Mercedes
Biome Concept
At 2010, Los Angeles Design Challenge, the designers from the Mercedes-Benz
Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad, California, surprised everyone with a
revolutionary vision. Taking their inspiration from nature, they designed a vehicle
which is fully integrated into the ecosystem, from the moment of its creation
right through to the end of its service life. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME Concept
grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on
the road the car emits pure oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can be
simply composted or used as building material.
The
Mercedes-Benz BIOME Concept symbiosis vehicle is made from an ultralight
material called BioFibre and tips the scales at just around 394 kg.
This material is significantly lighter than metal or plastic, yet more robust
than steel. BioFibre is grown from proprietary DNA in the Mercedes-Benz
nursery, where it collects energy from the sun and stores it in a liquid
chemical bond called BioNectar4534. As part of this process, the vehicle is
created from two seeds: The interior of the BIOME grows from the DNA in the
Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from the
star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements, the Mercedes
star is genetically engineered in each case, and the vehicle "grows"
when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown
from four separate seeds.
The
Mercedes-Benz BIOME Concept is powered by BioNectar4534, which is stored in the
BioFibre material of the chassis, interior, and wheels. In addition,
Mercedes-Benz has developed a technology to equip trees with special receptors
which can collect the excess solar energy and turn it into BioNectar4534. This
creates a direct link with nature's energy sources and acts as an incentive to
cover mobility energy requirements through more trees and at the same time
maintain natural resources. Like plants, the Mercedes-Benz symbiosis vehicle
also produces oxygen, thereby contributing to improving air quality. At the end
of its service life, the Mercedes-Benz BIOME can be fully composted or used as
building material. Thanks to the exclusive use of green technologies, the BIOME
vehicle thus blends seamlessly into the ecosystem.