BMW is preparing to transition from carbon fiber to a new natural composite material made from flax. The car company has been working with Bcomp, a clean technology company, since 2019 to use the material in its race cars. According to BMW, the flax-based composite now meets the legal standards for roof structures that can be used on cars. If you’ve looked at a BMW M in the last five years, you’re likely aware that the Munich-based company frequently incorporates carbon fiber into its cars. It’s not a small group, either. It may come as a surprise to learn that BMW is trying to eliminate carbon fiber. This makes sense. The company aims to replace the high-tech composite with a new, natural alternative made from a flax-based material. Starting in 2019, BMW began collaborating with Bcomp, a clean technology company in which it holds shares, to incorporate flax fiber into its Formula E cars. Because it worked so well, the company started changing parts on its M4 DTM and M4 GT4 with carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. As of now, the flax-based fiber has been “confirmed for series maturity,” which means that BMW says it is ready for mass production. The company states that using a natural alternative for carbon-fiber parts will reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by future BMW products. The business claims that using flax-composite roof panels instead of carbon-fiber ones reduces CO2e emissions by approximately 40%. By leveraging the end-of-life advantages of flax-based materials, BMW might be able to avoid the impact of the European Union’s proposed regulation that would classify carbon fiber as a hazardous material. BMW is still showcasing how well the new material performs, but it hasn’t conducted any direct tests against the tried-and-true carbon fiber. Over the weekend, BMW’s M4 GT4 EVO won the SP10 class at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
