Ford Shows Off Recyclable Car

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."

Comments

Ugly thing

[hether]

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?

Just what we need

[suman28]

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

Pet projects to placate enviro types

[Ars-Fartsica]

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.

Already been done

[will592]

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

Never mind recyling

[Chocolate Teapot]

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.

Re:Never mind recyling

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Re:An excellent expansion of . . .

[CommieLib]

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.

What does it say...

[Viceice]

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