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FOCUS 23


Don’t miss the point about CARBON FIBRE


by JOHN LEECH


Launched with much fanfare recently, the BMW i3 is the latest development in the electric car segment and seems to have got everyone talking about carbon fi bre; the ultra lightweight material which has been used extensively in the i3’s chassis.


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he material itself is nothing new – it has been used by Formula 1 teams and aircraft manufacturers for decades. However, its deployment in a mass produced road car is a


development which has got automotive manufacturers and suppliers intrigued and excited in equal measure.


As a result, the question I hear time and time again is whether now is the right time to jump whole-heartedly into the carbon fi bre market. Has the price now fallen to a level where it is commercially viable for all? And what should the government be doing to give the industry a boost in this space?


These are the wrong questions.


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CARBON FIBRE


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