When the “Lina” car, a midsized vehicle with a sleek black-and-white design, was test-driven on the streets of the Netherlands, it looked like any other electric car. But this vehicle was unlike any other ever built, a fact that was largely unknown to local passersby. Designed by a student team from the Eindhoven University of Technology, the Lina officially became the first car structurally made from bio-composite materials, with its chassis, body, and interior created from supplies commonly found in everyday life.

Unveiled in 2017, the Lina was a groundbreaking prototype that demonstrated a sustainable alternative to traditional car manufacturing. The car’s chassis, which is typically made of steel or aluminum, was constructed from a combination of bio-composites and a special bio-plastic. The bio-composite itself was made from flax, a plant known for its strong fibers, which were pressed into sheets with a strength-to-weight ratio similar to fiberglass.

To provide stiffness and structure, the team used a honeycomb-shaped core made from PLA (polylactic acid), a bio-plastic derived entirely from sugar beets. This core was placed between two flax composite sheets, creating a chassis that was not only lightweight but also sustainable. The car’s bodywork was also flax-based, and its entire structure, excluding the wheels and suspension, was nearly completely biodegradable.

The Lina project was a direct challenge to the energy-intensive and often wasteful process of traditional car production. The student team, known as TU/ecomotive, noted that while lightweight materials like aluminum and carbon fiber are used to save energy during driving, their production requires significantly more energy than steel. The Lina, weighing a mere 300 kilograms, proved that a car could be both lightweight and manufactured sustainably, addressing the entire lifecycle of the vehicle, from production to disposal.

The car was certified by the Netherlands Vehicle Authority as roadworthy and, with a top speed of 80 km/h, was suitable for carrying four passengers in urban environments. The Lina remains a symbol of innovative, green engineering and has inspired further research into the use of natural and biodegradable materials in the automotive industry.