FUTURE OF EXHAUSTS
UP IN SMOKE?
KLARIUS talks about the viability of emission components in the aftermarket as the
automotive sector prepares for another paradigm shift in automotive powertrains.
With pressure building from the legislative and environmental front,
automotive powertrains are at a pivotal point in history. How much
longer will the exhaust and emissions control component market last?
Klarius sheds some insight on this based on recent industry findings.
TOYOTA’S PREDICTION
Toyota has long been setting benchmarks in the automotive industry.
Seminal offerings such as the 2000GT, Hilux, Land Cruiser and Supra,
sit alongside the Prius, their flagship hybrid. Toyota not only offers
vehicles that define the automotive industry, they mould attitudes
towards transportation.
In 2017, Toyota announced that it plans to sell 5.5 million electrified
vehicles annually by 2030. With 1 million of these being zero-emission
vehicles, some exhaust manufacturers began to question the viability of
their future.
PERSPECTIVE FIGURED OUT
To put these impressive numbers
into perspective, one can compare
them against Toyota’s total
production output. Even by 2030,
Toyota estimates that only a tenth
of their vehicles sold annually will
be fully electric. During this time,
the rest sold will be liquid-fuel
powered cars, taking into account
traditional petrol, ethanol or diesel-
powered vehicles and hybrids.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR
THE AFTERMARKET?
These figures indicate that there is
a clear timeline before full electric
vehicles will gain an impact over
traditional powertrain sales.
However, it will be a long time before the application of exhausts in
vehicles is completely eradicated.
Hybrid powertrains which utilise both, electric motors and traditional
combustion engines, will still require exhausts. As a result, exhausts
will continue to be widely used on new vehicles well into the 2040’s.
As average lifespans vary between 7 to 10 years, the aftermarket will be
servicing these vehicles well into the 2050’s.
INFRASTRUCTURE MATTERS
Infrastructure to support electric vehicles will need to catch up with the
mass conversion towards electric vehicles. This is clearly illustrated by
the 10 new nuclear power stations* that would be needed to reach the
UK government’s pledge to fully electrify road cars by 2040.
Furthermore, technological and resource limitations such as battery
heat generation and raw materials are still not fully addressed.
Additionally, many electric vehicle owners are unsure of how future
maintenance work will be carried out and the cost of ownership over the
long-term. Ultimately it seems, for both exhausts and liquid fuel cars in
general, there is plenty more in the tank .
SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE
Klarius has always placed an emphasis on introducing new products
quickly, developing quality exhausts, CATs and DPFs as soon as demand
surfaces. As demand for hybrid parts increase in the aftermarket, here
are some application highlights:
• 322452 – Type Approved CAT with Pipe for Toyota Prius 1.5 (2003-2009)
• TY682J – Box with Tail Pipe for Toyota Prius 1.5 (2003-2009)
• TY755C – Box with Centre Pipe for Toyota Prius 1.5 (2003-2009)
Available from FPS via the F:Drive and MAM Autocat, speak to your
local FPS representative for more information.
(*‘Diesel and petrol car ban: Plan for 2040 unravels as 10 new power stations needed to cope with electric revolution.’
The Telegraph, 27 July 2017)
VITAL NEWS ISSUE 51 EXHAUSTS 13