Fuel economy isn’t the only area where Ford is seizing the opportunity to reduce oil usage.
Thanks to a versatile agricultural wonder called the soybean, Ford is also cutting down on its use of petroleum-based products. In 2008, for example, the Ford Mustang became the industry’s first vehicle to have foam seats made from a 5% soy-based polyol instead of the standard 100% petroleum. The move garnered Ford, along with partner Lear, a 2008 award from the Global Plastics Environmental Conference (GPEC), held in Florida this month.
The company is using approximately 2.2 million pounds of soy foam in the 2008 Mustang. Based on this application alone, this more energy-conscious alternative potentially represents a carbon dioxide reduction of 605,000 pounds annually.
Mustang isn’t the only product sporting the new seat cushions and seat backs. The 2008 Ford F-150 and Expedition, along with the Lincoln Navigator, also feature the soy-based materials. The Ford Escape will join the lineup in 2009.
Ford’s soy research is partially funded by the United Soybean Board (USB), a group of farmers/leaders that oversees investments in soy-based technologies. Ford recently announced at the USB’s Commodity Classic Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, that the company is aggressively examining other ways to replace petroleum with soy-based materials for automotive applications.
- Ford is the only auto manufacturer financially supported by the USB to further progress with soy-related automotive applications.
- Ford has perfected its soy foam formulation to replace up to 40% of the standard petroleum-based polyol with a soy derivative that meets Ford’s strict performance requirements. Ford has licensed this 40% formulation to John Deere and Sears Manufacturing.
Audio Clip:
United Soybean Board’s (USB) Commodity Classic Conference in Nashville.
Panel Participants:
- Ike Boudreaux, USB Chairman
- Dr. Matthew Zaluzec, manager of Ford’s Material Research & Advanced Engineering Department
- Don Borgman, marketing manager for John Deere North America
