A team from the Eindhoven University of Technology has created Lina, a 300kg car whose chassis, bodywork and interiors are all made from natural materials.
For the chassis, the team used a substance formed by resin and reinforced by natural fibres, as well as a biodegradable plastic created by natural substances rather than petroleum.
Other materials used included sugar beet enveloped in sheets of flax.
The car is powered by modular battery packs and has a top speed of 80 km/h. It is certified by the Netherlands Vehicle Authority as roadworthy and can carry four people.
The Eindhoven team says that “in terms of its strength-weight ratio, the bio-composite is comparable with fibreglass but manufactured in a sustainable way”.
Lina can be unlocked with a smartphone and can recognise the user’s personal settings such as music playlists or phone contacts.
Image courtesy of Eindhoven University of Technology
