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Originally Posted by 95wildtt
ie. F1, IMSA and Indy Cars
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For sure - has been used extensively in those for years. But its use in more basic transportation manufacturing is clearly increasing as well.
Some excerpts from a BMW article about CFRP and use in its vehicles:
Carbon is among the materials used in auto-making whose importance is only going to increase going forward. … Engineers are just as enthusiastic about carbon, as it guarantees high strength and rigidity with a low specific weight. …
Carbon fiber is highly desirable for components that need to be stable AND lightweight, such as for use in automotive engineering. That’s why carbon fiber is used in aerospace engineering, as well as in the construction of aircraft, boats and bicycles. In car-making, carbon fiber, like many a material before it, has found its way from racing to mass production. Because every ounce of weight saved counts in motorsports…
At BMW, for example, the material is used in roofs for BMW M models and in visible carbon fiber structures for BMW M Performance Parts. … The material is also used in body components for the BMW 7 Series, and was previously in the BMW i8 and most notably in the BMW i3. In this electric vehicle the entire car body – the passenger cell – is made of carbon fiber. …
Carbon fiber is characterized by lots of positive properties that set it apart from other materials. One of its advantages is high rigidity. The structure of a carbon fiber material is extremely stable. Carbon fiber car parts are able to absorb large amounts of impact energy. This means that, used in the right places, carbon fiber helps to increase vehicle safety.
Another advantage of carbon is its low specific weight. Body components made of aluminum, one of the most important light metals, can weigh 20 to 30% more than a corresponding element made of carbon, a rate that can increase to 50% in the case of steel. Less weight means less fuel or electricity used, and thus a better carbon footprint. Alternatively, the performance properties of sporty vehicles can be further increased through the use of carbon fiber. The reason is simple: lighter means faster. …
To sum up, there is no other material besides carbon fiber that can be used in such a weight-saving manner while at the same time offering these mechanical properties.
From: https://www.bmw.com/en/performance/c...-in-a-car.html