The Asian Post
LONDON: The bio-based composite is claimed to have similar strength/weight to glass fibre, although it is based on flax fibre-reinforced sheets with a honeycomb core (see photo) made from (sugar beet-based in this case) PLA bio-plastic – the same plastic using in this phone from NEC over a decade ago (which used PLA and kenaf plant fibres) and a common 3d printing feed-stock.
The flax is locally grown in Zeeland, and can be seen behind the car in the photo above.
The drive-train has two electric motors delivering 8kW from modular battery packs that can be swapped-out for a quick re-charge.
“These easy to swap battery packs make life a lot easier when it comes to refuelling your car,” said TU/ecomotive. “The city car of the future has no time to stand still at a charger for a couple of hours but has to be on the road again in seconds.”
Top speed is 80 km/h.
Also known as EM-04 – it is the fourth electric car from TU/ecomotive – It took part in the Shell Eco-marathon earlier this year at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, although as a demonstration as it was built for road use (it is road legal) and was therefore heavier (310kg) than other entrants (225kg limit).
