Italian Engineers Create Electric Sports Car with Hemp Fiber Body
A team of engineers from Italy has developed a prototype electric sports car featuring a body made from innovative synthetic fibers, including processed hemp plant fabrics.
The M1RA Project: Italy’s First Electric Sports Car
The M1RA project, which marks the first Italian electric sports car, was developed by engineers representing several private companies: Fibertech Group (a synthetic fiber manufacturer), Linificio & Canapificio Nazionale SPA (a canvas and yarn producer), and Bercella SRL (an automotive parts manufacturer). The car was unveiled to the public at the second Pure ETCR race (an electric sports car league) in early June of this year.
While the main part of the car’s body is made from synthetic carbon fiber, some structural components are crafted from MJ 404/100 fibers—a new organo-synthetic material derived from a subspecies of “Turkish hemp fabric,” according to the engineers. The developers describe this material as a lighter, stronger, and more flexible alternative to fiberglass, with properties closer to carbon fiber.
Technical Details and Advantages
The M1RA is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulia model from Romeo Ferraris, a well-known Italian manufacturer of custom sports cars. Experts estimate the car’s engine power at 680 horsepower. “Using lightweight hemp fiber makes the car faster and easier to handle,” says driver and racer Michela Cerruti. “The car itself is designed to showcase the effectiveness of hemp as a construction component for vehicles. In addition to making the car lighter, the innovative fiber is a stronger alternative to other body materials, increasing passenger safety, and is also a completely clean material from an environmental perspective. In other words, this development could make cars not only more reliable, faster, and safer, but also significantly reduce the automotive industry’s carbon footprint if this technology is widely adopted.”
Currently, the new material is more expensive than standard fiberglass, as the car is a custom-built product. However, the engineers are confident that the cost of producing the fiber—and the cars made with it—will drop significantly in the future as the technology is gradually adopted by the auto industry. In the long run, hemp fiber could replace not only fiberglass but also other common materials used for car parts and bodies, especially since hemp can be grown and processed into fiber anywhere in the world.
Other Examples of Hemp Use in Automotive Manufacturing
- Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport (2019): The first sports car in history to use hemp fibers in professional racing. Like the M1RA, its body was partially made from processed hemp and flax fibers.
- Renew Sports Car (Florida): A prototype car made entirely from hemp fibers. The company continues to take orders for similar vehicles, which are marketed as being produced with minimal carbon emissions.
- BMW i3 (2013): While not a hemp-bodied car, the BMW i3 is notable for its interior, which is fully made from processed hemp fabrics. According to BMW, this bold decision reduced the car’s overall weight by 350 kilograms. Soon after, Audi, Mercedes, Chrysler, and Volkswagen also released models with interiors made from hemp materials.
- Kestrel by Canada Motive: The first mass-produced car with a body partially made from hemp fibers and resins. This electric vehicle was released in early 2010.
- Aptera Motors (San Diego, California): An innovative electric car prototype whose body will be made entirely from hemp fibers. In addition to its unique construction, the car can charge itself using built-in solar panels.
These examples highlight the growing trend of using hemp fibers in automotive manufacturing, offering lighter, stronger, and more sustainable alternatives to traditional materials.