Whilst the current emphasis is on the cost of motoring I have no doubt that it will soon return to the environmental cost of motoring when those who can do without a car will preach at those of us who can’t about the impact on our planet. And that this message concerns a lot of us, men and women drivers alike.
So when you know that you need your car because there isn’t a viable public transport system or you can’t make sense of the bicycle, city car clubs or shared transport, it’s good to know that the car manufacturers are beavering away in the relative background doing all they can to make the new cars women drivers buy in future much greener and produce less CO2 – this will also keep the automotive industry vital for the future.
I am pleased to read that Ford, for example, isn’t stopping at eco-engine technology but is also looking at ways to produce their on board components by recycling wherever possible.
Not only stepping up their research into plastics, rubber, foam, film and fabric with a view to developing alternative bio-based materials that are functional, durable and cost-effective (and therefore steering clear of oil-based products) they are also developing all-new materials that include more natural ingredients such as soy flour, hemp and cellulose.
Test results are encouraging and show that natural fibre-reinforced plastics can reduce weight by up to 30 per cent which means better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.
They are also working with a biodegradable plastic called polylactic acid (PLA), derived from the sugars in corn, sugarbeet and cane so that a plastic part (made from PLA) would biodegrade after its life cycle in just 90 to 120 days, compared with 1,000 years in a landfill for a traditional, petroleum-based plastic.
Just think about the applications here; for carpets, floor mats, upholstery and interior trim pieces that are injection moulded.
Ford has also joined a three-year research project into a new wood/plastic compound known as “liquid wood” which looks as if it will be capable of being reprocessed up to five times, with an overall near-neutral CO2 balance.
Ford’s material researchers (at Dunton Technical Centre in Essex) are required to develop components from recycled material that will not compromise quality, durability or performance in any way but they will reduce CO2 emissions and therefore the cost of motoring in terms of £££s and our planet.
Just to give you an idea of where these can be used…
- Heater and air conditioner housing made from 25 per cent recycled plastics
- Replacement bumpers made from 20 per cent recycled bumpers
- Interior carpets made from 20 per cent recycled carpet material
- Battery tray made from 50 per cent mixed recycled plastics
- Wheel arch liners made from up to 100 per cent recycled polypropylene
- Air cleaner assembly made from 25 per cent recycled plastics
- Fabric seat option made from 100 per cent recycled material
- Roof lining, parcel shelf, instrument panel, insulation and sound-proofing materials include recycled textiles
Sources for this recycled material are everyday items like plastic bottles, bottle tops, computer and TV casings, CDs, household carpets and even denim jeans. For example, the noise insulation in all Ford vehicles is made from jeans and reclaimed car seat upholstery.
Every little bit helps. Maybe we’ll see the automotive industry investing in landfill schemes soon 
.
FOXY Steph
