The project developed a body exterior set of panels made from Flax Composite with Bio-Resin, manufactured using a HALO tooling board that uses bio-content to improve its sustainability and CO₂ emissions. For this programme 98% bio-resin content was used on the tooling board, proving that it is possible to build vehicle body panels using this material. This innovative use of materials and tooling, implemented by CODEM, achieved a substantial CO₂e savings of over 10,000kg for building the prototype vehicle alone compared to more traditional composite materials, setting a new standard for sustainable manufacturing.
The project also demonstrated a novel battery pack, developed by Nyobolt, built with production intent cells and modules which deliver ultra-fast charge capabilities (the 35kWh pack can fully charge in under 10 minutes). The potential for vehicles to be recharged in such a short period – without significant degradation of the battery life – is an exciting development which addresses an area of concern for many potential BEV customers, which can be applied to other vehicle types and sectors.
Scott Thompson, Programme Director for the Niche Vehicle Network, said:
“We’re delighted that the Callum Skye has been awarded the Nick Carpenter Innovation Trophy this year. It’s been great to see the team create an exciting new vehicle design that not only looks fantastic but also demonstrates real world innovation with the materials and technology it’s built with. The potential embedded CO₂ reductions that have been realised through the use of sustainable materials with both the panels and tooling could be immediately transferrable to other vehicles across the niche sector, which is an important development to help support the transition towards net zero. Also seeing the potential offered by UK designed ultra-fast battery technology is really exciting too. The ability to charge in such a short time without degrading the life and performance of the battery could be a game changer for the niche sector and other high-performance products.”
Kevin Doherty, Managing Director of CODEM Said:
“Winning the Nick Carpenter Award for Innovation is a testament to the powerful collaboration between CODEM, CALLUM Designs, and Nyobolt. Our partnership with CALLUM Designs has been instrumental in achieving the innovative design and use of sustainable materials for the CALLUM SKYE. Nyobolt’s contribution with their groundbreaking ultra-fast charging battery technology has further elevated the project’s impact. This award highlights the strength of our collective efforts and underscores the importance of working together to drive advancements in sustainable transportation. We are grateful to the Niche Vehicle Network for their support and recognition, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative journey toward a zero-emission future.”
The NVN Nick Carpenter Innovation Award was created in memory of pioneering Technical Director and co-founder of Delta Motorsport, Nick Carpenter, a key figure within the EV industry and NVN advocate. It celebrates the visionaries behind the latest cutting-edge niche vehicle design and sustainable technology.
