Various attempts were made to find alternative raw materials that can replace steel in automobiles. Steel as the main raw materials cost more and the car body is more expensive due to high demand for these metals.
Moreover, the steel material has contributed as much as 60 percent of the total cost of car production.
A number of automotive experts in various countries also undertakes research to find substitute materials can be recycled steel and naturally resulting from the production process. The result is a variety of innovative car body manufacturing plant that uses fiber as the main raw material.
The move was in line with the expectations of the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), which suggested that the world automotive industry began using the products of nature, such as wood, bamboo, straw and peanut shells. Here are five cars that use the body of the plant raw material are:
1. Una Cebu
Una Cebu car was developed by a Filipino engineer named Clayton Tugonon using palm trees as a material body and a car interior. Una Cebu was built using a base 2-door classic 1959 Porsche 356 which was originally made in Germany between 1948 to 1965.
The original Porsche 356 body is made of steel overhauled and replaced with palm trees so as to produce a light brown appearance. Clayton claimed the body is not easily damaged and have adequate durability. Look of the car so it looks unique and aesthetically pleasing as wood accentuate the aura color. Clayton innovations prove that the motor vehicle not only can be made of steel, but also environmentally friendly plants. Yet this car will not be mass produced as Clayton continued to perfect it.
2. Toyota 1/X
The uniqueness of the car called the Toyota 1/X (pronounced: one-Xth). This is because the roof is made of bioplastic material. Raw materials that are environmentally friendly category are made from kenaf plant fibers.
Roof by using kenaf fibers because it has better advantages than metal, which small carbon emissions, more heat resistant, can increase the amount of light entering into the cabin, and made the atmosphere so quiet cabin.
1/X car is being previewed at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007 and was on display at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) has a four-seat ultralight from a knitted polyester fiber for added comfort.
The material functions like a spring or damper so as to produce a soft cushion like a traditional chair. 1/X car used electric motor and 500 cc engine that gets 960 km to 15 liters of fuel.
3. Bamgoo
No less unique to the 1/X car, Bamgoo made by utilizing bamboo as the main component of the body. The author is a researcher from the Venture Business Laboratory, University of Kyoto, Japan named Kazumi Matsushige. Bamgoo developed with the philosophy of environmentally friendly because it's using an electric motor as its driving force.
Bamgoo weighs 60 kg, 2.7 meters long, 1.3 meters wide and 1.65 meters high. The car is only providing one seat for the rider, can travel a distance of 50 km for a one-time refill again. Matsushige claim Bamgoo a specially designed car that is safe and the people who drove this car will feel comfortable with the design and technology of bamboo.
4. Motive Kestrel
Motive Industries of Canada, developed a car called the Kestrel which utilize hemp fiber as the main material body. Hemp fiber is produced from the hemp plant (Boehmeria nivea) that the bark contains fiber for use as raw material for textile and Motive Industries developed a biocomposite that is lightweight and strong.
Motive Kestrel is a four-passenger electric vehicle designed for transportation purposes in the city.
Electric motors using lithium battery energy is channeled to the wheel with an automatic transmission 1 speed. Kestrel has not been produced so far and still at the research stage. Despite this promising Motive Kestrel can not only use the electric motor, but also the engine with the fuel gas.
5. WorldFirst Formula 3 Racing Car
This racing car which claimed the most environmentally friendly. Because the car was named WorldFirst Formula 3 Racing Car using the majority of plant fiber as raw material.
Not just one plant, but a number of plants such as carrots, flax, and soy. The author is a scientist from University of Warwick, Coventry UK try carrots for tire raw materials. Then a mixture of flax fiber and soybean oil for seating, and fiber crops for the car body.
Not only is it a race car capable of speeding is taking chocolate waste as fuel. The test results prove the car's 2.0-liter engine capable of driving up to speeds of 232 km/h. *** [OVI | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 16032012]
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| ETA-logo. |
A number of automotive experts in various countries also undertakes research to find substitute materials can be recycled steel and naturally resulting from the production process. The result is a variety of innovative car body manufacturing plant that uses fiber as the main raw material.
The move was in line with the expectations of the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), which suggested that the world automotive industry began using the products of nature, such as wood, bamboo, straw and peanut shells. Here are five cars that use the body of the plant raw material are:
1. Una Cebu
Una Cebu car was developed by a Filipino engineer named Clayton Tugonon using palm trees as a material body and a car interior. Una Cebu was built using a base 2-door classic 1959 Porsche 356 which was originally made in Germany between 1948 to 1965.
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| Una Cebu by Clayton Tugonon was 2-door classic 1959 Porsche 356. (Picture from: http://inhabitat.com/) |
2. Toyota 1/X
Roof by using kenaf fibers because it has better advantages than metal, which small carbon emissions, more heat resistant, can increase the amount of light entering into the cabin, and made the atmosphere so quiet cabin.
1/X car is being previewed at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007 and was on display at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) has a four-seat ultralight from a knitted polyester fiber for added comfort.
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Toyota 1/X is a concept car built by Toyota and first shown at the October 2007. (Picture from:http://en.wikipedia.org/)
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3. Bamgoo
No less unique to the 1/X car, Bamgoo made by utilizing bamboo as the main component of the body. The author is a researcher from the Venture Business Laboratory, University of Kyoto, Japan named Kazumi Matsushige. Bamgoo developed with the philosophy of environmentally friendly because it's using an electric motor as its driving force.
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| Bamgoo is Bamboo EV (Electric vehicle). (Picture from: http://www.bidt.org/) |
4. Motive Kestrel
Motive Industries of Canada, developed a car called the Kestrel which utilize hemp fiber as the main material body. Hemp fiber is produced from the hemp plant (Boehmeria nivea) that the bark contains fiber for use as raw material for textile and Motive Industries developed a biocomposite that is lightweight and strong.Motive Kestrel is a four-passenger electric vehicle designed for transportation purposes in the city.
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| Motive Kestrel. (Picture from: http://www.salem-news.com/) |
5. WorldFirst Formula 3 Racing Car
This racing car which claimed the most environmentally friendly. Because the car was named WorldFirst Formula 3 Racing Car using the majority of plant fiber as raw material.
Not just one plant, but a number of plants such as carrots, flax, and soy. The author is a scientist from University of Warwick, Coventry UK try carrots for tire raw materials. Then a mixture of flax fiber and soybean oil for seating, and fiber crops for the car body.
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| The WorldFirst Formula 3 chocolate-powered race car made out of vegetables. (Picture from: http://inhabitat.com/) |
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone
