Automakers using more plastic to reduce weight and emissions
Plastics make things possible, or so say the major plastic manufacturing companies in their ads. It turns out that there's some truth to the tagline, as automakers are increasing the amount of plastic parts in vehicles in an attempt to reduce weight and emissions. While many consider steel to be the most desirable material to pound out automobiles, the use of plastic is outgunning metals pound for pound on new cars. Even luxury brands like BMW and Porsche are using more plastics in their vehicles than ever before, and both see the trend continuing. Composites such as carbon fiber and kevlar prove that plastics can perform just as well as steel when properly designed and engineered.
Despite the overall goal of reducing weight and cutting vehicle emissions, most plastics still trace their roots to petroleum. Automakers such as Mazda and Mitsubishi are experimenting with bioplastics, which are made from natural ingredients such as sugars.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt B 8:36AM (8/20/2008)
Great, so more people will die in their tiny, plastic, weak car. I love how we are trying to "save the environment" when it doesn't need saving, and as we are doing so we are killing more people. Just shows you who is more important to the environs.
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The Other Bob 9:10AM (8/20/2008)
Which would you rather smash your face into in an accident:
A) A steel dashboard
B) A plastic dashboard
It's all about the right material for the right purpose.
Paul M. Watson 9:07AM (8/20/2008)
Seems to work for F1 ;)
(Yes, yes, I know, not quite the same plastics as used in your Daewoo Tiddler.)
Also there is much to be said for smart design over brute-force metals. Lot of SUVs out there that are big on metal but roll them onto their roof and the passengers die horribly.
We'll see how much plastic Volvo ends up using.
VinceP 10:41AM (8/20/2008)
You're on to something Matt. The biggest factor in global CO2 emissions is population, especially population of high energy consuming nations like the US.
Although killing people would effectively reduce CO2 emissions, I'm not sure it would be a politically feasible energy policy.
posa_15 8:37AM (8/20/2008)
FIRST!!!
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adrenalnjunky 9:28AM (8/20/2008)
"first" fail.
Diffrunt 8:40AM (8/20/2008)
Ol Henry put soy plastic fenders on a new 41 ford & beat on em with a sledge hammer
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Derek 8:57AM (8/20/2008)
1. Automoblox rule.
2. More plastic = more oil needed to make said plastic.
3. The environment does need saving, just not from fear driven fallacies like "global warming". If people would just be more mindful of how much they waste, as in how much trash they produce, that either didn't need to be used, or could have been recycled, that would make a bigger impact on the environment as a whole then any legislation ever could.
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tanooki2003 9:20AM (8/20/2008)
Ahhh yes. Going back to the good ole Pinewood Derby days
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Hairy 9:25AM (8/20/2008)
Wow, this article was breaking news about 20 years ago. They've been making cheap, disposible, quick-rusting plastic cars for decades now. But they work and parts are more plentiful since they are mass produced in China.
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RG 9:44AM (8/20/2008)
This seems to be a little counter productive. Sure, you will have lighter weight cars, but the energy involved in creating those plastics coupled with the difficulty in recycling them might prove to be more trouble than they are worth.
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sumguy 9:54AM (8/20/2008)
Do you think these rolls of sheet metal grow on trees? It takes a ton of energy to bring metal to production. Perhaps more then plastics. Yes plastics are made from oil but not the light sweet crude we all use in our vehicles. Also, like the article suggests, plastic if designed correctly using good geometry can be STONGER then steel. So cars are getting safer with plastic not the other way around like some ignorant people here are suggesting.
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Noz 1:30PM (8/20/2008)
Matt B:
Either
A) You're some radical christian who doesn't believe in dinosaurs and thinks the return of Christ is coming.
B) Your ability to comprehend the current global situation environmentally takes up the same volume a a single walnut
C) Or you are in such denial about issues that you're blinded by your own ego.
That being said, the plastics industry has been a very large contributor to waste and trashing of this planet. Bottled water....5 minutes in your car, forever in a landfill.
Anyone even know of the huge 10ft thick soup of plastic caught in a turning whirlpool motion stretching from Hawaii to California?
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