Cars will drive up demand for carbon fibers

A new report by Textiles Intelligence, Wilmslow, U.K., predicts global demand for lightweight, strong carbon fibers will reach 8.5 million tons by 2015, driven by interest in carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) for use on cars and light vehicles. Currently, CFRP is used in aircraft, sports equipment and racing cars, where excess weight means excess fuel consumption and slower speeds. Manufacturers of electric vehicles will be the first to demand CFRP, since the lighter the car’s weight, the further it goes without a recharge. A joint venture between SGL Group, Charlotte, N.C., a producer of carbon fibers, and BMW, Leipzig, Germany, will involve investing $100 million in a new carbon fiber manufacturing plant at Moses Lake, Wash.