The EU may prohibit the use of carbon fiber in vehicles by designating it as 'hazardous.'

      BMW

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      European regulators may consider implementing a ban on carbon fiber due to health and environmental issues. Lawmakers are contemplating adding it to the list of hazardous materials that are prohibited, which could significantly impact an industry already facing challenges in producing more efficient vehicles.

      According to Japanese newspaper Nikkei, the European Parliament presented a revised version of the End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive in April 2025, which specifically targets carbon fiber. The concern is that small strands of carbon fiber can break off during the recycling process (such as when a vehicle is dismantled), posing hazards to humans and the environment.

      Notably, the legislation allows for exemptions “when there are no adequate alternatives” to the hazardous material. Including carbon fiber in the banned materials list suggests an acceptable substitute exists, though the EU has not specified what that might be. Other substances the EU identifies as hazardous, like lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium, do have exemptions for automotive applications.

      This would mark the first instance of a significant government classifying carbon fiber as dangerous, even though the material is not new. Once reserved for luxury race cars, carbon fiber has gradually entered the mainstream in recent years as automakers seek to create lighter vehicles. The push for electrification has accelerated this trend, as electric vehicles (EVs) tend to be heavier than their gasoline counterparts, prompting manufacturers to utilize carbon fiber to help manage weight. For instance, the BMW iX features carbon fiber panels known as a Carbon Cage.

      As of this writing, the suggested ban (which is still pending approval) would apply solely to automobiles. It remains unclear if it might eventually extend to carbon fiber used in other industries. Carbon fiber is also utilized in aviation, for example, in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and in wind turbines. Additionally, manufacturers of bicycles, sailboat masts, and fishing rods rely on carbon fiber for its lightweight properties.

      Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Council will discuss the potential ban on carbon fiber in the coming weeks, with Nikkei reporting that, if approved, the ban likely wouldn't take effect until 2029. The publication anticipates that the EU's move to prohibit carbon fiber will encounter significant resistance from the carbon fiber producers and the brands that use it, including numerous automakers. It might ultimately be deemed hazardous but exempt from a ban, or the entire proposal could be abandoned.

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