Monday, May 13, 2013

2013 Ford Escape Goes Green, Literally

KenafPlant_media
The eco-friendly gimmick war continues to rage on. On the heels of Chevrolet unveiling eco-impact labels on its new vehicles, Ford has announced that its new-for-2013 Escape will be made with plant material.

Ford is replacing some of the materials in the Escape’s doors with kenaf, a tropical plant related to cotton and okra. Kenaf is edible and looks like bamboo; it’s currently used in making cosmetics and paper products.

Ford says using the plant improves the vehicle’s fuel economy because it reduces the weight of the door bolsters by 25%. Its fuel economy gains weren’t specified, however. The automaker says kenaf will help save oil in other ways, too. Because the plant replaces oil-based materials previously used in Escape’s doors, “the use of kenaf is anticipated to offset 300,000 pounds of oil-based resin per year in North America,” Ford said in a press release.

When the redesigned compact SUV goes on sale this spring, kenaf will join Escape’s soy foam seats and head restraints, recycled-tire climate gauges and carpet made from plastic bottles.

Ford’s Escape certainly isn’t the first green vehicle. Land Rover’s new-for-2012 Range Rover Evoque, for example, is made with 35.2 pounds of recycled plastic, or about 1,000 16.9-ounce plastic bottles.

Read the full article here

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/01/27/2013-ford-escape-goes-green-literally/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2013-ford-escape-goes-green-literally

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