No longer the preserve of technocrats, electric vehicles have taken the spotlight as the eco-friendly automobiles of choice.
Its well known thatEVs can lower emissions, especially when theyre charged with green energy.
One factor thats often overlooked is the production of the thousands of individual parts that go into one vehicle.
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Instead, the new marker of a premium vehicle is vegan leather.
Made from non-animal sources, these luxurious materials give a similar aesthetic, without sacrificing any cows.
Cozy interiors without the environmental cost of farming cattle and producing toxic greenhouse gasses in the process.
Materials are at the heart of our sustainability work.
Thats where the environmental and social impact comes from the use and the processing of materials.
By merging style and sustainability, car designers can show that cruelty-free motoring is an option for drivers worldwide.
Some manufacturers used cork pre-WW2 due to a lack of plastic availability.
Automotive designers aretransforming cellulose fibresfound in plants into upholstery materials like cushions and seats.
And thats not all.
Others are taking to the seas for their latest vehicle materials.
Even foodie favorites like coffee and tomatoes are making their way into the new generation of EVs.
Automakers are transformingtomato skinsinto suspension bushing and car hoses.
Some are repurposing coffee chaff to create energy efficient headlamps that are lightweight and durable.
Volvo recently came out with a vehicle thatsmade with fossil free steel.
Instead of fire powered coal, the company used electrolysis based green hydrogen to produce the steel.
Alongside steelmakings eco-friendly makeover, researchers are exploring the viability of cellulose fibers as an alternative to steel.
Being one-fifth of the weight, but five times stronger, this material has some promising applications.
Recycling plastics is reinventing cars
And inspiration isnt just coming from new materials.
Likewise, other recyclable materials are becoming an everyday part of new electric vehicles.
Even the cars yellow paint job is actually a foil made from recycled materials.
By using unconventional sources to create vehicles, todays automakers are challenging norms and opening up new possibilities.
The ones that combine this new view of luxury with smart sustainable designs will come out on top.
For Polestar, using eco-conscious materials is a fundamentalshift into the future.
Klaren says,
Its really important for us as a brand that we redefine what a premium material is.
Driving into the future has never looked so chic or eco-friendly.
