Ford Researchers Find Olive Trees May Make Car Parts

Ford researchers have found that using constantly renewable olive wood products may help to improve making car parts.

If you have followed Torque News for any time, you have probably encountered interesting ideas that other outlets seem to miss.

An Interesting Idea from Crab Shells

For example, about the middle of last year, we ran across an idea that made sense. Researchers have found that when ground down, crab shells can be formed into a natural paste that can be used in batteries. It is a great idea, and since it is natural, it is great for the future. Indeed, if you think about it, since it is natural, it won’t leave any nasty surprises, unlike the residues of Li-On batteries in the future.

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Okay, so Li-On batteries are also based on natural items like salts, but they will leave behind residues that future generations may have to deal with.

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Ford has developed an interesting idea: using the waste from olive trees in future vehicles.

Constantly Renewable Parts

Every year, pruning olive trees creates seven million tons of waste. Ford engineers in Cologne launched an innovative research project to explore how that waste could be re-purposed to create auto part prototypes.

They found the parts to be durable and believe research like this could enable lighter-weight parts that reduce the amount of plastic used in vehicle parts, reduce the carbon footprint of auto parts, and bring the company closer to its goal of using more recycled and renewable content in its vehicles. 

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The trial was conducted as part of the COMPOlive project designed to demonstrate the impact of using recycled and renewable materials in auto parts.

For the trial, the waste materials were sourced from olive groves in Andalusia, Spain, the region with the highest production of olive oil in the world. The prototype parts consisted of 40 percent olive tree fibers and 60 percent recycled polypropylene plastic; the substance was heated and injection molded into the shape of the selected part.

Ford Has A Legacy of Innovation

Ford has a long legacy of research and innovation in sustainable materials, some of which eventually make it into Ford vehicles, like industry-first soybean-based foam seats and headrests, post-consumer recycled materials -- including yogurt cups --- in the Ford Mustang Mach-E frunk insert, and using recycled ocean plastic in wiring harness clips in the Ford Bronco Sport.

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Ford is making measurable progress toward ambitious environmental sustainability targets alongside our global partners. The Road to Better is Ford’s commitment to building a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable transportation future where everyone can move and pursue their dreams.

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.