Bcomp natural fiber composites to be used in future BMW Group production cars
Bcomp partners with BMW Group to integrate high-performance natural fiber materials into series production models, reducing CO2 emissions for exterior and interior car parts.
Source (All Images) | BMW AG
Bcomp’s (Fribourg, Switzerland) high-performance natural fiber materials will be used extensively in (Munich, Germany) series production for both exterior and interior components of future production cars. The flax-based materials mark a significant step in replacing parts traditionally made with carbon fiber over the past decades, Bcomp reports.
This development represents a major milestone in the partnership between Bcomp and BMW Group, which have collaborated for several years to research and develop CO2-reduced materials, demonstrate their performance in race environments and now bring them to series production readiness. For example, replacing carbon fiber composites with Bcomp’s natural fiber composites in the roof of the next-generation BMW M3 results in a CO2e reduction of around 40% in production, along with additional end-of-life benefits.
The roll-out of Bcomp’s materials into series production signifies a race-to- road success. The partnership began with motorsport prototyping and has since provided notable performance and sustainability improvements across multiple racing platforms, including Formula E, DTM and GT4.
In 2019, Bcomp and BMW Motorsport used CO2-reduced materials in Formula E via ampliTex and powerRibs flax materials to build a high-performance cooling shaft for the BMW iFE.20 race car. The 2022 BMW M4 GT4 further bridged the gap to road applications, featuring more natural fiber parts than any GT race car to date, both partners contend — inside and out.
Bcomp and BMW Group have also developed a bespoke natural fiber color and weave pattern that meets the stringent demands of roof structures in total vehicle homologation. The public has already seen this material in the award-winning BMW M Visionary Materials Seat project.
Bcomp’s natural fiber composites are designed to integrate seamlessly into multiple existing manufacturing processes at scale. The vehicle roof will be made using RTM, ensuring fast and consistent production. Other interior and exterior parts will be produced using a prepreg process. This approach supports vertical integration and improved control over performance, quality and sustainability.
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