Liverpool-based Briggs Automotive Co Ltd (BAC) has received funding to undertake research on the innovative lightweight material graphene, with a view to pushing the technology towards production-readiness for the automotive industry.

The maker of the BAC Mono (www.bac—mono.com) the world’s only road-legal single-seat super-car – has received a Niche Vehicle Network (NVN) grant alongside Loughborough-based Haydale Composite Solutions and Derby-based Pentaxia Composites to further explore the benefits of using graphene in composite body panels.

NVN is an independent association of over 900 niche vehicle manufacturers, plus specialist technology and design and engineering companies. BAC will be the test bed for the technology — and potentially the catalyst for larger-volume opportunities in the market.

The company hit the headlines in 2016 when it became the first car manufacturer in the world to use graphene (in the rear wheel arches).

The new venture will build on the success of this proof-of-concept project.

Graphene is made of sheets of carbon just one atom thick.

It is significantly lighter and stronger than standard carbon fibre and steel, resulting in weight reductions of around 20% with no loss of panel strength.

The NVN funding will enable BAC, Haydale and Pentaxia to develop lightweight composite materials using graphene and manufacture a novel carbon-fibre composite tooling system with enhanced thermal conductivity to produce body panels with improved mechanical and thermal performance.

Body panels will be tested on the Mono throughout the project, with the aim of reducing weight by 10%.

A route to market will then be established for the new pre-preg material technology through niche vehicle manufacturers, plus the premium and luxury automotive sector.