Bpreg Composites natural fibers prove industrial readiness on reECONIC EV concept vehicle 

A sustainability alliance of 33 partners, led by the Daimler Truck AG (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) division Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Faun Group (waste collection vehicle specialist) and TSR Group GmbH & Co. KG (battery-electric waste collection vehicle manufacturer) has debuted the reECONIC concept vehicle, which aims to demonstrate how recycled materials and natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRC) can be used in a resource-efficient manner.

Consortium member Bpreg Composites (Kocaeli, Turkiye) worked together with partner Centrotherm Systemtechnik GmbH (Brilon, Germany), providing technical contribution through the engineering of the project’s footwell trim, an interior component that demonstrates the industrial readiness of NFRC.

The original footwell trim on eEconic trucks consisted of three separately injection molded parts assembled during production. Within the reECONIC concept vehicle, an innovative redesign approach was implemented by replacing these multiple joined components with a one-piece compression molded composite structure manufactured from EcoRein/UD prepregs.

Through the use of Bpreg’s flax-based unidirectional (UD) thermoplastic prepregs, Centrotherm delivered a component that meets the rigorous mechanical requirements of heavy-duty vocational vehicles while significantly improving the sustainability profile.

Key value propositions of Bpreg’s UD prepregs in this application include:

• 98% bio-based content, use of flax fibers as reinforcement material and a bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) as the matrix.
• 45% weight reduction compared to series production material.
• 75% lower CO₂ footprint through the integration of flax/PLA prepregs.
• High specific stiffness achieved through precise UD fiber alignment, supporting lightweight component design via compression molding.

“Our prepregs offer a unique, premium aesthetic texture combined with the mechanical performance necessary to replace conventional technical plastics in mass-scale production,” Bpreg says.

Notably, this redesign successfully eliminated assembly complexity while enabling a more efficient and integrated manufacturing process. The composite footwell trim solution also delivers improved structural integrity, reduced system weight and optimized material use, aligning with the Daimler Truck’s growing focus on lightweighting and circular material solutions.

Learn more at Bpreg’s LinkedIn post. For related content, read about Bpreg’s biocomposites work with Kordsa.

What is the reECONIC project?

The reECONIC is a concept electric vehicle (EV) based on the Mercedes-Benz eEconic, with the goal of charting a path toward a more sustainable value chain in vehicle production. Roland Dold, reECONIC project manager at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, states in chargedevs.com that partners expect to be able to incorporate findings and experiences into series production so that more trucks with high recycled content will hit the roads in the future.

The project has demonstrated that, theoretically, around 80% of the materials used to build the truck could be replaced with recycled, natural and bio-based materials. The vehicle is scheduled to undergo real-world testing in the second half of 2026, after which Daimler says it will then transition into a “practical use phase.”