Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Vegetarian radials? Defatted soy eyed as tire filler substitute]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/vegetarian-radials-defatted-soy-eyed-as-tire-filler-substitute/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/vegetarian-radials-defatted-soy-eyed-as-tire-filler-substitute/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/vegetarian-radials-defatted-soy-eyed-as-tire-filler-substitute/#commentsFiled under:

There's more that one way to green a car, and many of the most interesting technological advancements don't involve powering an internal combustion engine. Consider that much of the fabric, plastic and rubber that goes into a car's construction is derived from petroleum, and you see why alternatives are becoming increasingly attractive. Automakers have taken up corn-based plastics and soy-based seat foam, and now the latest greenery comes by way of defatted soy flour. The latter is an organic substance that's being considered as a replacement for the petroleum-based "carbon black" rubber particles that are currently specified in the vast majority of tires.

The technology has a long way to go before we could be driving on soybeans, and there are likely issues involving using a possible feedstock as a petroleum replacement (again) that will need to be worked out. Still, as pressure builds to abandon the use of petroleum in as many ways as possible, advancements are likely to become a bigger part of our day-to-day transportation needs.

[Source: DairyHerd.com]

Vegetarian radials? Defatted soy eyed as tire filler substitute originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco tiresEcoTiresgreengreen rubbergreen tiresGreenRubberGreenTiresrubbersoysoy rubbersoy tiressoyasoybean rubbersoybean tiresSoybeanRubbersoybeansSoybeanTiresSoyRubberSoyTiresTue, 06 Jan 2009 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace builds Cayenne and M-Class bulldozers for some reason or another]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/greenpeace-builds-cayenne-and-m-class-bulldozers-for-some-reason/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/greenpeace-builds-cayenne-and-m-class-bulldozers-for-some-reason/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/greenpeace-builds-cayenne-and-m-class-bulldozers-for-some-reason/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click on the image above for high-res shots of this wacky scene

Running diesel vehicles on biofuels is a good thing, right? Not always, according to Greenpeace Argentina. It seems that the export of soybeans from Argentina is causing more pollution than was initially estimated. Also, too much of Argentina's native forests are being mowed down for the soybeans. These issues are in stark contrast with two of Greenpeace's stated charters: (1) catalyzing an energy revolution to address the number one threat facing our planet: climate change and (2) supporting sustainable agriculture by encouraging socially and ecologically responsible farming practices.

No Greenpeace protest would be complete without some sort of outlandish stunt, and this one follows suit. Because most of the Argentinian biodiesel goes to Germany, a Mercedes-Benz M-Class and a Porsche Cayenne were made to look like bulldozers by men and women wielding German flags. The two SUV's were surrounded by fake tree stumps. Once again, Greenpeace has done an admirable job of catching plenty of attention. Whether the group's wacky efforts have any effect, though, is another matter entirely.

Gallery: Argentina Greenpeace mission


[Source: Argentina Auto Blog - translated]

Greenpeace builds Cayenne and M-Class bulldozers for some reason or another originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 May 2008 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biodieselgreenpeacegreenpeace argentinagreenpeace-argentinaGreenpeaceArgentinasoysoybeansMon, 05 May 2008 17:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Would you like beans with that? 2008 Mustang to use soy-based seat foam]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/14/would-you-like-beans-with-that-2008-mustang-to-use-soy-based-se/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/14/would-you-like-beans-with-that-2008-mustang-to-use-soy-based-se/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/14/would-you-like-beans-with-that-2008-mustang-to-use-soy-based-se/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The 2008 Mustang that appears in August will be full o' beans. Soybeans. Ford has teamed with automotive supplier Lear Corporation on the creation of soy-based seat foam. Car seats currently contain roughly petroleum-based foam, and the new soy-based variety will substitute nearly a quarter of that mass with renewable content, as well as lower the amount of C0&sup2; emitted during the creation of the foam. Ford's been playing around with soy ever since with Model T, which contained 60 pounds of beans in its paint and molded plastic parts. This is the kind of environmental tech we can get behind -- and sit on -- without reservation. We do wonder, however, what it will do to that new car smell. This isn't the only "green" material Ford's using with regard to seating accommodations in '08 models, either. The new Escape's seat upholstery is made of eco-friendly recycled materials. For Ford's full press release on the new soy foam seats, click the image above or the "Read" link below to see it at AutoblogGreen.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

Would you like beans with that? 2008 Mustang to use soy-based seat foam originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008foaminterioripmustangseatssoysoybeansSat, 14 Jul 2007 18:14:00 EST