Volvo: Progress through lightweight construction
MATERIALS FROM NATURE Volvo Cars is investing in the Swiss company Bcomp, which specializes in sustainable lightweight materials, through its in-house Volvo Cars Tech Fund. Concept cars are already equipped with them.
The Swiss company Bcomp, headquartered in Fribourg, develops high-performance lightweight materials based on natural fibers. With the help of flax fibers, a bio-based material is created that is up to 50 percent lighter than conventional plastics.
Natural fiber materials also use up to 70 percent less plastic and cause up to 60 percent fewer CO2 emissions. In addition, they can be used in a variety of ways, opening up additional design options for surfaces.
Composites for next generation
Volvo Cars is already actively researching natural fiber composites for the next generation of electric cars. Subsidiary Polestar is also aiming to use Bcomp materials in future models.
The group of strategic investors also includes other partners from the automotive sector, BMW Ventures and Porsche Ventures. These are helping to grow the Bcomp team, expand production capacity and strengthen its commercial presence.
Concept vehicle are the first harbingers
The Volvo Concept Recharge, which will be unveiled in summer 2021, already uses Bcomp materials. The concept vehicle shows how the Swedes intend to reduce the carbon footprint of their e-vehicles and that of the company.
On the road to climate neutrality by 2040, Volvo will offer exclusively pure electric cars from 2030.
Says Robin Page, senior vice president of design at Volvo Cars, "The possibilities offered by flax composites are encouraging. We've used them in both the interior and exterior of the Volvo Concept Recharge."
