Will All Cars Soon Be Made of Plastic?

Car manufacturers are rushing to design and engineerproperties.
a more fuel-efficient yet affordable vehicle. While doingThe most common plastic used for vehicles is a
so, much of the metal that made up the cars oflightweight, high-strength aerospace material called
yesterday will be replaced with highly sophisticated andcarbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. It's used in the doors,
much lighter plastics.hoods, fenders, chassis and also in support frames for
When we think of cars, we traditionally picture them asthe engine and transmission. This plastic can be molded
being made of metal, iron and steel. But according tointo almost any shape the designer wants.
the director of automotive studies at the AmericanWhat about recycled plastic? At the Geneva Auto
Plastic Council's Automotive Learning Centre, "TenShow, Hyundai announced a concept vehicle using
years ago, about 150 pounds of plastics were on therecycled plastic bottles to create most of its outer skin.
average North American vehicle. Today, more thanThe QarmaQ, an Intuit word for “dwellings made of
250 pounds are being used. We expect more thanEarth, whalebone, and animal skins”, was an idea
320 pounds of plastic to be on 2010 cars." Thesebrought about by Hyundai’s Europe’s Design
figures are especially important when one considersand Technical Center, along with GE Plastics. The
that every pound of material used in an automobiledesign of using plastic as opposed to glass and steel,
speaks for billions of dollars being spent by thethey say, allows for a 130-pound weight reduction,
automotive industry.equaling 20 gallons of gas savings every year.
What does this mean when one major type ofIn addition, to the use of recycled plastic bottles, the
material is replaced by another? To start, it affectsrest of the vehicle uses less chemicals and paint than
individual industries. Companies who produce metals willregular vehicles. A new Exatec coating protects the
suffer while those who are making plastics will grow.glass outside, preventing it from scratching and also
Of course the types of plastics used in cars has toreflecting heat to keep the inside cool.
meet regulations which means companies who arePlastics’ other advantages besides making the
plastic suppliers have to keep up with the demand andweight of the car lighter and improving its fuel
science of making more and more sophisticatedefficiency is that it is also more durable than metal,
composites.  Such composites must be engineered atwhich can rust and wear. And while a more
the molecular level to exhibit specific physicalfuel-efficient vehicle that costs less seems appealing,
properties such as scratch resistance, flamethere is also the downside. One example is the design
resistance and greater degrees of stiffness.of the new car by Tata, which will be first seen in India.
But it doesn’t stop here. Although a plasticIt is expected that in a country of 1.1 billion people, sales
company may come up with a new plastic, it also hasof small cars are expected to double to two million in
to be incorporated into the design of a car and proventhe next three years. This means double the air
that it can reduce costs and improve the product. Thispollution and double the already crowded roadways.
is tricky to do when there are also numerousSo is designing a lightweight plastic affordable car
requirements on the plastic industry such as how thegoing to be the answer to tomorrow’s
plastic will be recycled to finding ways to educatetransportation problems? It’s hard to tell, but one
design engineers about new materials and theirthing is sure, it is a trend that is here to stay.