Future Technology: 3D printed cars to hit the roads by 2019

3D printing would lower down the cost of manufacturing drastically making automotive production more environment friendly

The world’s first 3D printed car looks set to make production next year – and its maker believes it previews an “inevitable” change that’ll affect the whole industry. Chinese company Polymaker and Italy-based vehicle manufacturer are jointly producing smart sized electric car LSEV and is almost entirely made using 3D printing technology, which creates parts layer by layer from the ground.

Few crucial elements would still be manufactured using conventional methods, such as Chassis, Glass windscreen and tyres. One major breakthrough from the technology is that the waste material produced in the manufacturing would be reduced drastically which according to Polymaker boss Xiaofan Luo said can inspire more car manufacturers to adopt 3D printing.

Polymaker has also been successful in reducing the number of plastic parts in the car from 2000(using conventional built methods) to just 57 - a major improvement which can reduce the production cost and environmental impact of car production. 

A prototype for the LSEV demonstrates the performance it can offer. The prototype is claimed to be capable of a 93-mile range and can do 43mph. It weighs 450kg – close to half that of a Smart Fortwo.

The LSEV is on display at Shanghai’s China 3D-printing Culture Museum. It will be shown at the Beijing motor show next month.

It took three days to build the prototype and XEV expects production to eventually total around 500 units per year on a single production line. When sales open sometime in late 2019, likely to be in China first, prices are estimated to start at about £7100.

Luo believes that the LSEV will soon be followed by more 3D printed cars. He said that: “The availability of more functional high-performance materials will enable 3D printing to be used on many more applications.” He described 3D printing production as “an inevitable trend in the [car] industry”.

Credits: Autocar India