Toronto, Ontario – The Kia EV3, or at least a concept version of the incoming electric small car, has interiors made of mushrooms, hemp, corn and sugarcane.
These grown materials are part of what Kia is calling its “10 must-have sustainable items” in its cabin construction, which also includes sawdust, ‘bio-polyurethane’ leather, floor carpet made from 100 percent recycled PET bottles and the option of materials made from recycled fishing nets.
In reference to the use of mushrooms, Kia notes that “it can be grown in any shape you want using a mold.”
Mycelium-based interior pieces have yet to make it to production. A goal the OEM sees as a priority, to make its cars feel “closer to nature.”
Kia says these natural fibres can also be used to help reduce vehicle weight and to add a natural tone to vehicle interiors.
Other natural materials the automaker is using includes natural dyes made with madder roots and walnut shells to provide what Kia refers to as “unique tonalities.”
Vice President of Interior Design at Kia, Jochen Paesen, commented that “it is relatively easy to bring [natural materials] into production and have them last for five years, but cars last longer than that – so we have to make sure we can develop something that has longevity. These materials are used in the fashion industry already, but the lifecycle is much shorter – that’s the difficult part.”
“Everyone in the industry is trying to find a solution [and] we’re working with our suppliers and startups to accelerate it,” he continued.
While it may be difficult to achieve customer approval for some of these natural manufacturing materials in the near future, Paesen further noted that he is confident in future adoption because, “fashion can change.”
