Evonik Group's innovative materials improve electric vehicle performance

Essen, Germany (February 28, 2012) Evonik Industries AG, a specialty chemicals manufacturer, is actively promoting the development of its Elise-E light-duty electric vehicle.

The battery-powered sports car was jointly developed by the company and British carmaker Lotus Motors and lithium-ion battery manufacturer Li-Tech Battery GmbH.

The Elise-E's body uses a sandwich structure that combines a carbon fiber skin with Evonik's sandwich foam core Rohacell. The entire vehicle weighs 950 kilograms, 150 kW power, and can accelerate from 0 mph to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds. The maximum speed limit is 120 mph.

Klaus Hedrich, head of the automotive industry team at Evonik, based in Essen, Germany, said: "The reason why the car was developed is to demonstrate to the automotive industry what we can achieve through our deep expertise in the field of chemicals."