TU-TESL

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According to foreign media reports, an alliance of industrial, academic and government agencies has cooperated in the NCV (nano cellulose vehicle) project of Japan's Ministry of environment (MOE) to make a concept vehicle - NCV concept vehicle using cellulose nanofibers. The alliance of 22 institutions, including Kyoto University, uses as many CNF based components as possible to reduce vehicle weight by more than 10%. CNF is a plant derived material. This time, the alliance has developed a gull wing door, which can be opened upward. CNF and resin materials (CNF reinforced resin) made of CNF as reinforcement materials are not only used in interior decoration, but also in body panels that require high strength, rigidity and appearance quality. In this concept car, CNF is widely used in large-scale body panels, greatly reducing the vehicle weight. The front cover of the car is only made of CNF, and even does not contain CNF reinforced resin material. In addition, the car is equipped with a transparent roof and rear windows, and both are made of resin glass made of polycarbonate (PC) added with CNF. With the addition of CNF, the strength and stiffness of the PC increase, while the thickness can be reduced, resulting in a reduction in weight. CNF with smaller diameter can transmit light without reducing transparency, so it can be used for transparent roof and rear window. The gull wing door panel is made of carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP). Although NCV concept car is a concept car, it can drive at 20km / h (about 12.4mph). In the future, the alliance plans to further increase the maximum speed of the car. (all pictures in the article are from the Ministry of environment of Japan)