The application of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) for automotive mass production is attracting increasing attention from researchers and engineers in related fields. This article presents recent developments in CFRTPs focusing on the systematic development of lightweight CFRTP applications for automotive mass production. Additionally, a related national project of Japan conducted at the University of Tokyo is also introduced. The basic development demands, the specific requirements of CFRTPs for lightweight applications in automotive mass production, and the current development status and basic scientific outputs are discussed. The development of high-performance CFRTPs (chopped carbon fiber tape-reinforced thermoplastics (CTTs)) and functional CFRTPs (carbon fiber mat-reinforced thermoplastics (CMTs)) is also introduced. The fabrication process control of CTTs is evaluated, which demonstrates the extreme importance of the mechanical performance. The ultralight lattice, toughened structures, and orientation designable components of CMTs provide a flexible multi-material solution for the proposed applications. Moreover, highly efficient carbon fiber recycling technology is discussed, with recycled carbon fibers exhibiting outstanding compatibility with CFRTPs. A cost sensitivity analysis of carbon fiber and CFRTPs is conducted to guarantee the feasibility and affordability of their application. This article also discusses the trends and sustainability of carbon fiber and CFRTPs usage. The importance of the object-oriented optimal development of CFRTPs is emphasized to efficiently exploit their advantages.

A wind turbine comprises multiple components constructed from diverse materials. This complexity introduces challenges in designing the blade structure. In this study, we developed a structural optimization framework for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT). This framework integrates a parametric Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model, which simulates the structure's global behavior, with a Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization technique that navigates the design domain to identify optimal parameters. The goal is to minimize the mass of VAWT structures while adhering to a suite of complex constraints. This framework quantifies the mass reduction impact attributable to material selection and structural designs. The optimization cases indicate that blades made from Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) materials are 47.1 % lighter than those made from Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics (GFRP), while the structural parts are 44.8 % lighter. This work also provides further recommendations regarding the scale and design of the structures. With the materials and structural design established, future studies can expand to include more load cases and detailed designs of specific components.