Kia EV3 and EV4 Concept Models Utilize Leading-edge Sustainable Materials to Deliver a Step Change in Interior Design

Caring for our environment, reducing our carbon footprint, and creating a cleaner, greener future for our community are all prized qualities of our business here at Classic Kia of Waukegan. Knowing that our personal business goals align with that of the larger Kia brand brings us immense joy and happiness. So, as you can imagine, we were overjoyed to learn about the new sustainable materials the brand is utilizing in upcoming designs!  That’s right, Kia recently unveiled the Kia Concept EV3 and EV4 have used cutting-edge Sustainable Materials to deliver a new step in the right direction for sustainable design.  These game-changing eco-friendly products and the methods used to create them promise to shake up the industry with forward thinking principles.

·       Kia Concept EV3 leverages natural fiber structures enabling lightweight seat design with more elegant aesthetics and nature-inspired color tones

·       Kia invests in bio fabrication with ambition to grow materials in the future

·       Mycelium, from the roots of mushrooms, offers potential to replace leather and other materials

·       Kia Concept EV4 utilizes natural dying with madder root and walnut shells, providing unique tonalities

·       Ten must-have sustainability items applied to all new Kia production models

·       Initiatives reinforce Kia’s strategic commitment to reduce short-term carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality across its operations by 2045

Let’s learn more!

About the Innovative Design and Concept

The Kia CMF (Color, Materials, Finish) design team pulled inspiration for the new interior of the Kia Concept EV3 from the natural element of Air, with optimum use of light and transparency throughout the cabin.  The Kia CMF team chose to employ natural fiber structures, and an array of innovative sustainable materials to reduce the vehicle’s overall environmental impact, facilitate more design flexibility, and give an edge of unprecedented caliber of color choice and trim finishes.  The team was able to create a slimmer, lighter weight seat design with strong, sustainable fibers, giving the interior seats and seat covers an elegant, modern aesthetic with soothing earthy tone color palettes.  By employing a 3D Knit technology for the seat covers, the interior has an unparalleled surface softness, as well as world-class efficiency by employing reduced stitching and joins, and producing zero waste material.

In creating the Concept EV4’s cabin, the Kia CMF team gathered inspiration from the elements of Earth.  By applying natural dyes collected from madder roots and walnut shells to 100% recycled cotton fibers, the team was able to craft an incredible array of tonalities and hues from nature itself.  The goal with the Concept EV4 was to create a cabin atmosphere of sheer rarity and exceptional quality, designers crafted hand-woven fabric stripes, which were then applied to the car’s storage area and dashboard.  The result is an unmatched look of luxury, uniqueness, and stunning futuristic functionality.  

Inspired by Nature and Improving Sustainability

The awe-inspiring material utilized in the Concept EV3’s console table was not manufactured like traditional options, but rather it was grown from mycellium. Thanks to its excellent strength and soft surface, this mushroom-derived material marks an achievement in bio-fabrication technologies.  Mycelium is propagated from mushroom roots, and allows designers and engineers to mimic processes found in nature, design more sustainable solutions, and grow the material into any shape desired by using molds.  Although this technology is in its very early stages, Kia’s Sustainability Strategy mindset has pioneered partnerships that enable accelerated developmental advancements.

Marília Biill, Head of CMF Design at Kia, explains: “Mycelium, which comes from mushroom roots, combines excellent strength with an extremely soft surface. Developing grown materials, a process referred to as bio fabrication, is a major goal for Kia.

“Using Mycelium enables us to mimic the processes we see in nature and leverage it to design more sustainable solutions – the material can be grown in any shape you want using a mold. The use of Mycelium is still at a very early stage, and, as part of Kia’s Sustainability Strategy, we are working with partners to accelerate development of the material. One day, by growing our own materials, we’ll be able to simplify processes, adapt forms and most importantly, be closer to nature in its essence.”

For the Concept EV4, the Concept EV4’s designers utilized hemp fiber in the console table, further elevating the aesthetic appeal and functionality.  Help requires minimal resources for propagation and cultivation, and is a rapidly growing plant, making it highly sustainable, moldable, and versatile for materials.  Additionally, it provides rich, lush color and texture to the EV’s concept cabin and aesthetics.

“Hemp is a rapidly growing plant that requires minimal resources to cultivate,” explains Marília Biill. “Not only is it highly sustainable, but it’s also highly moldable too, which means it is a very versatile material to work with, plus it enhances the EV concept’s cabin with its beautiful rich color.”

Exploring Kia’s Must-Have Sustainable Items

Beginning with the use of bioplastics and sugar cane bio fiber in earlier Kia models such as the 2014 Soul EV, Kia has made great strides in integrating natural, sustainable materials in the production process.  With the launch of the EV9 flagship electric SUV, Kia further extended the commitment to minimize environmental impact by producing a list of 10 must-have sustainable items for all new Kia model lines:

• Recycled PET felt from plastic bottles
• Bio PU foam made with vegetable oil
• Bio paint made with vegetable oil
• Bio PU from cornstarch
• Recycled PET/nylon carpeting from plastic bottles and fishing nets
• Non-toxic BTX-free paint
• Recycled PET fabric from plastic bottles
• Bio plastic from sugar cane
• Recycled PET yarns from plastic bottles
• Recycled PCM plastic from plastic waste

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