CHENGDU, PR China, Nov 17, 2014 – Here at the Challenge Bibendum 2014 event in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, Solvay presents “Bud-e”*, a foldable electric scooter specially designed for intermodal mobility in urban areas and developed by French company Kleefer in close collaboration with Solvay Engineering Plastics.

The streamlined fairing parts of the scooter are made using the industry’s first glass-filled polyamide 6 powder for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) from Solvay’s Sinterline™ Technyl^® range of materials. The technology delivers fully functional parts while offering greater design freedom as well as significant weight and cost savings over competing aluminum. Prior to the SLS process, the parts were optimized with Solvay’s MMI Technyl^® Design for multi-scale modelling and structural analysis.

Kleefer, based in Lyon, France, develops and commercializes innovative light electric vehicles for the urban mobility market and has been partnering with Solvay since its foundation two years ago. “Bud-e is the result of an advanced prototyping and small series approach for a new, environmentally responsible scooter concept that can make an essential contribution to personal mobility in our increasingly congested cities around the world,” says Antoine Cirier, CEO of Kleefer.

“Solvay’s Sinterline powders proved the perfect tool for validating 3D models and computer simulations, producing functional, dependable prototypes comparable to the required performance characteristics and surface finish in no time. The glass-filled powder grades of the material have an ideal fit in the cost-efficient manufacture of the parts in small to medium-sized volumes,” addedDominique Giannotta, Sinterline Program Leader at Solvay Engineering Plastics.

“Bud-e” is equipped with a removable, plug-in lithium battery pack that can be fully recharged in just 2 hours and gives the ultra-compact scooter an electric driving range of 20km at a speed of up to 25km/h. Together with a front hub motor, puncture-proof pneumatic tyres (Æ 200 mm) and a reliable brake system it folds/unfolds in just 1 second and is the first of Kleefer’s “personal transporters” expected to feature Solvay’s high-performance PA technology. The electric scooter will be commercially available in 2015.

® Registered trademark of Solvay

™Trademark of Solvay

*Pronounced ‘Buddy’ in English