BMW introduces components made of flax to its vehicles
BMW joins the number of manufacturers making used of plant-based components for its vehicles.
The race to implement plant-based bike parts is on. BMW announced last week that it will soon be using plant-based components for its production-model cars. Almost certainly it won’t be long before the same technology shows up on its bikes. But BMW will need to do so quickly if it wants to claim to be first.
BMW has already been using “natural fiber composites” - ie, flax-based components - in its Formula E cars since 2019. Developed in collaboration with the Swiss clean-tech company Bcomp, the components have also found use in the BMW M4 DTM and M4 GT4, where they replace carbon fiber plastic parts.
Flax is a purple-flowered plant used to make linen and various seeds that health nuts insist are good for your gut. In recent years, auto and motorcycle manufacturers have found that it is also useful for making vehicle components. Flax-based components are inherently better for the environment, but they are also generally lighter and stronger than plastic.
BMW isn’t the only one interested in the tech. There are rumours that Royal Enfield is planning to use flax-based body panels on the electric Himalayan that was teased on the brand’s Instagram account recently. And Honda uses a similar material on the NC750X called Durabio.
BMW, meanwhile, says it plans to bring the tech to its production cars, in particular to provide the material for its roof structures.
“Exchanging carbon fiber composites for natural fiber composites in the roof… leads to a CO2 reduction of around 40 percent in production” according to the manufacturer.
One would expect the tech to be adopted by BMW Motorrad sooner than later - especially as the manufacturer’s bikes seem to be growing larger by the month. Finding a way to reduce weight amid that trend is important.
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Chris Cope is a fourth-generation journalist, originally from Texas. He has lived in the UK for roughly two decades and has been writing about motorcycles for most of that time. He has written for dozens of publications and websites in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
