The SMC video above, showed a 'resin impregnated fiberglass pre-manufactured rolled sheet' (say that three times fast)...that's where I got the information from.
Guess I tuned in a bit late as the above sites have been removed from youtube due to posssible copy right infringment! But, got the idea. Seems like fiberglass would be a bit heavy but would imagine that lighter cloth exists than what I'm familiar with. Repair should be uncomplicated!
Does anyone know if the Elio will be painted, color molded into the "composite" , or something like gel coat on fiberglass boats?
From all that I have read the body panels are press formed, not molded like fiberglass. They can color the composite material but the finish after forming will not be new car quality, so they will be painted after forming.
On the Local Motors site, they state they wrap their vehicles and they state it saves 12lbs. vs painting. Granted the Elio is a much smaller vehicle and I would assume weight savings of a wrap vs. painting is negligible. I like the other 3 reasons they state for using wrap over paint. Easier to maintain, customizable, and less harmful to the environment than paint. http://localmotors.com/rallyfighter/specs/ If it would save Elio to wrap instead of building a paint booth......
May be the way to go. Would be nice to cheaply change your car's color. Also requires no maintenance like waxing and polishing.
