I think the electric car is disrupting the automobile industry, but 3D printing may be the real revolution going on behind the scenes.
Polymaker, a developer of 3D printing materials, and XEV, an Italian car manufacturer, have unveiled a mass-producible 3D printed electric car.
The car, named LSEV, has seen all its plastic parts 3D printed in Polymaker Industrial materials. Production is scheduled to begin at the end of this year, with the first deliveries set to begin in Europe and Asia in the second quarter of 2019.
It has a top speed of 43 mph and a range of 90 miles. It weighs a featherlight 450 kilograms (992 pounds). That’s less than a Formula One car.
3D printing means a new car can be created in just 3 to 12 months versus the 3 to 5 years needed for a conventional car.
Nearly all its visible parts are 3D-printed except for its windows, tyres and chassis. The LSEV is essentially made of polyamide, commonly known as nylon.
A single production line – complete with 3D printers and assembly facilities – will be able to handle the building of 500 cars annually.
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