Carbon Fiber

If a material is going to be used for implants or prostheses, it had better be tough. The carbon fiber produced by Lamborghini may be up to the task, so samples will soon be headed for the ISS – to be tested in the harsh conditions of outer space.

In order to help prevent a guitar's neck losing the fight against the pull of the strings, a metal rod usually runs through it. Rubato Guitars has done away with the truss rod for it first model – named Lassie – instead relying on the stiffness of carbon fiber to keep things nice and straight.

Earth Traveler is developing a different teardrop trailer, a skeletal archway made of lightweight composite. The range-topper will be carbon fiber, but the more interesting version will use a composite made of chicken feathers, for a trailer that's featherlight.

In 2016 we first heard about the KerVelo, a recumbent bike that replaced the chain with a gearhub transmission built into the front wheel. Well, it's now more of a head-turner than ever, with the new carbon fiber Low Racer model being unveiled at last month's Spezi bike show in Germany.

Starting in early June, GMC will begin offering carbon fiber truck beds for its Sierra line of pickups. The Sierra CarbonPro will be offered with the Denali and AT4 half-ton pickups. This is the first purpose-built production carbon fiber truck bed and GMC developed a composite specifically for it.

It was a couple of years ago that Cerevo first unveiled its high-tech limited-edition Orbitrec road bike. Now, the Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer has announced pricing – the bike will cost you a whopping US$140,000, although that figure includes two return trips to Tokyo.

​Hypercar buyers love carbon fiber, and Koenigsegg has just released the carbon-iest hypercar ever with this "naked carbon'" KNC Regera, which strips away any lacquer, varnish and even the thin layer of epoxy, to present a car finished in nothing but bare carbon fiber.

On Monday, Boeing announced a new partnership with British-based ELG Carbon Fibre to recycle carbon composites left over from production at 11 Boeing manufacturing sites that will reduce solid waste by one million pounds (453,000 kg) per year.

​​Carbon fiber as we know it is one of the most impressive materials in our toolkit, but could it also play a role in energy storage? One team of scientists has been exploring the possibilities, raising some interesting possibilities for weight-saving vehicle design.

Last year, e-bike veteran Optibike introduced what it described as the best bike the company had ever made, and the most fun to ride. Now a special carbon fiber edition R15 has been announced, with a redesigned frame and a top motor-only speed of 28 mph.

Researchers from the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois have developed an artificial muscle made of carbon fiber and rubber that can lift over 12,000 times its own weight.

Carbon-loving motorcycle and sportscar fans will be interested to learn that BMW says it's cracked the problem of quick, cost-effective carbon composite manufacturing of chassis parts. If this results in a flood of lightweight carbon-framed motorcycles, we consider ourselves ready.