Sustainable Flax Composites Enter Serial Automotive Production in Volvo EX30
Swiss sustainable lightweighting company Bcomp has announced the application of its ampliTex natural-fiber-composite technology in the new Volvo EX30. This landmark project will see Bcomp’s flax-fiber composites offered as an optional trim for the dashboard and doors of the EX30. The collaboration follows Volvo Cars Tech Fund’s Series B investment in Bcomp last year.
While Bcomp’s natural-fiber composites have been well-proven in demanding motorsport applications like Formula 1 and Formula E, this is the first production vehicle to reach consumers. The highly innovative Volvo EX30 is a small all-electric SUV that combines safety, sustainability, cutting-edge tech, and Scandinavian design. Drivers can choose from four distinct interior “rooms,” two of which — the Mist and Pine rooms — embrace the natural aesthetic of ampliTex trim panels.
The Mist interior “room” concept in the Volvo EX30 features Bcomp’s ampliTex flax-reinforced composite technology. Image courtesy of Volvo Car Group.
Cooperation commenced with concept cars
Bcomp had worked with Volvo Cars previously, in 2018, for the Volvo Ocean Race Recycled Plastics Demonstrator Vehicle. This was followed by the Concept Recharge in 2021, which demonstrated the future direction that Volvo Cars would take in all-electric car development. It included extensive use of Bcomp composites in both the interior and exterior, from storage areas to bumpers and sills.
AmpliTex is a technical reinforcement fabric made from renewable flax fibers grown in Europe. It combines sustainability, low weight, and unique design opportunities. The use of ampliTex in the EX30 marks a significant stride in Bcomp’s vision for mobility, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainability and long-term efforts to reduce the lifetime emissions of passenger vehicles. It is also in support of Volvo Cars’ sustainability strategy, which includes selling solely all-electric cars by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2040.
First flax composite production car
Christian Fischer, CEO and co-founder of Bcomp, commented: “This is a milestone moment for Bcomp. We are all incredibly proud to see ampliTex composites in the new Volvo EX30 – it will be the first production vehicle delivered to customers with our materials! We have had the pleasure to work closely with Volvo Cars for a long time, sharing the same vision for sustainable mobility and the potential for biobased materials to contribute to a circular future. This is the first step of our plan to [enter] into the large-scale mobility industry and continue our mission to help our customers decarbonize their supply chains.”
The Volvo EX30, featuring Bcomp’s ampliTex technology, was officially launched in June 2023, and is available for order or pre-order in select markets.
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