Green Cars
Biofueled and biodegradable: the car of the future.
Web2Carz Contributing Writer
Published: August 29th, 2011
Green is the future, and today more manufacturers are utilizing bio fuels and recycled materials than ever before. The concept is to shift from non-renewable raw materials and combustable fuels to recycled materials, and biodegradables. Here is a look at what several auto manufacturers have been up to!
Although oils derived from plant vegetation have been sought out by manufacturers for some time, today they are ramping up these efforts. From soybean based seat-foam and wheat straw plastic, to biodiesel made from recycled organic materials, manufacturers all over the World are finding ways to reduce crude oil consumption.
The switch to more sustainable resources may be on the rise, but perhaps it has always been a facet of the automobile. Even in 1929, Henry Ford was telling the public about the benefits of oils and fuels derived from biomass, or naturally grown plant materials.
"For a long time now I have believed that industry and agriculture are natural partners and that they should begin to recognize and practice their partnership. Each of them is suffering from ailments which the other can cure. Agriculture needs a wider and steadier market; industrial workers need more and steadier jobs. Can each be made to supply what the other needs? I think so. The link between is Chemistry," Henry Ford was quoted in 1929, according to the Soy Info Center. [source]
Today, just about every manufacturer is utilizing alternative oils and/or looking into how they can used recycled materials. Here is a look at several foreign and domestic automakers efforts.
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Ford Motor Company "Ford designers and researchers will share where the company is headed in terms of how the use of more bio-based, recycled and reclaimed materials for vehicle interior applications can create the quality product consumers demand while reducing Ford’s carbon footprint" [sources: Ford] Biodegradable Cars Parts? Soybean seat foam, wheat-straw plastics, corn based fabrics[sources: ABC] |
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Volkswagen "The use of recyclable materials is the basis for ensuring that a vehicle has good recovery properties. For that reason all the materials used in the course of the development of a new vehicle are recorded and checked in their entirety for recyclability. Before the start of series production there must be independent confirmation by an authority in the context of the release and type approval of the vehicle that the vehicle is 85 % recyclable and 95 % recoverable. In June 2007 Volkswagen was the world's first car manufacturer to achieve official certification of these figures for a standard production vehicle, the Volkswagen Eos. Today all new Volkswagen models are verifiably 85 % recyclable and 95 % recoverable." [sources: VW] |
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General Motors “We’re not just using renewable and recycled materials for the sake of being ‘green,’” said Lora Herron, GM bio and recycled materials engineer. “They often are more energy efficient to manufacture than parts made from virgin materials, and they can be lighter weight as well, which helps improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions.” [sources: GM] |
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Nissan "To limit our use of exhaustible resources, we are promoting use of recycled plastics from end-of-life vehicles as well as other recycled materials. We are promoting these activities on Nissan LEAF, our zero emission vehicle, to realize world's top-level application of recycled materials." [sources: Nissan] |
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Toyota "Toyota developed eco plastics from plant materials, which can effectively conserve natural petroleum resources and reduce CO2 emissions and first used them in Raum models' spare tire covers. In 2008, Toyota developed new eco plastics for use in interior components, such as scuff plates and seat cushions. In fact, these new plastics are used in interior components of new Prius, HS and SAI models. Toyota is also working on using natural kenaf plant fibers in door and package tray trim base materials." [sources: Toyota] |
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Hyundai "The elite don’t have a monopoly on the environment. Nor do they have a monopoly on our responsibility to take care of it. We all have to do our part. That’s why Hyundai is taking strides toward making environmental efficiency more affordable. Over the next few years, Hyundai will introduce hybrids and other high-efficiency, low-emission models that cost far less than you’d expect. Our goal is to provide the best price-to-MPG ratios of any car company out there. After all, we can’t all afford the ultra-expensive eco-machines, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to drive a little greener." [source: Hyundai] |
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Honda Civic GX Natural Gas Powered Vehicle |
Honda "10 of 14 Honda manufacturing plants in North America are now operating with zero waste sent to landfill, with the remaining four producing virtually zero landfill waste. Taken together, all 14 plants are sending less than one-half of one percent of all waste to landfills, estimated at just 1.8 pounds for each automobile produced in the region in the current fiscal year."[source: Honda]
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Ford Soybean based Seat-Foam
Volkswagen Tiguan
2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Nissan Leaf 
Toyota Prius 
