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Ford Shows Off Recyclable Car

Posted by michael on from the drives-itself-to-the-junkyard dept.

Opspin writes "MBDC (who wrote the book Cradle to Cradle) write in their January Newsletter about a Ford Concept Car that includes Bluetooth technology as well as Cradle-to-Cradle design strategies. Read the MBDC press release, and the Ford Motor Company press release."

9 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. Ugly thing by hether · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I must say that it's a great concept, but my first impression is that the thing is really ugly. I wonder how many people rank the look of their vehicle in the list of priorities for buying. If they do, will the look of this one negatively affect its sales?

    --

    Most people would die sooner than think; in fact, they do.
  2. Just what we need by suman28 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In all honesty, how many people do you think actually recycle? Fine, a new disposable environmentally friendly car is developed. But, last I checked, most recyclable items still ended up in trash and ultimately in land fills. I can't imagine what would happen if you could throw away a car that often

  3. Pet projects to placate enviro types by Ars-Fartsica · · Score: 4, Insightful
    All the car manufacturers are showing off green vehicle projects, but thats all they are, projects. The car companies are trying to buy some good karma with enviro freaks and government types while they continue to produce gas-guzzling behemoths for the public.

    It doesn't help that the President now wants to provide tax incentives for certain types of SUV owners. Face it, beneath the green rhetoric, the US is a society that lives on pig iron and fossil fuels.

  4. Who is this for anyway? by tarnin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seems that a car like this should be more geared twords business or people who buy on a leese. For the general buyer, a throw away car will not be all that hot of an idea. Having monthly payments on a limited income is what you try to avoid. While this idea really isnt new, im suprised that Ford is one of the first to actually come out and say "Hey, this car wont last x yrs and its not made to." One other thing, how enviromently friendly is a car like this anyway? Ya, it cuts down on emitions and fuel consumption but havning an entire car get retired and destroyed after a short period of time isnt all that great. The car will still have to be gutted, crushed, recycled back to workable material, all this generating waste and other nice byproducts. Looks like we might just be creating the same amout of toxins and waste just in another area.

  5. Already been done by will592 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    They've been building recyclable cars since the 30's. Take a trip to a local hot rod or collectible car show. It may come as a shock to some people, but auto manufacturers used to build cars that you could actually repair. It wasn't even that long ago that you could actually take a piece of sheet metal and fabricate a body panel for your car. Take a look at some collectible car catalogs; there are some cars you can build entirely by ordering parts out of a magazine. My point being cars aren't necessarily disposable commodities. The auto manufacturers are more interested in selling people brand new pieces of garbage every year than making money selling replacement parts. What was it Henry Ford said, he'd give away a car to every American if only he could sell replacement parts. Iron can be recast, engines can be rebuilt. What's the big story here?

    Chris

  6. Never mind recyling by Chocolate+Teapot · · Score: 4, Insightful
    How about making a car that didn't need to be recycled? For years car manufacturers have been making cars from steel, which requires expensive anti-corrosion treatment. Even then, a slight scratch leaves the thing vulnerable to attack from the elements. How many ten-year-old cars do you see with immaculate original bodywork?

    It's about time they started making the things from carbon fibre (or even glass fibre), which is easily repaired, lightweight (therefore more fuel efficient), and totally immune to corrosion. The attitude that a car is a disposable commodity, to be tossed in the trash every couple of years is daft. I would rather see manufacturers offering upgrades to existing vehicle as an alternative.

    --
    Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise. - William Shakespeare
    1. Re:Never mind recyling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Would you really want to be in a fibreglass car when some asshole hits you going at 50mph in a 2 Ton SUV due to jumping a red light whilst talking on his cellphone.

  7. Re:An excellent expansion of . . . by CommieLib · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Excellent points all around. Your thinking argues for an entirely different strategy.

    You want true automotive recycling? Pursue greater modularity and standard across automakers. Decrease black-boxiness of parts (make them mechanic repairable as they once were).

    Of course these goals, as always, are probably at cross purposes with others.

    --
    If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.
  8. What does it say... by Viceice · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...about car manufacturers who boast about their cars being easily recycled instead of their cars being engineered to last a lifetime?

    --
    Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.