When developing transport solutions, designers
need to find the right balance between high
performance, competitive pricing, style, reliability, comfort,
safety, strenght, fuel efficiency and minimal environmental
impact. The sustainable solution often lies in a new generation
of lightweight plastics, because:
- Plastic
components weigh 50 percent less than similar components made
from other materials, which means a 25 to 35% improvement
in fuel economy.
- For every kilogram lost,
your car will emit 20 kilograms less of carbon dioxide over its
operating life.
- Plastics bring
lightweight solutions without prejudice of fire
safety when assessed using engineering
standards.
The aircraft industry is a good
example of how plastics and design innovation are connected. Since the
70's, the use of plastics in airplanes indeed grew from 4 to
almost 30%, and should reach 50% by 2013!
In the
automotive industry, plastics allow for energy absorption, weight
reduction and innovative design while contributing to passenger safety.
Features such as shock absorption for bumpers, suppression of explosion
risks in fuel tanks, seat belts, airbags and other life-saving
accessories such as durable plastic safety seats to protect our youngest
passengers make plastics the safest material for car-related
applications.
Plastics are also in the vanguard
of sustainable innovation, with the average car containing 120
kilograms of plastics (15 to 20% of its total weight). Daimler Benz's
SMART fortwo cdi, which was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show
2010, is a perfect example of how innovation made possible with
plastics also brings environmental benefits. The car features a range
of high-quality thermoplastics that bring design flexibility, but more
importantly, the light weight of these plastics means that the car uses
an average of 3.3 litres of fuel every 100km and
emits only 86g of CO2 per kilometre!
