Light Weight Vehicle in Natural Fibre Composite

Abstract

Combined with shared service points in prime locations the use of Light Electric Vehicles (LEV) can help optimize the cost expensive „last mile“ of parcel service. [1] At the same time, a shared service point enables the switch from diesel driven engines to muscle-powered electric driving in cities. It is known, that in city operating courier services up to 80 % of actual used diesel fuel can be substituted by muscle supported electric driving. [2] To cover the needs of global operating parcel services a muscle-power supported LEV must meet the requirements of ergonomics (regarding usability in the modes drive and delivery) and parcel security. To gain economic benefits the construction of LEV for parcel delivery should be flexible enough to meet specific needs in cities - like the topography of the roadways, daily amount of goods to deliver and the legal provision at the local situation. Production of LEV in small and medium enterprises will unlock a niche for first industrial uses of Natural Fiber Composites (NFC) in load-bearing structures. By pre-impregnation a replicable quality will bring the structural light-weight construction with NFC to new fields of use, as the construction of a LEV will demonstrate. At the end of its life cycle, the vehicle proves further economic and ecological benefits due to the use of NFC: A cost effective thermal conversion under a reduced release of fossil CO2 is guaranteed. [3; 4]

Dynamic and thermo‐mechanical properties of hybridized kenaf/PALF reinforced phenolic composites

“…Besides being economical and easily available, natural fibers also exhibit various attractive characteristics, such as low density, good insulation, thermal properties, high specific strength, and minimal energy consumption during processing . PALF has received more attention as reinforcing material compared with other natural fibers, such as jute, hemp, kenaf, and flax . Pineapple leaves are an agricultural waste material, used to produce fibers.…”

Light Electric Vehicles for Muscle–Battery Electric Mobility in Circular Economy: A Comprehensive Study

“…Two construction methods, mixed steel/GFRP and GFRP and the elaboration of the ergonomics of the driver (Figure 1a-c) were developed using CATIA V5 6R2020 software. For weight optimisation and fibre composite design, finite element models were used with ANSYS AIM 16.2 software and the Workbench PlugIn LS-PrePost ® V4.7.7 [13]. Material parameters required for the component design were determined using the relevant material testing standards or taken from material data sheets, when available.…”

Recent Developments and Research Avenues for Polymers in Electric Vehicles

“…proposed a comparison for the development of a light‐weight e‐vehicle with a sandwich structure made from natural fibre composite decking laces on a polyester (PET) foam core. They studied the weight savings on the Cargo Cruiser and proposed a 2 nd generation vehicle based on their studies [217] . Fantuzzi et al.…”

“…They studied the weight savings on the Cargo Cruiser and proposed a 2 nd generation vehicle based on their studies. [217] Fantuzzi et al reported the material characterization for woven biocomposites based on flax fibres and studied them as an alternative to carbon/glass reinforced components such as front and rear bumpers in structural automotive applications. The mechanical behaviour of micro e-vehicles was tested using finite element modelling by altering the fibre reinforced materials.…”