Yes, that’s quite a few buzzwords in one title. Spanish start-up Liux wants to make the Animal, an electric crossover SUV with a range of up to 600 km. More importantly, though, is the goal of producing it out of 90% recycled and plant-based materials, with a simplified assembly that facilitates production and repairs.

The Animal’s specs sound pretty good on paper: a 190 or 240 hp electric motor, two or four 23 kWh floor-mounted battery packs with a range of up to 600 km, and the ability to accelerate from 0-100 km/hour in just over five seconds. No weight figures have yet been announced, but with this level of performance from 240 hp, it should also be relatively light.

Bio-based and 3D-printed

But the interesting part about the Liux Animal is its construction. It has an aluminum chassis that is a mounting point for the battery packs and the bodywork, which Liux calls the “Amphibian skin”. In addition, it’s a cork- and linen-based bio-polymer with 3D-printed molds to cut manufacturing time and CO2 emissions.

Liux also says it uses 25% fewer parts, making the Animal easier to produce, repair or recycle. This quest for simplicity does allow for some design flourishes, like the suicide doors, the large panoramic roof, and the LED strip along the rear. Inside, the Animal does look quite bare, with a distinct lack of switchgear. The infotainment and driver displays are Android-based.

From 39 900 euros

Pre-orders are already open, with prices starting from 39 900 euros for the base ‘Habitat’ model with a 300 km range and climbing up to 54 000 euros for the quicker ‘Wild’ variant with a 92 kWh battery pack.

Liux, founded in 2021, hopes to start production as soon as October 2023, with deliveries starting in Q1 2024. However, the company is still seeking investment and a production partner in Spain to achieve this deadline. If the Animal is a success, Liux will follow it up with a city car and a large sedan.