The
designers from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad,
California, surprised everyone at the 2010 Los Angeles Design Challenge
with a revolutionary vision. The Mercedes Biome Concept previews an
ultralight vehicle, inspired by nature, that aims for unparalleled
efficiency.
The Mercedes-Benz BIOME Concept symbiosis vehicle
is made from an ultralight material called BioFibre and tips the scales
at just 875.5 lbs (around 394 kg). This material is significantly
lighter than metal or plastic, yet more robust than steel. BioFibre is
grown from proprietary DNA in the Mercedes-Benz nursery, where it
collects energy from the sun and stores it in a liquid chemical bond
called BioNectar4534. As part of this process, the vehicle is created
from two seeds: The interior of the BIOME grows from the DNA in the
Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from
the star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements,
the Mercedes star is genetically engineered in each case, and the
vehicle “grows” when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule.
The wheels are grown from four separate seeds.
"As
the inventor of the motor car, we wanted to illustrate the vision of
the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in
complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME Concept is a
natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth's ecosystem. It
grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree" according to Hubert Lee,
Head of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad. This year
the competition had called for the creation of a vision of a safe and
comfortable 2+2 compact car featuring good handling and a first-class
design.
Even
Mercedes Biome concept has a lenght of about 4 meters and is 2,5 meters
wide, the German concept designed in California is still able to
provide a total mass of just 394 kilograms, thus, it fits the
requirements of the contest in question.
The
Mercedes-Benz BIOME Concept is powered by BioNectar4534, which is
stored in the BioFibre material of the chassis, interior, and wheels. In
addition, Mercedes-Benz has developed a technology to equip trees with
special receptors which can collect the excess solar energy and turn it
into BioNectar4534. This creates a direct link with nature's energy
sources and acts as an incentive to cover mobility energy requirements
through more trees and at the same time maintain natural resources. Like
plants, the Mercedes-Benz symbiosis vehicle also produces oxygen,
thereby contributing to improving air quality. At the end of its service
life, the Mercedes-Benz BIOME can be fully composted or used as
building material. Thanks to the exclusive use of green technologies,
the BIOME vehicle thus blends seamlessly into the ecosystem.
