There have been 3D-printed automotive components, such as Bugatti Chiron brake calipers (albeit only in trial stages at the moment) and various components for the Koenigsegg One:1. Soon however, there will be a car that will be almost entirely constructed via 3D-printing methods – enter the LSEV, which will be produced by Chinese company Polymaker and Italy-based X Electrical Vehicle (XEV).
Polymaker has employed the manufacturing method to reduce the number of plastic parts in a car from 2,000 conventionally built items to 57, according to Autocar, which has the benefit of reducing the environmental impact of vehicle production from reduced waste material.
An LSEV prototype has been claimed to be capable of a 149 km range from its electric powertrain, which can propel the car to a top speed of 69 km/h. The vehicle’s total weight is 450 kg. Construction of the prototype took three days, and XEV expects production to reach 500 units annually on a single production line. Sales are likely to commence in China late next year, at an estimated £7100 (RM39,260).
“The availability of more functional high-performance materials will enable 3D printing to be used on many more applications,” said Polymaker boss Xiaofan Luo, who described 3D printing production as an inevitable trend in the car industry.
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