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NASCAR (Dayton Beach, Calif., U.S.) has debuted the first version of its new battery electric vehicle (BEV) prototype, featuring bodywork made from flax fibers developed and supplied by Bcomp (Fribourg, Switzerland).

NASCAR’s BEV prototype is claimed to be the first major U.S. motorsports project to incorporate flax-based composites. The high-performance bodywork uses Bcomp’s ampliTex technical fabrics in conjunction with powerRibs, which were first inspired by the vein structure of leaves, to harness the natural advantages of sustainable flax fiber.

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Accordingly, this is a step toward implementing more sustainable measures into NASCAR competition vehicles. Under the NASCAR IMPACT umbrella, in April 2023 NASCAR committed to achieving net-zero operating emissions by 2035 and set a series of 5-year sustainability targets, including sourcing 100% renewable electricity at all owned tracks and offices and expanding EV charging infrastructure across the company’s facilities.

Bcomp’s composites offer a sustainable alternative to traditional carbon fiber, reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 85% at similar stiffness, and improving safety in motorsports thanks to a breaking behavior that eliminates sharp shattering, a safety aspect that is especially relevant in bumper-to-bumper racing.

“Integrating sustainable innovations into the design process helps set the standard for sustainability across our industry and supports progress toward the company’s sustainability goals and targets,” emphasizes NASCAR vice president of vehicle design, Brandon Thomas.

“We are thrilled to be entering this important phase with NASCAR with whom we have a strong shared vision for sustainability,” adds Johann Wacht, key account manager, automotive and motorsports, at Bcomp. “This collaboration is Bcomp’s first major U.S. motorsport project, and we are excited to demonstrate together with the NASCAR IMPACT team how racing can pave the way for sustainable innovations, enabling benefits for wider society further down the road.”