New bio-based material for EV developed during an installation creation
“We Harvest Wind” is an interactive installation created by Swedish electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Polestar and the Woven Studio of awareness artist Thijs Biersteker. During the creation, a new, fully biodegradable corn-based adhesive was developed, which has shown the potential to become a future component in Polestar cars.
The We Harvest Wind sculpture is three metres in diameter, featuring a collection of blades that spin around a central spiral. In selecting a material for the blades, the team initially explored the use of Bcomp powerRibs together with a natural fiber and polypropylene (NFPP) board – the same flax-based composite material featured extensively on the Polestar Precept concept car.
However, the team would like to explore a series of more sustainable, biodegradable resins. “This collaboration has kick-started several initiatives within the team at Polestar and cemented some ongoing studies we have with Bcomp. Now we are hoping to implement a fully bio-based solution, with powerRibs and bio-sourced polypropylene, in the future production of Polestar cars,” said Ross Kelk, Chief Engineer of Interiors at Polestar UK R&D.
Thijs Biersteker stated, “We made the blades in the sculpture from 3D printed recycled PET plastic, and the outer wings were made with the flax-based structure and a new eco-friendly and corn-based resin – a combination of materials which was developed during the project. We developed a composite between the flax and polylactic acid (PLA), which is basically a biopolymer that is biodegradable and made of corn.”
