Korean Firm's OE Parts Manufacturer Hanwha L&C and Automaker CT&T Forge Electric Car Partnership for Global Export

SEOUL, South Korea, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanwha L&C, a Seoul, Korea-based manufacturer of lightweight compound materials for the auto industry announced it recently partnered with Korean electric car maker CT&T to jointly develop high-strength, lightweight parts for interior and exterior materials used in electric vehicles, including those being exporting to the United States.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100505/CL98932 )

Through the partnership, Hanwha L&C will develop and supply CT&T with a number of OE parts including front and rear bumpers, bonnets and truck exterior panels for CT&T's E-Zone, a medium-distance, light electric car. The two companies expect to increase the energy efficiency of these electric vehicles by applying Hanwha's SMC and GMT products, which are more than 30 percent lighter than the steel typically used on car exteriors, as body panels on the E-Zone.

The E-Zone reaches maximum speeds of 45 miles per hour and can run for approximately 62 miles per charge. The vehicle debuted at the recent Detroit Auto Show and is designed for daily commutes, shopping and errands in the city. It is now is being exported to the United States and Japan.

Hanwha plans to supply parts for 170,000 E-Zone vehicles by 2013, first producing body panels and then expanding its offering over the next several years. The company also will increase supply by using new lightweight compound materials, such as its innovative IXIS products for electric bus and sedan projects in the development pipeline.

"We are growing into a global auto parts leader that focuses on expanding the green car market," said Choi Woong-jin, CEO of Hanwha L&C. "Through our new partnership, we are taking the first step to contribute to the growth of the eco-friendly automotive marketing, as well as the enhanced energy efficiency of electric vehicles by using our strong R&D capacities to provide the market with innovative lightweight compound materials."

SOURCE Hanwha L&C