Photo: StreetScooter
Not long ago, Local Motors, the company that brought us the Rally Fighter, has written another important entry in the book of automotive history by being the first to build a functional 3D printed electric car. The potential for these is immense and there’s already another company that created such a “homemade” project.
Germany based StreetScooter recently completed their first 3D printed car prototype called the C16. However, compared to the Strati, it comes with some big differences.
When making the Strati, Local Motors chose a design that enabled as few parts as possible after which they simply printed most of them - the monocoque chassis, seat shells, rims steering and every other piece that wasn’t made out of metal, rubber or fabric.
The StreetScooter C16 still has a separate metal frame and used 3D printing method to create the rest of its components, like the door panels, bumpers, wheel arches, headlight casings, quarter panels, side skirts, roof and other interior components like the dashboard.
You can already tell this method is much closer to become a reality, since Local Motors’ printer was not quite something you get off the shelf. Their printed chassis was made out of one piece and it surely is bigger than a meter.
Exact details on the C16 are not available, but the final version will reportedly tip the scales at 450 kg (992 lb) without the battery pack, offer a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and a range of at least 100 km. Promising enough already, but then comes the expected price tag it will wear, of under €10,000 ($12,500).
Until a final version will hit the market, you can go check the prototype at the EuroMold show in Frankfurt, between November 25 - 28 this year.
The company currently makes two electric vehicle models. A compact two-door city runabout and a van-like model that has been adopted by the Deutschland Post in some areas already.
When making the Strati, Local Motors chose a design that enabled as few parts as possible after which they simply printed most of them - the monocoque chassis, seat shells, rims steering and every other piece that wasn’t made out of metal, rubber or fabric.
The StreetScooter C16 still has a separate metal frame and used 3D printing method to create the rest of its components, like the door panels, bumpers, wheel arches, headlight casings, quarter panels, side skirts, roof and other interior components like the dashboard.
Different
This allowed the team to experiment and create the prototype in about 12 months, thanks to the Objet1000 - the world’s largest multi-material 3D printer that allows for parts of up to one meter (3.3 ft) in length.You can already tell this method is much closer to become a reality, since Local Motors’ printer was not quite something you get off the shelf. Their printed chassis was made out of one piece and it surely is bigger than a meter.
Exact details on the C16 are not available, but the final version will reportedly tip the scales at 450 kg (992 lb) without the battery pack, offer a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and a range of at least 100 km. Promising enough already, but then comes the expected price tag it will wear, of under €10,000 ($12,500).
Until a final version will hit the market, you can go check the prototype at the EuroMold show in Frankfurt, between November 25 - 28 this year.
The company currently makes two electric vehicle models. A compact two-door city runabout and a van-like model that has been adopted by the Deutschland Post in some areas already.
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