Mercedes-Benz’s New VISION EQXX to Feature UBQ Materials’ Sustainable Plastic Substitute
VISION EQXX will feature UBQ, marking a milestone in lightweight design that meets the exacting Mercedes-Benz requirements of resource efficiency.
UBQ Materials, developer of a thermoplastic converted from 100% landfill-destined waste, announced today that its fully recyclable bio-based thermoplastic will be featured in the all-electric Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, which was presented in a digital world premiere on the Mercedes me media online platform.
Whereas most automobiles use petroleum-based plastics for component production, Mercedes-Benz used UBQ Materials’ bio-based thermoplastic to maximize the sustainability of the VISION EQXX. The new car features UBQ in the bionic structure of the vehicle’s body shell and in interior structures such as the headrests.
The openings in the car’s rear-floor casting were closed using patches made from UBQ produced on a 3D printer. These UBQ patches were designed to optimize stiffness and sound-damping qualities of the mega cast. This first-of-its-kind approach can achieve weight savings compared to conventionally produced cast structures, marking a milestone in lightweight design.
The VISION EQXX interior maximizes use of sustainable resources, also including carpets made from bamboo, upholstery derived from cacti and other lab-grown and bio-based alternatives to leather and textiles.
“The incorporation of sustainable materials into luxury, high-performance vehicles is just beginning,” said Albert Douer, chairman and co-CEO of UBQ Materials. “UBQ can be seamlessly incorporated as a drop-in solution with existing tools and manufacturing processes including compression moulding or 3D printing.”
In May 2021, UBQ Materials and Mercedes-Benz together won the Sustainability Award in Automotive 2021 in the “best start-up” category, presented by Roland Berger and ATZ/MTZ. The two companies won the award for their collaborative work developing sustainable car parts.
Learn more by visiting www.ubqmaterials.com
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