Divergent Microfactories Introduces Innovative Natural Gas Vehicle

Divergent Microfactories unveiled a new approach to auto manufacturing that incorporates 3D printing to reduce the pollution, materials and capital costs associated with building automobiles.

The centerpiece of the Divergent Microfactories announcement is Blade, the world’s first 3D-printed supercar. Designed and built using Divergent Microfactories’ technology, the company touts the prototype is one of the greenest and most powerful cars in the world. Equipped with a 700-horsepower bi-fuel engine that can use either CNG or gasoline, Blade goes from 0-60 in about two seconds and weighs around 1,400 pounds. Divergent Microfactories plans to sell a limited number of high-performance vehicles that will be manufactured in its own microfactory.

“Society has made great strides in its awareness and adoption of cleaner and greener cars. The problem is that while these cars do now exist, the actual manufacturing of them is anything but environmentally friendly,” said Kevin Czinger, founder & CEO, Divergent Microfactories. “We’ve found a way to make automobiles that holds the promise of radically reducing the resource use and pollution generated by manufacturing.

Divergent Microfactories has published a white paper that shows that a natural gas vehicle manufactured using its new manufacturing process is three times more environmentally friendly than a traditionally manufactured electric vehicle.

Divergent Microfactories’ technology centers around its proprietary solution called a Node—a 3D-printed aluminum joint that connects pieces of carbon fiber tubing to make up the car’s chassis. The Node solves the problem of time and space by cutting down on the actual amount of 3D printing required to build the chassis and can be assembled in just minutes. In addition to dramatically reducing materials and energy use, the weight of the Node-enabled chassis is up to 90 percent lighter than traditional cars, despite being much stronger and more durable. This results in better fuel economy and less wear on roads.

Divergent Microfactories announced plans to put the platform in the hands of small entrepreneurial teams around the world, allowing them to set up their own microfactories and build their own cars. These microfactories will make innovation affordable while reducing the health and environmental impacts of traditional manufacturing.

For more information about Divergent Microfactories, visit their website at www.divergentmicrofactories.com. Their white paper titled Dematerialization and Democratization in Auto Manufacturing is available here.