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The streamlined fairing parts of the scooter are made using the industry’s first glass-filled polyamide 6 powder for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) from Solvay’s Sinterline®Technyl®technology delivers fully functional parts while offering greater design freedom as well as significant weight and cost savings over competing aluminum. Prior to the SLS process, the parts were optimized with Solvay’s MMI Design for multi-scale modelling and structural analysis.
Kleefer, based in Lyon, France, develops and commercializes innovative light electric vehicles for the urban mobility market and has been partnering with Solvay since its foundation two years ago. “Bud-e is the result of an advanced prototyping and small series approach for a new, environmentally responsible scooter concept that can make an essentialn contribution to personal mobility in our increasingly congested cities around the world,” says Antoine Cirier, CEO of Kleefer.
“Solvay’s Sinterline powders proved the perfect tool for validating 3D models and computer simulations, producing functional, dependable prototypes comparable to the required performance characteristics and surface finish in no time. The glass-filled powder grades of the material have an ideal fit in the cost-efficient manufacture of the parts in small to medium-sized volumes,” added Dominique Giannotta, Sinterline® Program Leader at Solvay Engineering Plastics.
“Bud-e” is equipped with a removable, plug-in lithium battery pack that can be fully recharged in just 2 hours and gives the ultra-compact scooter an electric driving range of 20km at a speed of up to 25km/h. Together with a front hub motor, puncture-proof pneumatic tyres (∅ 200 mm) and a reliable brake system it folds/unfolds in just 1 second and is the first of Kleefer’s “personal transporters” expected to feature Solvay’s high-performance PA technology. The electric scooter will be commercially available in 2015.
® Registered trademark of Solvay
™Trademark of Solvay
*Pronounced ‘Buddy’ in English
About Kleefer
Kleefer is a French company established in 2012 and based near Lyon that designs, develops and sells innovative urban mobility products. Composed of a team of young engineers passionate about everything that rolls, regardless of the number of wheels (1, 2, 3 or 4....) Kleefer’s engineers design, prototype and test all their products in Europe.
About Solvay Engineering Plastics
Solvay Engineering Plastics is the global specialist in polyamide-based engineering plastics, with more than 60 years of experience in the development, manufacture and marketing of a complete range of high-performance materials under the Technyl® demanding applications in automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, consumer goods and other markets. With a growth strategy bolstered by six production sites worldwide, Solvay Engineering Plastics employs its expertise and innovation capabilities in order to serve the needs of its customers more closely through a global network of technical and R&D centres. Learn more on Technyl® brand at www.technyl.com.
About Solvay
As an international chemical group, SOLVAY assists industries in finding and implementing ever more responsible and value-creating solutions. Solvay generates 90% of its net sales in activities where it is among the world's top three players. It serves many markets, varying from energy and the environment to automotive and aeronautics or electricity and electronics, with one goal: to raise the performance of its clients and improve society's quality of life. The group is headquartered in Brussels, employs about 29,400 people in 56 countries and generated 9.9 billion euros in net sales in 2013. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on EURONEXT Brussels and EURONEXT Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB:BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR).
