PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Loans
Car Loan
Compare Car Loans with Jerry
Jerry's Expert Advice
Car Loan Guides
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
Are all electric cars made of aluminum?
I know most cars are made of steel, but while I’ve been researching electric cars, I’ve noticed that many are made of aluminum instead. Are all electric vehicles made from aluminum? If so, why is that?
Andrew Koole · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Well, your research is clearly more thorough than most. You’re right — aluminum is the metal of choice for
electric vehicle (EV)
manufacturers, as opposed to the steel used in gas cars, but not all electric cars are made out of aluminum.
Aluminum became a popular material for electric cars because of its weight, or lack thereof. To improve an EV’s range, manufacturers have to take every opportunity to lighten the vehicle’s weight. So swapping high-density steel for aluminum seems like a no-brainer, especially since the two metals have basically the same strength.
But there are a few reasons why aluminum hasn’t completely taken over the electric car manufacturing world. Steel is less expensive, can withstand more pressure than aluminum, and has higher torsional rigidity, meaning that it is less likely to twist or bend as the car increases speed.
For these reasons, EV leader Tesla
primarily used a steel-intensive mixed material for its cheapest vehicle, the Model 3. Other more affordable electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf are also made primarily of steel.
It all comes down to performance and cost. Smaller EVs geared toward a more frugal crowd will probably continue to be made out of a lot of steel to keep manufacturing costs down. High-performance models and bigger vehicles like pickups, on the other hand, will likely rely more on aluminum which will make them more expensive.
Whether your electric car is made of aluminum or steel, the best way to find the right car insurance for the right price is to shop around with the Jerry
app.
A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and will even help you cancel your old policy.MORE: How to polish aluminum wheels
View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
.jpg&w=64&q=75){kind=avatar}
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies
