Thursday, 28 April 2011

Automotive Plastic Goes Banana's - Quite Literally!

Alcides Leão, a Brazilian research scientist and the study leader for this particular project, has found value in agro-waste. Leão addressed the National American Society in a meeting a couple of weeks ago. Apparently the properties of Banana’s and Pineapples are proving to be very beneficial for the Automotive industry at the moment. According to Leão, the leaves and stems of fruit with tough skins such as these could play a massive part in the future of Automotive plastics for the future. The unique fibers in these particular fruits have remarkable properties and nano-cellulose that can help to reinforce plastic by making them more sustainable, stronger and lighter. Leão said at the meeting “the properties of these plants are incredible”. The fibers from the fruit can reinforce plastic to build dashboards, bumpers and side panels.

Not just a juicy, fruity, refreshing snack...

It is costly - less than one-half kilo of nano-cellulose is needed to produce 45 kilos of super-strong light weight plastic material. However, the nano-cellulose-reinforced plastic is 30% lighter and as much as four times stronger than petroleum-based plastic and easily matches carbon fiber and fiberglass. 
However expensive, this makes the car more durable and because it will make the car lighter, it will also improve fuel economy. Not to mention more resistant to damage from heat, spilled gasoline, water and oxygen.
Leão goes on to explain how the fibers will help to make plastics even more eco-friendly than ever before. "Before it [plastic] was 50 percent non-biodegradable, non-renewable, that was the plastic based on oil and now we end up with 100 percent bio-degradable, bio-renewable material."

So what could this mean for the future? At the moment, Leão is only focusing on replacing automotive parts for the automotive industry, which he thinks will be available within 2 years time. Parts have already been tested by automotive companies who have said that the results have been “favourable”. But certainly in the future Leão explains how he would like to use this nano-cellulose technology for use in other industries such as medicine and medical equipment; lightening the load for artificial hips for example. He also believes that eventually this technology could possibly replace aluminium and steel automotive parts in the future.  

A 1 Million KM Milestone for Ford

A milestone has passed for the Auto Car Maker, Ford this month. An average joe from Austria bought a Ford Focus (1999) 1.8 TDDi and this week it has passed the 1 Million KM mark (621,371 miles), a first for Ford and a real landmark in automotive history. This just proves that Ford cars really are built to last. Apparently the owner of the car says that the car has had no major surgery in the 12 years of ownership and that he has only had the engine revised once, the clutch repaired once and remarkably the rest of the parts are pretty much the same original parts that were put in the car since it was made in 1999!  


A real milestone for Ford and what every auto car maker wants to achieve.


 "This car is a testament to the outstanding quality of the Ford Focus. With the introduction of the Ford Focus in 1998, we have set a milestone in Ford history in terms of dynamics, design, and vehicle quality,” said Ford Austria general director Steffen Knapp.



“This success story is not only continuing with the introduction of the new Ford Focus in April 2011, but leads the Ford offer to the next level in regards to technology, environmental friendliness, safety and vehicle quality." 


However, if you aren't quite as lucky as to get over 600,000 miles out of your Ford, you can always visit us for affordable Ford spares :)

Ford Mondeo Comes 9th in 'Most Comfortable Car'

A consumer survey conducted by Which? Car Magazine for the 'Most Comfortable Car' resulted in the Ford Mondeo coming 9th place. Would you agree? Disagree? See all of the results here:


Large cars
Model
Production date
Driving position
Ride quality
Overall comfort
Skoda Superb
2002-2008
88%
86%
87%
Lexus IS
2005-
83%
84%
84%
Alfa Romeo 159
2006-
81%
82%
82%
Mercedes-Benz C-class
2007-
79%
80%
80%
Citroen C5
2001-2008
71%
89%
80%
Renault Laguna
2007-
77%
81%
79%
Volvo S60
2000-
79%
76%
78%
Honda Accord
2008-
83%
72%
78%
Ford Mondeo
2007-
76%
75%
76%
Volvo S40/V50
2004-
76%
73%
75%
Toyota Prius
2004-2009
75%
74%
75%
Subaru Legacy/Outback
2003-
74%
73%
74%
Mercedes-Benz C-class
2000-2008
74%
73%
73%
Mazda 6
2008-
76%
70%
73%
BMW 3 series
2005-
76%
66%
71%
Toyota Avensis
2003-2008
70%
71%
71%
Honda Accord
2002-2008
76%
66%
71%
Jaguar X-type
2001-
69%
71%
70%
Subaru Forester
2002-2008
71%
69%
70%
Saab 9-3
2002-
71%
68%
69%
Skoda Octavia
2004-
74%
63%
69%
Volkswagen Passat
2005-
68%
68%
68%
Peugeot 407
2004-
66%
70%
68%
BMW 3 series
1998-2007
71%
64%
68%
Mazda 6
2002-2007
71%
64%
68%
Renault Laguna
2000-2008
65%
69%
67%
Ford Mondeo
2000-2007
68%
64%
66%
Audi A4
2000-2008
68%
63%
66%
Hyundai Elantra
2001-2006
64%
63%
64%
Vauxhall Vectra
2002-2008
63%
60%
62%
Nissan Primera
2002-2006
63%
55%
59%
Averages
n/a
73%
71%
72%