Volvo Tech Fund invests in sustainable lightweight materials from Bcomp

Car manufacturer Volvo is investing in Bcomp through its in-house Volvo Cars Tech Fund: the Swiss company develops high-performance lightweight materials based on natural fibres. The Swiss company is developing high-performance lightweight materials based on natural fibres. With the help of renewable flax fibres, a bio-based material is being created that is not only lighter than conventional plastic parts but is also expected to enable considerable savings in energy consumption and emissions. At the same time, it can be used in a variety of ways, resulting in additional design options for aesthetic surfaces. The financial details of the investment in Bcomp have not been disclosed.

Volvo is already actively researching natural fibre composites for the next generation of electric cars. Its subsidiary Polestar is also aiming to use Bcomp materials in future models. According to company calculations, natural fibre-based composites are up to 50 per cent lighter than conventional plastic parts. They also use up to 70 per cent less plastic and cause up to 62 per cent fewer CO2 emissions.

The Volvo Concept Recharge, to be unveiled in the summer of 2021, already uses Bcomp materials. The concept vehicle shows how the Swedish premium car manufacturer intends to reduce the CO2 balance of its (electric) vehicles and that of the company as a whole. On the way to becoming a climate-neutral company by 2040, Volvo will offer exclusively purely electric cars from 2030.