The Cars of the Future Will Be Made Entirely of Plastic

Plastic use in automotive increased 52% in five years

Advancing technology and changing requirements are diversifying expectations and demands in vehicle production. In automobile selection, the demand for greater comfort, superior safety, fuel efficiency, stylish design, low price and high performance is being combined with environmentally friendly features that minimize carbon emissions. Plastic is the only material that optimally meets these contradictory demands and shapes the automobiles of the future. Modern vehicles now account for 15% of production using lightweight plastic materials. A vehicle lightened by 100 kilograms through the use of innovative plastic and composite materials saves approximately 750 liters of fuel over its lifetime. Furthermore, this vehicle does not compromise on reliability with airbags, seat belts and flexible composite materials for impact protection. A closer look at 130 years of automotive industry development reveals significant changes in many aspects such as production, design and functionality. Today, a vehicle is expected to be more comfortable, safer, more fuel-efficient, stylishly designed, affordable, high-performing and environmentally friendly. Plastic and rubber materials are the first choice for manufacturing automobiles that can meet all these demands. Offering technological innovation and design freedom through their versatile and flexible use, plastics meet the benefits expected from today's automobiles with their lightweight, durability and recycling properties. Accordingly, their usage rate in vehicles continues to increase.

Plastics' share from the automotive sector increased 52% over the past five years

The Turkish Plastics Manufacturers Research, Development and Education Foundation (PAGEV) has prepared a comprehensive report detailing the performance of automotive plastics, one of the most important items in the plastics sector, in 2015 and future projections. Automotive plastics accounted for 5% of total plastic production in 2015. The average plastic content in each automobile produced last year rose to 11.8%. The rubber content was 6.6%. In vehicle manufacturing and fleet renewal demand in Turkey, the quantity of plastic used in total material weight in 2015 compared to the previous five years increased by 52% to 418,000 tonnes. During the same period, rubber usage increased by 56%, reaching 234,000 tonnes. Among the areas where plastic and rubber products are heavily used, interior trim accounted for the highest share at 19%, followed by seats at 12%, with bumpers, underhood, flooring, dashboard, lighting and fuel systems following. According to the report, plastics will increase their share from the automotive industry by 61% by 2020, bringing their usage volume to 672,000 tonnes.

Today's lightened automobiles with plastics consume 750 liters less fuel over 150,000 kilometers…

Turkey's lack of oil resources and use of some of the world's most expensive gasoline puts fuel efficiency in the spotlight in research on this subject. The path to fuel savings lies in reducing vehicle weight by using lighter components. Through new innovative plastics and composites used in automotive production, vehicles become lighter and deliver more efficient driving performance with less fuel consumption. For example, when 100 kg of plastic in a modern automobile replaces other materials weighing 200-300 kg, the vehicle's fuel consumption of 8,500 liters over 150,000 kilometers is reduced by a significant 750 liters. With the versatile usage advantages of plastics and developments in plastic technology, the ability to gain new functions without compromising a vehicle's safety, comfort or durability makes plastics an attractive material for designers. The strength and durability of advanced plastic materials provide better protection for automobiles against corrosion and extend their average lifespan to more than 12 years. Through their strength and impact resistance properties, plastics provide essential safety features from shock absorption in bumpers and airbags to side impact protection and seat belts.

"Our dream is an automobile made entirely of plastic"

PAGEV Board Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu stated: "Work continues on domestic automobile production. This is a highly significant development for our country and industry. In the automobile that Turkey plans to have on roads by 2020, lightweight, that is, low carbon emissions, stands out in all types, including electric vehicles. The development of primary industries such as automobile, aircraft, aerospace and defense will increase the need for more innovative plastics in our country. This will also create a high-value product market in the plastics industry." Eroğlu said: "Our most important goal as the plastics industry is an automobile produced entirely of plastic. The internal components of vehicles we use today contain almost entirely plastic elements. Plastic use in bumpers, headlights, brake systems and even the body is becoming increasingly widespread. For example, the Reva company in India has produced a vehicle with a completely plastic body weighing 830 kilograms. Global brands such as BMW and Mercedes are conducting studies to implement plastic applications in the body, windows and wheels. In this way, we are developing and supporting unlimited technology with limited resources. An automobile made entirely of plastic is not a dream but a reality through technology," he said.