XEV YOYO is First 3D Printed Car

We have heard about 3D printing for automotive parts, but 3D printing of an entire car, and that too one to be sold through crowdfunding is an entirely new concept.

Italian electric car manufacturer XEV has conceptualized what it says is the first 3D printed car and will be selling the vehicle through crowdfunding. The company says that the vehicle which has been named XEV YOYO is the first 3D printed car in the world. XEV is making the car in collaboration with 3D printing material company Polymaker. The main advantages the vehicle offers is its light weight and low cost. Hence, it would have a high level of fuel efficiency. The company has come up with a design that has significantly reduced the number of components used from thousands to just 57 parts.

The YOYO is billed as a mini electric vehicle. It measures 2.5 meters in length, 1.5 meters in width, and has a kerb weight of 450 kg without taking the batteries into consideration. The electric motor delivers 10 horsepower and can give the car a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) with a cruising range of 150 Km (93 miles). The 9.2-kilowatt-hour battery pack works in tandem with the electric battery.

A number of multiple automotive-grade intelligent 3D printers are used to achieve a vehicle design that is highly efficient, environmentally-friendly, and does not cost a bomb. All the visible parts of the car are made using 3D printing except for the chassis, seats, and windows and this helps to save costs by an incredible 70 percent when compared to traditional techniques.

The tiny vehicle even offers customers features that are normally seen in luxury cars like electric mirrors, panoramic roof, keyless entry, and trunk storage space which is big enough to accommodate two ‘carry-on’ suitcases. Within the cabin, there is a large touchscreen for the infotainment and vehicle information as standard features. LED technology has been used to ensure bright, consistent performance whilst significantly reducing power consumption. Safety has been ramped up with Daytime Running Lights (DRL) to boost the vehicle’s visibility to others.

XEV has priced the YOYO at an affordable 5,999 euros (USD 6,650) a car with the first vehicles scheduled for delivery in December 2020. The target amount for the crowdfunding campaign on KickStarter is 500,000 euros.