Ever wondered if you could do more for the environment by reusing items and products that people normally don’t? Well, engineers and researchers of automobile companies have come up with a novel way to do their bit for the environment. By using recycled parts for vehicles, they’ve been able to significantly reduce waste while still being able to produce top-of-the-line cars. The European Union requires that all new cars be 85 percent recyclable with 95 percent recoverability. This means that just 5-15 percent of new material is used to create other cars out of those that have been disposed of. Imagine the possibilities!
Check out the list below for five vehicles with parts made out of recycled material.
1. Chevy Volt parts from recycled BP oil spill booms
Making the most out of the BP oil spill in its attempt to clean up while also saving on costs, General Motors is collecting as many booms as possible for manufacturing its Chevy Volt models. 100 miles of boom material (over 100,000 pounds) will be used for car parts that deflect air around the radiator. GM has so far collected enough to build 10,000 parts which will make use of 25 percent of boom material and another 25 percent of recycled tires.
2. Miami 2011 GMC Terrain parts from recycled material
Brickell Motors has equipped its Miami 2011 GMC Terrain with recycled and eco friendly materials. The company says that manufacturing parts from recycled bits not only adds to their green credit, but is also more cost effective and energy efficient to produce. Recycled textile insulation and plant fiber-reinforced ceiling liner act as a sound barrier from external noise. The air baffles are made using post industrial scrap and mixing it with old tires while recycled plastic from bottles is used for the grille frame.
3. Ford cars with parts made from recycled tires and soy
Whoever would have thought that food could be used to manufacture vehicles? Ford has been working to use soy and old tires to make seals and gaskets. The products have made vehicles like the 2012 Ford Focus considerably lighter, some by over 1,600 tons, which also means more fuel efficiency. So far, Ford has recycled 2.2 million pounds of old tires (around 210,000 tires) and about 150,000 pounds of soy.
4. Kumho’s electric SUV featuring recycled rubber for body parts
Tire manufacturer, Kumho, has designed an SUV with zero emissions by using green engines. Not only this, the company is also using recycled rubber to make doors, bonnets, rear hatch and bumper sections for its Fortis SUV.
5. EDAG's electric, recyclable concept car for Geneva Motor show
Engineering & Design, AG or EDAG has not exactly used recycled parts for its Light car concept but has gone one better. The entire body of the car will be made from basalt fiber and will be 100 recyclable. Every charge will give the driver 150 kilometers, while the OLED lights will help save a heap of energy. The Light car is still in its infancy and it isn’t known when it will be ready to hit the streets. But with such technology, it is sure to make a huge impact in energy conservation.
