The Finnish Biofore concept car, recently presented at the Geneva International Motor Show, tests the potential of renewable biomaterials in the automotive industry and transportation.
The Geneva Motor Show is one of the most important annual events in the automotive industry. This year, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences was able to join the world's top brands with its own stand. The Biofore concept car, designed and manufactured in Finland, was presented there.
Three years ago, UPM launched UPM Formi, a biocomposite made by mixing cellulose fiber from birch or pine and polypropylene plastic. The biocomposite has properties similar to plastic, but thanks to the cellulose, its carbon footprint is much smaller than that of regular plastic.
Since its launch, UPM Forma has been used in speaker enclosures, kitchen and garden furniture, among other things. But could it and other renewable biomaterial-based products be used in cars?
UPM decided to find out and contacted Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, which was known to have experience in designing and building concept cars.
“We wanted to both showcase the potential uses of our renewable biomaterials in general and test their suitability, especially in automotive manufacturing,” says the director. Juuso Konttinen From UPM.
"Even before the final financing figure for the project was determined, our design students started sketching out the design. Right from the start, we had to think about who the car was designed for. The target group was defined as family drivers under 40 who want to make responsible choices," explains the competence area manager at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. Pekka Hautala.
The concept car was completed in the fall of 2012. In the final stage, the car was test-driven, hidden from the public.
Twenty kilos of wood
The Biofore concept car is a compact vehicle where the first thing that catches the eye is the use of glass. The windshield and front door windows appear larger than usual. However, the most significant innovations are not immediately apparent.
The car's interior panels, skirting boards and doors use UPM Grada wood material, a type of easily shaped plywood, in addition to UPM Formi biocomposite. The fuel used is wood-based renewable diesel, UPM BioVerno. UPM Raflatac adhesive materials are used in the interior and spare parts.
A finished car contains about twenty kilograms of wood. Even that amount in large-scale production would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from car factories. However, up to a quarter of the weight of an industrially manufactured car could be renewable biomaterials. Plastic could be replaced in bumpers, for example.
After the Geneva Motor Show, the Biofore concept car will be registered for road use in Finland.
A dream of thousands of hours of work
Around 50 students from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, studying automotive technology, mechanical engineering, environmental technology and design, have participated in the design and construction of the Biofore concept car. They have accumulated tens of thousands of working hours.
"This project has offered students the opportunity to work long-term, in a way that is different from regular studies. Employers also appreciate that. And for many, building their own car means fulfilling their dreams," Hautala says.
For Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, the Biofore concept car became the largest technology development project in its history to date.
Text: Vesa Ville Mattila
Photo: UPM
