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Continental Structural Plastics perfects carbon fiber RTM process, launches production programs

Green Car Congress

Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) has fine-tuned its carbon fiber RTM (resin transfer molding) (CF-RTM) process to the point that a premium automaker will be using the technology for closures on future vehicle platforms. We have been targeting a 3-minute cycle time using 100 percent recycled carbon fiber.

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New IACMI collaboration to develop advanced carbon fiber for hydrogen, natural gas storage tanks; $2.7M DOE award

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million from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and validate technology that will reduce the cost of manufacturing high-performance carbon fiber by 25% to make composite natural gas or hydrogen fuel tanks to power cars and trucks. The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) will receive $2.7

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PNNL leads team to accelerate development of affordable carbon fiber composites

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Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, along with experts from industry and academia, have developed predictive engineering tools for designing new, economical, and lightweight automotive composites. This approach should speed the development of more economical carbon fiber materials.

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IACMI, DuPont and Purdue partner on automotive carbon-fiber composites

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and Purdue University, has launched the first project selected with a dual focus on decreasing the cost of manufacture and increasing design flexibility for automotive composites. Multiple factors, including cost and design constraints, present barriers to the adoption of composites in high volume automotive applications.

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Ford collaborating with DowAksa on automotive-grade carbon fiber, part of IACMI

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Ford and DowAksa are accelerating joint research to develop high-volume manufacturing techniques for automotive-grade carbon fiber, aiming to make vehicles lighter for greater fuel efficiency, performance and capability. Ford and Dow Chemical began working together in 2012 to develop low-cost, high-volume carbon fiber composites.

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Tesla owner designs creative Model Y solar roof mod that adds up to 60 miles a day

Teslarati

A Tesla Model Y owner has created what is arguably one of the most useful DIY accessories ever designed for a mainstream electric car. Using some clever DIY strategies and conventional solar panels, the Model Y owner was able to design a system that allows his all-electric crossover to charge from the sun while it’s parked outside.

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Ford-led consortium testing hydrogen fuel cell technology on E-Transit in UK

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Other partners on the project are bp, capturing hydrogen usage and infrastructure requirements; Cambustion , testing the fuel cell system; Viritech , designing hydrogen storage systems; and Cygnet Texkimp , providing the pressure vessels’ carbon fiber tooling.

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