As the introduction of "electric vehicles" such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles accelerates among automobile manufacturers, Nippon Steel Co., Ltd., the largest steel company, has decided to expand its facilities to produce steel materials for electric vehicles. became.
As the momentum for decarbonization increases, manufacturers are actively responding.
Nippon Steel will set up a steel production facility in Chiba Prefecture by March, which is the strongest of its products and has been thinned to reduce weight.
Electric vehicles are generally heavier than gasoline-powered vehicles because they are equipped with batteries, so weight reduction of steel materials is required to meet these needs.
In addition, the steelworks in Fukuoka and Hyogo prefectures are planning to increase the facilities for producing materials for electric vehicle motors called "electrical steel sheets" by next year.
Mr. Mitsuru Ejiri, General Manager of Nippon Steel's Automotive Materials Planning Office, said, "In response to the growing need for steel materials for electric vehicles, we would like to increase our dedicated production facilities and enhance our global competitiveness."
Steel makers have decided to increase production facilities for thin and strong steel products at JFE Steel and Kobe Steel, and there is an active movement to respond to the momentum of decarbonization.