The use of recycled carbon fibre nonwovens in new automotive applications is being planned for the Chery eQ1 electric vehicle.

Chery and Adesso Advanced Materials, based in Wuhu, China, are teaming up with the UK’s ELG Carbon Fibre to work on the new components and the goal is to further reduce the weight of the eQ1 – which already makes extensive use of aluminium technology – through the selective use of recycled carbon fibre composites. The longer term intent is to then apply the knowledge gained from these projects in Chery’s conventional vehicles.

During 2016, ELG started the production of a range of nonwoven mats on a new production line which is specifically designed to process recycled carbon fibres. The mats are available in widths up to 2.7 metres at a wide range of fibre areal weights and targeted at OEMs in the transportation sector seeking cost effective alternatives to virgin carbon fibre for vehicle lightweighting.

Following a preliminary evaluation of ELG’s materials by Professor Fan Guanghong’s team at the Advanced Manufacture Technology Centre of China Academy of Machinery Science Technology (CAMTC), Chery has suggested initial applications to be investigated, and providing that technical and commercial targets are achieved, ELG, Adesso and Chery intend to enter into a definite agreement to start full scale production of these parts in Wuhu. This agreement would see ELG Carbon Fibre establish a carbon fibre recycling operation in China when sufficient volumes of the materials are required.

“The eQ1, through its extensive use of aluminium, already represents a huge advancement in lightweighting for the Chinese car industry,” said Frazer Barnes, managing director of ELG. “We are pleased to be working with the innovative engineering team at Adesso and Chery to help them take the next step forward and start introducing carbon fibre composites into their vehicles”.

 “Working together on this project enables us to address the barriers preventing the large scale use of carbon fibre composites in automotive applications – namely cost – through the use of recycled materials, design and manufacturing, and collaboration with experienced partners,” added Bo Liang, president, chairman and CEO of Adesso. “Our vision is that cooperation leads to an automotive composites hub in Wuhu. It also strengthens our vision on sustainability of the composite industry in China.”

Adesso Advanced Materials specialises in the development of recyclable composite materials and structures that are used in transportation, industrial, sports and leisure applications.

At the forthcoming Nonwovens for High-performance Applications conference (NHPA 2017), taking place in Prague, Czech Republic from March 7-8, ELG’s Anthony Stephenson will speak on progress with the company’s new recycled carbon fibre nonwovens technology and materials.

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