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The future of automotive transport may a have carbon-fiber body, sexier than you might imagine.  Today it is used in high performance auto parts, aircraft wings, and bits of supercars.  30% lighter than aluminum and 50% lighter than steel it has been a more expensive and labor-intensive alternative, ruling it out for high-volume production.  BMW hopes to change all that when it introduces its plug-in electric car concept called the Megacity in 2013.

It will be the first electric car designed from scratch instead of taken from an existing model.  To achieve the desired improvement in performance and range (hindrances of predecessors) BMW plans to use an all aluminum chassis, and body made almost entirely of carbon-fiber. When woven and infused with resin they can produce a part that is actually stronger than steel.  To overcome the slow and labor-intensive production process BMW has pioneered a line that basically involves various heating stages and really smart robots, amongst other revolutionary marvels of automaking in the 21^st century.

Aside from being super light the experimental vehicles have exceeded expectations in crash tests.  The aluminum chassis essentially crumbles leaving the carbon-fiber body in tact, much like a Formula 1 racecar. Recycling does present a problem, but the Bavarian pioneers have a solution for that too, leaving composites of about half strength.  Also, a carbon-fiber body will not corrode, so apart from changing the battery every decade you could conceivably drive this beast until the apocalypse, or a good Sarah Jessica Parker movie, whichever comes first.

Check out the July 10^th-16^th edition of the Economist for more