Sustainable materials used in performance auto

Upholstery Journal | October 2008

The Eco Elise from Lotus uses unique green materials in innovative ways that don’t revolve solely around tailpipe carbon dioxide. Traditionally, auto makers concentrate on reducing tailpipe carbon dioxide, however the Eco Elise uses sustainable materials, such as hemp, eco-wool, sisal, and high-tech, water-based paint during production and throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle to make it earth friendly.

Hemp is used for the composite body panels, the hard top and the spoiler, as well as in the lightweight seats. Hemp is a strong fiber that absorbs carbon dioxide through natural photosynthesis and is manufactured using low energy. The hemp material is used with a polyester resin to form a hybrid composite.

The two flexible solar panels embedded in the composite hemp hardtop contribute power to the electrical system and save energy that would have come from the engine. The solar panels are integrated into the hard top to showcase this technology’s feasibility.

The Eco Elise is 70 pounds lighter than the standard Elise S, which means higher fuel economy and better performance. The philosophy of the Eco Elise is “performance through light weight.”

The materials sourced for this automobile were studied carefully to ensure that each technology used reduces the environmental impact of the vehicle. The life of the components was analyzed during the production stage, in-use and at the end of the vehicle’s life. The technology used to produce the car, as well as during the lifecycle of the vehicle, aims to offer lower emissions of both solvents and carbon dioxide.

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