How Long Does Carbon Fiber Last on a BMW Car?
Carbon Fiber Last on a BMW Car
When you see carbon fiber on a car, you know it’s something special. This dark material exudes classiness and sportiness at the same time, and its high rigidity guarantees great driving dynamics. Moreover, it is able to absorb significant amounts of crash energy.
This is why car designers love it – pure or in add-on parts – and engineers are eager to incorporate it into their models. But carbon has its disadvantages, too: it is very expensive compared to other materials and requires an elaborate production process.
But it is not impossible to Buy BMW full carbon fiber body kits economically in volume. Various manufacturing technologies and innovative chemistry are making it possible to overcome those obstacles. And BMW is taking steps to prepare the way.
How Long Does Carbon Fiber Last on a BMW Car?
The German manufacturer already made a big step forward in 2011 when it opened a carbon fibre plant in Moses Lake, US. Back then, CEO Norbert Reithofer promised that the technology would be the key to carbon-intensive mass-market electric cars – and revolutionize the way vehicles are designed, developed and produced.
Since then, however, sales of the BMW i3 and its successors have not lived up to expectations. And BMW decided to divest from its joint ventures with SGL in Wackersdorf and Moses Lake in 2017. Nevertheless, carbon remains an important component for the BMW i models and the company is planning to integrate it even more in future cars.
In fact, the BMW iX is going to be the first car with a multi-material body incorporating large parts made of CFRP. The manufacturer says it will shave several kilograms off the vehicle’s curb weight by using carbon in place of steel components. Depending on the application, CFRP is said to reduce a vehicle’s weight by up to 30 per cent. Fitting a CFRP side frame, for example, is expected to save around 176 pounds/80 kilograms compared to an aluminium alternative.
The BMW iX is also set to benefit from secondary CFRP, which makes use of production offcuts from the i3 and i8 models. The reprocessed waste is used for items such as IP support frames, seat frames and spare wheels in order to reduce production costs and make the iX even more sustainable. Aside from its advantages in terms of rigidity and weight, carbon also has a positive environmental impact. After all, it is 100 times more durable than aluminum and can be recycled repeatedly without losing its mechanical properties.
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The manufacturing process for carbon fiber components involves several steps, including the layup of the carbon fiber sheets, resin infusion, curing, and finishing. The precision and care taken during these processes are critical to ensuring the final product meets the stringent quality and performance standards set by BMW.