Eco Factor: Ford Fusion hybrid gets soy-based foam seating and recycled covering.
To prove that adding an electric drive train is not the only way cars can go green, Ford has outfitted its latest hybrid car, the 2010 Fusion Hybrid, with greener interiors. The car will come with soy-based foam seat backs and cushions, which will be covered in recycled fabric. Ford expects that this new ploy will offset about 5 million pounds of CO2 emissions after the seats are used in more than a million Ford cars that will be developed by this year’s end.
This new introduction replaces the conventional polyurethane foam, which is derived from petroleum. Ford is also experimenting with new materials such as bio-plastics and bio-based resins, which can be used to manufacture other components of a vehicle.
The Dark Side:
The replacement should be wonderful especially for green cars such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid. However, if these new seats come at the added cost of soy, it might not prove to be a worthy venture.
Via: CNet
