This thread comes from the Jalopnik article here.
I like some details that were put in, like the use of Cork like Mazda or using your smartphone as the centerpiece, but this Mini really got me thinking more towards practicality since it really looks like a "clean" race-prepped shell. Like, why can't you have environmentally conscious carpets and insulation? We have wool which is, and is used for that purpose all the time. I'm perfectly cool with no paint, but what protectants and clearcoats are better? Are there materials that we passed by because they didn't react to paint well that could be used?
There has to be some kind of formula where a future EV could be, not "perfectly" recyclable/reusable, but something that genuinely could be easily recycled back into the waste stream for reuse and repurpose. But what could it be?
IIRC the switch to water-based paints was for environmental reasons, although not for recycling. And I know that at least one of the EV makers (I won't invoke the T word) talks about their "vegan interior".
The i3 made a big deal about the sustainability of the interior:
...the interior of the BMW i3 features door trim panels and a dashboard made from renewable natural fibres, naturally tanned leather, and open-pore eucalyptus wood sourced from 100 % FSC®-certified forestry. Overall, 25 % renewable raw materials and recycled plastics were used in the interior of the BMW i3. The textile upholsteries are made of up to 100 % recycled polyster, produced using 34 % PET. A further 25 % recycled plastics are used in the exterior.
I think making a car reliant on a smartphone for core functionality is a terrible idea. That car will be on the road for two decades or so.
Given that *most* of *most* cars are made of metal, cars are incredibly recyclable. And recycled.
Many years ago, the industry started to use old housing materials (all that stuff you take to a dump when doing renovations) - shredded up and bound together for many interior backing materials. Since it's recycled stuff, it can be recycled again.
Other studies made foam from soy and corn.
For the most part, car makers have been worried about recycling for a long time. And cars are light years more recyclable than most electronics. Sadly, thanks to the increase of computers and whatnot in cars- they are not as recyclable as they used to be.
And considering Keith's last line- it's interesting that cars have such a long lifetime (the average car age is 11 years now) and are very recycled, but phones and computers last just a few years, and they end up as e-waste.
(which is also to say, while it's great to consider this for cars, there are better places right now to put this effort)
Keith Tanner said:
IIRC the switch to water-based paints was for environmental reasons, although not for recycling. And I know that at least one of the EV makers (I won't invoke the T word) talks about their "vegan interior".
The i3 made a big deal about the sustainability of the interior:
...the interior of the BMW i3 features door trim panels and a dashboard made from renewable natural fibres, naturally tanned leather, and open-pore eucalyptus wood sourced from 100 % FSC®-certified forestry. Overall, 25 % renewable raw materials and recycled plastics were used in the interior of the BMW i3. The textile upholsteries are made of up to 100 % recycled polyster, produced using 34 % PET. A further 25 % recycled plastics are used in the exterior.
In situations like this, I wonder how "sustainable" is defined. Using recycled or "bio" materials is good, but when you are done with the car, you have a bunch of un-recyclable materials.
For example, I would guess that 99.9% of textile polyester ends up in the trash because there is no real way to recycle it. Leather, while not cow friendly, is 100% biodegradable. Well, not quite that much once you paint it, but you get the idea.
Or for example the foam Alfa mentions above. Soy or corn oil-based polyurethane foam is still polyurethane foam and does not decompose. Pretty much the only way to make it go away is to incinerate it (which IMO is not so terrible if done right).
Consumers tend to focus on the front end data, not the end of life part.
I think BMW is referring purely to the sourcing of the material. Tesla uses non-animal "leather" to keep the animal rights people happy, so it's not really an eco move as much as it is political given that leather is basically a byproduct.
The problem with using decomposing products in a car is keeping them from decomposing over the lifespan of the vehicle. :) I believe BMW has had some trouble in that area in the past.
Keith Tanner said:
The problem with using decomposing products in a car is keeping them from decomposing over the lifespan of the vehicle. :)
Definitely.
I'm a fan of the Cradle to Cradle philosophy. Build your supply chain so that the end of life of one product feeds into the start of another.
https://www.c2ccertified.org/
