From BBC News – Technology
An environmentally friendly car, partly made using 3D printing technology, has gone on show in Canada.
The Urbee uses electric motors, backed up by a small ethanol-powered engine, and is capable of 200mpg. Although the vehicle has been in development for several years, its complete printed body shell has never been seen publicly before. Only one Urbee currently exists, but its makers hope to go into commercial production by 2014.
The use of “additive manufacturing”, where layers of material are built up, or “printed” to form a solid objects, contributed to the car’s green credentials, according to project leader Jim Kor. “One only puts material where one needs it,” explained Mr Kor, who unveiled his vehicle at the TEDxWinnipeg conference. “It is an additive process, building the part essentially one ‘molecule’ of material at a time, ultimately with no waste. This process can do many materials, and our goal would be to use fully-recycled materials.”
Currently it is only the Urbee’s body panels that are printed – by Minneapolis-based Stratasys. However, Mr Kor said he hoped that other parts would be produced this way in future.
Continues at: BBC News – Urbee 3D printed car goes on display in Canada.
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