes of stainless steel, which will be used in the creation of over 200 rail coaches for India's first Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS). Chosen for its light weight, cost-effectiveness, high crash-resistance and inherent sustainability, the stainless steel will be used to fabricate numerous components including frames, roofs, cantrails, solebars, end walls, brackets and sidewall skins. The finished coaches will be capable of travelling at over 180 kph, cutting commute times between major cities by as much as 40%. 


New Hydrogen-Cell Truck from Mercedes-Benz
Globally-renowned vehicle manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will soon begin production of a new truck powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Prototypes of the innovative vehicle, dubbed 'GenH2', have been produced and are already being tested on special test tracks as well as public highways. The final aim is to produce a truck that boasts an impressive range of 1,000 kilometres and a payload capacity of 25 tonnes. 


This range and payload capacity will be enables by a pair of hydrogen tanks and a fuel-cell system. Each tank is fabricated entirely from stainless steel and will be capable of storing 40kg of green hydrogen for a total of 80kg. The system comprises two tubes, one of which is located within the other; these pairs of tubes are vacuum-insulated are are connected to each other for maximum efficiency. 


'Retro-futuristic' Nano E-Scooter Revealed
Bandit9, a motorcycle company based in Vietnam, has revealed what it calls a 'new urban mobility solution' in the form of a nano e-scooter. Described as a surprising blend of environmental-friendliness, utmost functionality and striking looks, the unique vehicle is made from specialist grade 904L stainess steel polished to a mirror finish. 


The standard model has a maximum speed of 45 kph and is currently available for pre-order at a cost of around £4,060. A higher power option, the Nano+ can hit a top speed of 75 kph and is priced at the £4,500 mark. Both vehicles are powered by removable batteries and have a maximum distance range of almost 100 km. 


Stainless steel already has countless uses in the transportation sector and these recent stories prove that the versatile material will be in even higher demand in the future. For more details about the uses of stainless steel in transportation, along with the comprehensive collection of stainless steel products supplied by BS Stainless to our global customer network, please browse our website.

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