BMW Says It Will Triple Production Of Carbon Fiber For Electric Cars

Carbon fiber is still a fairly exotic material in the automotive industry, but it is likely to become more common--and perhaps faster than expected.

BMW said last Friday that it will triple production of carbon fiber at its facility in Moses Lake, Washington, to use in its carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) body shells.

Currently the plant--a jointed venture of SGL Group and BMW Group--has the capacity to produce 3,000 tons of carbon fiber annually, with two production lines dedicated to the material used in the bodies of the BMW i3 electric car and i8 plug-in hybrid.

MORE: 2014 BMW i3: First Drive Of BMW's Radical New Electric Car

SGL--now the world's largest producer or carbon fiber--is already adding a third and fourth production line, which would double its capacity to 6,000 tons of material per year.

The newly announced plans would further the expansion, adding a fifth and sixth line with an ultimate goal of 9,000 tons of fiber produced per year.

CFRP is light but strong, reducing weight significantly without compromising structural rigidity. The i3's structure is so rigid, in fact, that it doesn't require a pillar between the front and rear doors.