Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Cheap carbon fiber hoods are almost as heavy as stock

RobertSmalls · 05-05-2010, 12:43 PM

Any time I remove components from the Insight, I weigh them. The stock hood, which is aluminium, weighs 9kg/20lbs. Being curious about the potential for weight savings with a composite hood, I looked up how much a riceboy carbon fiber hood weighs. Your run of the mill $600 CF hood for a Civic weighs 18lbs. So you probably save 6lbs versus aluminium. That's pretty unimpressive for $600. I'm sure the savings are even less for replacing plastic panels with carbon fiber.

However, I might be able to make my own carbon fiber hood for around $100 in materials. A hood-sized sheet of fiberglass cloth weighs 1lb per layer, and CF is lighter. Of course you'd have to add resin, and bolt on "features" like hinges, latch, and washer nozzles, but I couldn't picture it coming in over 7lbs.

05-05-2010, 12:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
RobertSmalls Left Lane Ecodriver Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY, USA Posts: 2,257 Prius C - '12 Toyota Prius C Thanks: 79 Thanked 287 Times in 200 Posts	Cheap carbon fiber hoods are almost as heavy as stock Any time I remove components from the Insight, I weigh them. The stock hood, which is aluminium, weighs 9kg/20lbs. Being curious about the potential for weight savings with a composite hood, I looked up how much a riceboy carbon fiber hood weighs. Your run of the mill $600 CF hood for a Civic weighs 18lbs. So you probably save 6lbs versus aluminium. That's pretty unimpressive for $600. I'm sure the savings are even less for replacing plastic panels with carbon fiber. However, I might be able to make my own carbon fiber hood for around $100 in materials. A hood-sized sheet of fiberglass cloth weighs 1lb per layer, and CF is lighter. Of course you'd have to add resin, and bolt on "features" like hinges, latch, and washer nozzles, but I couldn't picture it coming in over 7lbs.