Eco Factor: Plant-based resin to be used to manufacture interiors of hybrids.
Hybrid cars added a new and green dimension to urban transportation. These cars not only ensure a low emission ride, but also take care of the speed and agility one gets with a conventional gasoline counterpart. However, these cars are green under the hoods, but the interiors are still made from plastic and other non-ecofriendly materials. Toyota is now aiming to green the interiors of its green cars with a newly developed plant-based resin that could be used to cover 60% of the interior. This new material would be introduced in the new hybrids that the company will debut in 2009.
Since materials used in automotive interiors have to be sturdier that what you use in your living room, Toyota has manufactured them using a variety of composite manufacturing technologies. If all goes well, Toyota would be having hybrids that are green inside and outside in 2009.
The Dark Side:
The plant-based interiors would cost much more than what they do at present. People already pay much more to own a hybrid car and a further rise in cost would reduce the number of people opting for these green machines.
Via: GreenPacks/TechOn
