The Role of 3D Printing in the Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles

Times move forward and society evolves and adapts to new changes. The same phenomenon can be seen with technology, a little more than a decade ago we could not even imagine the technology that we have today at our fingertips. This is reflected in our daily lives, from new inventions such as with “air fryers” or drones with facial tracking to make video reports, to advances in existing technology such as 5G or 3D printing. But, there is one particular advancement that we have become increasingly accustomed to in recent years, and that is electric vehicles (EVs).

These types of cars, motorcycles and even vans are increasingly prominent in our lives. Their low emissions coupled with the cost of filling up a tank are, among other things, attractive for consumers. Indeed, today, a large percentage of cars on the world’s roads are hybrid or electric. And, as we mentioned at the beginning, technology is constantly evolving, and that is why 3D printing is already starting to be implemented in the manufacturing of electric vehicles by a number of brands.

Electric car sales comparing China (orange), Europe (blue) and the USA (neon green) (image credits: IEA)

Why Use Electric Vehicles?

There are several reasons why people decide to purchase an electric vehicle over a gasoline or diesel one. On the one hand, there are those drivers who decide to take action and take responsibility for the environment. Something we all know is that the emissions of an electric vehicle are zero, so this type of driver is able to directly contribute to sustainability efforts. On the other hand, there are those who think about their pocket. An electric car is a large initial investment, but in the long run it is very profitable given the low cost required to use the EV (Electric Vehicle). Finally, there are people who are forced to buy one of these cars for reasons such as restrictions.