Quite true that aluminium absorbs energy as it deforms. However, to effectively distribute large amounts of impact energy there is normally an energy dissapating structure (crumple zone) behind the aluminium skin which transports the energy around the structure.
Carbon fibre however, due to the complex interwoven nature of its core structure, has the ability to disperse impact energy throughout its own structure in multiple directions therefore dispersing energy and reducing deformation without having to resort to complex energy distribution structures. Whilst this is possibly a good thing in a crash scenario, on the day to day ramp I wonder what will happen when loaders, catering trucks etc get near it. CF is very good at delaminating without it showing on the surface.
