3D printing technology can also make electric cars. The key is low cost.

Honda has developed a short-range "Micro Commuter" electric vehicle that will be supplied to Japanese candy maker Toshimaya. The vehicle was developed in partnership with Kabuku Corporation and was shown at the 2016 CEATE show in Japan.

The car's chassis comes from Honda, which uses a very light and strong tube frame structure. Honda introduced 3D printing technology when manufacturing external panels and luggage compartments.

The Micro Commuter is powered by Honda's Micro EV technology, the Japanese equivalent of an ultra-compact electric vehicle.

The newly displayed electric car is a little different from other Honda micro electric cars. The Micro Commuter can only carry the driver, but it has a lot of space for cargo and sweets. In the future, Toshiyama will use the car to deliver pigeon-shaped shortbread.

According to the information, the Micro Commuter is 249.5 cm long, 128 cm wide, 154.5 cm high, weighs 600 kg, has a maximum output power of 11 kilowatts, and a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour. It can be fully charged in 3 hours with 200-volt AC power, and 7 hours with 100 volts.

During the development process, the R&D team spent 2 months designing the body of the car. The car was developed based on the Honda Micro Commuter car, the first car was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2011. However, the 2011 version of the Micro Commuter could seat 2 people, while the new version can only seat 1 person.

In fact, some car companies have already used 3D technology in the development of cars, such as the startup Local Motors. The reason why Honda's prototype car attracted attention is mainly because of the platform it uses. The car was developed based on Honda's "Variable Design Platform", which allows car manufacturers to develop cars of different sizes.

According to information, Micro Commuter has a large battery pack installed on the roof of the truck, which can last for 50 miles. There is also a battery next to the driver's seat, which can last for 10 miles, with a total range of about 60 miles (about 96 kilometers).

Some people may think that 3D printing cars is just for fun for engineers and designers, but in fact, 3D printing is a viable business for enterprises. Using special design and engineering software, a car can be developed within 2 months. If traditional methods are used, prototypes need to be made, which costs much more.

In the entire car, except for the EV chassis and traditional systems, other components are almost all printed using 3D technology, and most of the body panels are also redesigned.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.