SABIC Empowers GENBETA's Record-Breaking Electric Car
SABIC has formally announced the use of its materials in applications on the GENBETA car, the new holder of the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the fastest speed achieved by a vehicle indoors.
SABIC utilized its application development knowledge and expertise in material science to assist in designing and developing cutting-edge components for the GENBETA car, a high-performance
electric vehicle based on the GEN3 model.
By doing so, SABIC played a crucial role in enabling the creation of the fastest, lightest, and most powerful electric car, aligning with their commitment to drive the global transition towards electrification and carbon neutrality.
SABIC's involvement in the GENBETA program and its integration into the car are integral parts of the company's collaborative innovation partnership with the world's first all-electric FIA World Championship.
The materials from SABIC integrated into applications of the GENBETA car are highly engineered thermoplastics that enable design freedom through their inherent processing mouldability compared to most other materials. Such thermoplastics can help enhance the car’s aerodynamics, contributing to its acceleration and speed performance.
The relevant applications include front wing endplates, which are formed using an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process known as fused deposition modeling, are mounted on the outboard extremities of the vehicle’s front wing. They are integral to redirection of airflow around the front wheels to help reduce drag while contributing to the car’s downforce and stability.
Apart from that, wheel fins are manufactured through injection moulding with SABIC’s sustainable mechanically-recycled thermoplastics from the portfolio of TRUCIRCLE™ circular materials.
These parts are mounted onto the wheel rims in a radial, spoke-like pattern, and are intended to help optimize airflow and reduce aerodynamic drag for higher acceleration and speed performance. As an additional benefit, the fins can increase the car’s overall efficiency and aid in cooling the brakes to improve stopping power.
As for wind deflector, this transparent part is a coated thermoplastic sheet product, manufactured through an extrusion process using a bio-renewable, low-carbon material from the TRUCIRCLE portfolio. The component is attached to the front of the cockpit, ahead of the driver, and supports optimization of airflow for decreased drag – again, contributing to improved speed performance.
As SABIC collaborates with Formula E and its partners, it is drawing on an still-expanding portfolio of thermoplastics developed under dedicated solution platforms for electrification (BLUEHERO™), and the circular economy (TRUCIRCLE).
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