Ford Motor Co. will put a new foam that is 40% soybean-based / 60% petroleum-based in the seats of its new 2008 Mustang. The automaker may expand usage of the new foam to more '08 model year cars as well.
Ford is teaming up with automotive seat manufacturer Lear Corp. to install the seats at a joint Mazda-Ford factory in Michigan where the Mustang is made.
Ford and Lear collaborated with the United Soybean Board - New Uses Committee (a group of 64 farmers and agriculture industry leaders), Urethane Soy Systems Company, Bayer Corporation and Renosol Corporation on soy-foam development.
Most automakers use petroleum-based foam, with an average of 14 kilograms going into each vehicle, Ford said.
The annual worldwide market for automotive foam is four billion kilograms, so a switch to a renewable material may have a significant environmental impact.
Ford said the environmental advantages include reduced carbon dioxide emissions in manufacturing compared to petroleum-based foam, lower energy use to produce the soy foam and reduced dependence on foreign oil.
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I have read the same info on cnn. It seems Ford is partially giving way to green solutions found in their truck.
Posted by: Truck Parts | February 15, 2011 at 12:30 AM
Nice to see Ford going green and using materials which are greener to produce.
Posted by: Garland Ford | April 26, 2011 at 01:43 PM