More wood in tomorrow's cars?

More wood in tomorrow's cars?

Wood in automobile construction is not new: paneling and interior elements have long been made from the natural raw material. But the Styrian Wood Cluster would like to go one step further and incorporate wood hybrid materials more deeply into the automobile production of tomorrow. The opportunities: Less dependence on raw materials, lower weight, lower CO₂-Burden. 

Managing director Christian Tippelreither from the Styrian Wood Cluster sees an increasing mood of optimism for lightweight wooden components in the mobility industry. This is why successful research projects like Wood.C.A.R. and CARpenTiER are largely responsible, as they have attracted international attention, as well as a more sustainable mindset: "Of course, there are still barriers in mind when it comes to wood in mobility, but we are at a point where, on the one hand, the will is there and, on the other hand, the absolute necessity for climate protection is becoming increasingly obvious. Various global crises also show us that self-sufficiency in raw materials can simplify, shorten and make supply chains more local."

The specific use of a bus staircase made of lightweight wood construction led to a weight saving of up to 35 percent and a reduction of up to 45 percent in emitted CO₂. Much more would also be possible in the area of ​​interior design in the entire mobility sector - both structurally and on the surface. “The know-how that we were able to generate through the research projects in Styria is opening up new business areas for the entire wood producing sector: We are at the beginning of the domestic wood industry being able to act as a supplier to the mobility industry and completely new added value and jobs being created,” says Tippelreither. 

From surveys, research and business already know about the attractiveness of mobility, which is increasingly relying on wood: "90 percent of women and 78 percent of men find the idea of a car with wooden components exciting. Furthermore, 64 percent of all respondents think that wooden components in the car can make a valuable contribution to climate protection or that they have future potential. And 61 percent stated that they would buy their preferred car model with wooden components if it contained them," says Christian Tippelreither and adds: "Now they have to we can do more.”

"Buses with biodiesel or electric cars for sharing are great. But: It can be much greener. If all of these vehicles were constructed using only a small proportion of wood-hybrid components, then we would achieve enormous savings in all directions and further optimize the overall balance in terms of climate protection. That and increasing the proportion towards 30 percent if possible must be our big vision."