The BMW iFE.20 is the car manufacturer’s latest Formula E racing car. In its cooling shaft, the company is now using flax instead of carbon for the first time , and therefore a renewable raw material. According to BMW, the lightweight material has greater absorption and impact resistance than carbon fibers, which can be advantageous on the often bumpy street circuits that host Formula E races. BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt explains: “The flax cooling shaft that we use in the BMW iFE.20 is further proof of the hugely important role of BMW i Motorsport as a tech lab for the BMW Group. We are consistently using Formula E as an innovative platform for series development – in this instance for testing flax in extreme weather conditions.”

The iFE.20 is the first racing car in which BMW is using this material. However, the manufacturer says that it is working on expanding the use of flax to other BMW Motorsport race cars as well.