This system helps a 3D printed car and home power to one another

Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy

AMIE, or Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy, is a platform that facilitates a bi-directional flow of energy between a home and a vehicle – thus enabling both to supply power to one another through a wireless transfer system. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) built the the home and the vehicle with 3D printing technology as a “tool to drive rapid innovation.” The system is also 85% efficient, and the platform prides itself as the world’s first working level 2 bi-directional power system. The building is fitted with a flexible photovoltaic system, which is then paired with electric vehicle batteries to provide renewable power generation and storage.

Materials Used

The 3D-printed abode is equipped with modified atmosphere insulation (MAI), which is seven times more efficient than conventional wall insulation. Also, it has a rooftop photovoltaic system that uses batteries from used Fiat 500e’s. The 3D-printed car runs on natural gas, and thanks to its 3D-printed parts the owner can customize the vehicle as they wish. Carbon fiber-reinforced ABS plastic material was used for 80% of the house and 30% for the vehicle. ORNL explains that they didn’t design the prototype with performance and speed in mind, but rather, they just wanted to showcase what AMIE could do.