Forget miles of assembly lines. Local Motors is now 3D-printing cars

By Andrew Hard Updated September 10, 2014

Crowdsourcing carmaker Local Motors may be best known for the V8-powered, dune-conquering Rally Fighter, but for its next project, the company has ventured completely to the other end of the spectrum.

Like the automotive firm projected in March, Local Motors is currently building a 3D-printed electric car at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago.

Related: Local Motors’ 3D-printed electric car to become a reality in Chicago

According to Top Gear, the electric car is called the Strati, and is full-sized, completely drivable, and is made up of just 40 parts. For comparison’s sake, the average car has something on the order of 30,000.

This amazing feat of engineering was made possible by 3D-printing technology that takes just 44 hours to create the car. If everything goes well, Local Motors hopes to drive the Strati off the technology show’s floor.

The automotive firm released a video recently detailing the vehicle’s assembly process. The time-lapse really is quite astounding, as the Strati isn’t so much assembled as it is grown.

Local Motors Strati — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Local Motors Strati

Local Motors Strati

Local Motors Strati

Local Motors Strati

A robotic sprayer meticulously sprays out an amalgam of carbon fiber and plastic to fill in the bodywork, supports, seats, dashboard, and even the windshield.

The 3D printer can’t cover every part of the car, though, so the electric powertrain (sourced from a Renault Twizy), suspension, wiring, and battery were borrowed from outside sources.

Like the Rally Fighter, Local Motors’ Strati was born from a community-based design collaboration. Italian Michele Anoé submitted the winning layout, winning a $5,000 prize in the process.

Local Motors was previously quoted as saying the car will be “purpose-built for the urban transportation needs of Chicago,” and the company “hopes to have it on the streets in the months following the show.”

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Best dash cam deals: Protect your ride from just $39

Rexing V1 dash cam

Dash cams are great to give you that little extra peace of mind if you're ever in an accident, that you have some video evidence of what happened, even if it's an accident that happened to somebody else. That's especially important with insurance claims where it might be your word against somebody else's, so having a dash cam can be pretty important. Of course, really good dash cams are very expensive, although you don't really need to have the best dash cams on the market to get something that's relatively good quality. Either way, we've gone out and collected some of our favorite deals across the board to help save you a little bit extra.

Also, if you're worried about things like theft when you're at home, you may want to consider grabbing one of these security camera deals to get a little bit more overview of your driveway and car.
70mai Smart Dash Cam 1S -- $32, was $60

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

The market for electric vehicles has really taken off in the past few years, and with some rumors of government bans on traditional internal combustion engines in a decade or so, we're likely to see EVs take off even more. Of course, if you already have one, then you'll likely need to car charger it, and there are a lot of great car charger options out there. Some of them can be pricey, especially if you want to get a level 2 charger for faster charging, but we've done our best to find a collection of good deals across several budgets.
Seguma 16Amp Level 1/2 EV Charger -- $115, was $150

If you need a more basic charger, this Level one and two charger from Seguma is a solid option and can deliver 16 amps and 3.84kW, which is pretty substantial. It also comes with a NEMA 6-20 plug and a standardized J1772 connector, which should work on most EV vehicles out there except for Tesla, which has its own connector. There are also some intelligent charging features, which include things such as protection against things like under and over voltage, leakage, and lighting, and it has an automatic cut-off when your EV is fully charged.

Cars

Hyundai’s new extended-range tech will bridge the gap to EVs

Hyundai Seven Concept

Hyundai plans to release several electric cars in the coming years, including an American-made three-row SUV, but it's also investing in other technologies for buyers who aren't ready to go electric. One is an extended-range system that promises over 550 miles of driving range.

Announced as part of the brand's mid- to long-term strategy, the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) will use an innovative drivetrain that relies on a gasoline-burning engine to quell range anxiety. The engine won't directly drive the wheels; it will act as a generator that makes electricity and sends it to the motors that zap the wheels into motion, likely via a small battery pack. This technology isn't new, as the Chevrolet Volt used a similar layout. Hyundai hasn't released full technical details yet, but it notes that its EREVs will be all-wheel-drive. Compared to an EV, the EREVs will benefit from quicker recharging times, a lower price, and more than 550 miles of driving range.