Biofore Concept Car

Innovative replacement of plastics with renewable biomaterials makes Biofore concept car a true Biofore product.

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Overview

Biofore Concept Car is all about change: a change in perspective and in the global approach of using renewable materials. The car is a great example of Biofore thinking, and we believe it will be a milestone in the utilisation of next generation biomaterials in the automotive value chain.

The concept car is designed and manufactured in partnership with Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, and several other partner companies.

The engineering and industrial design students of Metropolia designed and manufactured the car with the guidance of teachers who have successfully carried out several internationally renowned concept car projects.

Street legal futuristic citycar with superior sustainability features
1.2 l low-emission diesel engine
Combined fuel consumption 3,41 / 100km
Weight 1110 kg
Dimensions L:3860, W:1775, H:1610

Biofore Concept Car is all about change: a change in perspective and in the global approach of using renewable materials.

A) UPM Grada

Thermoformable wood material. Enables durable, high quality, ecological and visually appealing designs.

Passenger compartment floor
Centre console
Display panel cover
Door Panels

B) UPM Formi

Biocomposite made from cellulose fibre and plastics. Recyclable, clean and odourless, offers excellent dyeing possibilities and paintability.

Front mask
Side skirt
Dashboard
Door Panels
Interior panels

C) UPM Raflatac

Self-adhesive label materials. Manufactured by using latest adhesive technology and solvent-free production process.

Spare parts
Interior and exterior design, eg. in the engine space

D) UPM BioVerno

Wood-based renewable diesel. Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil fuels. Reduces also tailpipe emission significantly. Suitable for all diesel engines.

E) Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF)

The revolutionary wood-based fillers with outstandingly low environmental footprint, can replace traditional fossil-based, CO₂ intensive fillers in rubbers and plastics, used in

Weatherstrip,
hoses,
sealing systems, and
other automotive rubber and plastic applications.

UPM’s RFF provide top product performance with considerably lower material weight and the highest level of purity.

Biofore concept car fact sheet

Driven by Biofore brochure

Design and engineering
by Team Metropolia

The Biofore Concept Car is designed and manufactured by students from the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

“Sustainability is a major subject globally. We were excited to be able to design and build a vehicle that would demonstrate that already today we have biomaterials that are a real alternative to traditional oil-based materials. During the past four years of building the Biofore Concept Car, our students have come to see that these biomaterials are of high quality, durable and also offer new design opportunities,” says Pekka Hautala, Project Director from Metropolia.

“The Biofore Concept Car showcases the potential of UPM’s wood-based materials. Not only for the automotive industry, but also for a wide range of other industrial and consumer applications. The possibilities are endless," says Hanna Maula, Vice President of Communications and Brand at UPM.

The Biofore Concept Car runs on renewable diesel, UPM BioVerno. A fuel that has been produced 100% outside food value chain.

Powered by UPM BioVerno

The Biofore Concept Car is no traditional concept car. It’s the real thing – designed to be street-legal and ready for a spin. A car is of no use unless it takes you from A to B. The Biofore Concept Car does just this – only a lot more sustainably.

The Biofore Concept Car runs on renewable diesel, UPM BioVerno. A fuel that has been produced 100% outside food value chain. This innovative renewable diesel is developed and refined by UPM. The fuel will decrease greenhouse gas emissions remarkably in comparison to fossil fuels, and it is suitable for all diesel engines.

UPM BioVerno briefly

High quality renewable diesel
Compatible with all diesel engines and EU and US diesel standards
Has similar properties to fossil diesel
Made from crude tall oil, a residue of pulp production
Distributed in gas stations
Cuts greenhouse gas emissions remarkably compared to fossil fuels

Biomaterials that exceed your expectations

The Biofore Concept Car improves the sustainability of a car’s lifecycle in many ways. First, by replacing traditionally plastic components with ones made from biomaterials, the overall weight is reduced significantly, which leads to lower fuel consumption.

Second, the parts are recyclable and have a lower ecological footprint in production. All biomaterial-based components are safe, durable and ecological.

UPM Formi biocomposite

Recyclable. Up to 50% of UPM Formi's raw material is renewable.
Clean and odourless composite products.
Excellent dyeing possibilities and paintability.

UPM Grada thermoformable wood material

Formable with heat and pressure
Enables durable, high quality, ecological and visually appealing designs.
Adhesive does not contain formaldehyde or other harmful compounds.

New design opportunities

By using renewable materials like UPM Formi and UPM Grada, businesses can reinvent their design approaches. UPM’s biomaterials can be used to create lighter and recyclable end products that can also aesthetically bear new characteristics via wooden textures.

UPM Raflatac´s label products

In addition, UPM Raflatac’s label products demonstrate their performance in the Biofore Concept Car. Used in the metal spare parts and engine compartment, the labels are heat and chemical resistant and manufactured by using the latest adhesive technology and solvent-free production processes.

The next generation

The automotive industry is going through a major paradigm shift. All traditional forms of power output, fuels, materials and vehicle types are being questioned. The choices we make in the near future are crucial in redefining the passenger car as a more responsible option for transportation.

Next step in renewable biomaterials

We not only need to cut down on fuel consumption, but also make sure that automotive production value chains use renewable materials. Power must be produced with less emissions and burden on non-renewable resources. Fibre based composite materials provide similar safety, durability and quality in automotive end-uses as traditional materials. Components that are currently made of plastic can often be replaced with renewable biomaterials without any compromises.

Partners and contacts

UPM

Alvar Aallon katu 1
P.O.Box 380
FI-00101 Helsinki
Finland

Tel. +358 (0) 204 15 111
Fax +358 (0) 204 15 110
info@upm.com

www.upm.com
www.upmformi.com
www.upmgrada.com

Metropolia

Helsinki Metropolia Universityof Applied Sciences, Finland's largest university of applied sciences, educates future professionals in the fields of culture, business, health care and social services, and technology.

Metropolia is a reliable cooperation partner and an innovator in higher education.

Meet the Biofore Concept Car