As the world’s first auto maker, Mitsubishi has announced it developed a technique that lets the company use bamboo fibers in automotive interiors for reinforcement. What may sound weird at first, has a serious background. Mitsubishi wants to reduce CO2 emissions by using plant-based materials in its cars.
The company is cutting bamboos into strips, removing the joints and finally crushing them. After that, hot steam is used to loosen the fibers, resulting in “green” material that can be used instead of artificial material. The first cars in which bamboo fibers were used as tailgate trim in several iMiEV models rolled out in February this year.
Mitsubishi claims compared to existing materials, the material made of a combination of the bamboo fibers with plant-based urethane resins leads to a reduction of 28% in lifecycle CO2. A 51% reduction can be reached by missing the bamboo fibers with PBS (polybutylene succinate) resins.
Via Tech-On
Alright this is downright stupid. Cutting down plants – which convert CO2 into oxygen – as a way to be “green” and prevent man-made global warming, doesn’t make any sense.
And beyond that, the machinery used on a massive scale to cut down the bamboo for Mitsubishi probably creates far more pollution than is canceled out by putting overgrown grass in a car door. Mitsubishi needs to focus on building competitive cars again for the mass market.
I don’t see what’s so stupid about it. For one thing, bamboo is a very renewable resource.
Dear thebonaforta,
bamboo is the fastest growing biomass in the world. it grows new shoots every year that reach their full size in just months with out the use of pesticides or fertilizers. harvesting mature poles heeps the plant more healthy. bamboo is an alternative to (have you asked yourself what the doors are made from now?) PLASTIC, which is petroleum based (sure if you prefer we just keep pumpung this black sludge from this earth forever) and involves loads of energy to process, not to mention all the waste, and recovery (afteruse).
James
Nice one James, I could not have said it better myself.
Mitsubishi is on top of this stuff with a passion.