The concept solves quite a few of our current transportation issues by moving the world of biology into the vehicle construction process. Built with a 3D printing technique that creates an outer body that is similar in texture and form to cartilage -- and just as resiliant -- the car is able to withstand and bounce back after any external impact. Continuing with their outside of the box car-frame thinking, Emergent decided to take this bio-construction a bit further and place an independent fuel source right inside car - that's right, this curvy vehicle of the future makes its own biofuel!

The 3D printing technique used to create the outer body of this car constructs layers of a cartilage-like material through new molecular constructions of polymers, resins, rubbers and silicone, which are placed on the car’s frame in alternating thicknesses. The result is a body that is rigid in the places needed to keep you safe and soft where impacts occur; instead of a conventional car which is designed to crumple in front and back upon impact. The Semi-Rigid Car by comparison bounces back, while the cabin’s more structured frame keeps you safe from the impact. Unlike the construction of a conventional car, with its separation of glass, steel, sheet metal and bolts, the Semi-Rigid Car has a blended construction with composite materials that seem to meld together instead of fasten to each other.

Emergent decided that if the outside of their car is going to blend like nature, then why can’t the inside be alive as well? The Semi-Rigid Car actually makes its own biofuel deep within the car’s structure, where the semi-rigid cartilage of its exterior joins to form deep, thick-walled reservoirs. These reservoirs contain colonies of algae that produce biofuel as the car requires it. LED lights embedded within the algae reservoirs allow for 24-hour fuel production even when sunlight isn’t available.

This car not only has the smooth exterior and aesthetic of the fastest sports cars around, but allows you the freedom of driving independent of gas pumps, or even EV charging stations needed to juice up.

Source: Inhabitat