Maya Ellison
Plastic is an essential component of modern cars, comprising around 50% of a car's volume but only about 10% of its weight. It is used in exterior body panels, interior components, and internal mechanics. The use of plastic in cars has increased over time, with the typical car made in North America in 2016 containing 151 kg of plastic and composites, compared to only 8 kg in 1960. Plastic is valued in car manufacturing due to its lightweight, durable, and inexpensive nature, as well as its design flexibility and fuel efficiency. Common plastics used in cars include polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, and nylon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic in a car's volume | 50% |
| Percentage of plastic in a car's weight | 10% |
| Common plastics used in cars | Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl chloride, Polyethylene, Nylon 6/6 |
| Benefits of using plastic in cars | Lightweight, inexpensive, fuel-efficient, durable, design flexibility, corrosion-resistant |
| Use cases of plastic in cars | Exterior body panels, interior components, internal mechanics, charging and refueling stations |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic is used in car manufacturing because it is lightweight, durable, and inexpensive
- Plastic improves fuel efficiency and performance
- Plastic is used in exterior car parts like doors, fenders, bonnets, and bumpers
- Polypropylene is the most common plastic used in car manufacturing
- Plastic is important for the infrastructure of autonomous vehicles
Plastic is used in car manufacturing because it is lightweight, durable, and inexpensive
Plastic is used in car manufacturing primarily because it is lightweight, durable, and inexpensive.
Plastics have been a part of car manufacturing since 1907 when Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, a synthetic plastic. Bakelite was lightweight, durable, non-conductive, and heat-resistant, making it perfect for early car components such as instrument panels, control surfaces, and specific engine parts. While Bakelite may no longer be used in automotive manufacturing, it has been replaced by a range of high-performance plastics that continue to shape the future of transportation.
Plastics are much less expensive to source and manufacture than metal. They are also significantly lighter, which reduces fuel consumption and, in turn, the consumer's expenses and greenhouse gas emissions. Plastic now makes up around 50% of a car's volume but only about 10% of its weight. This reduction in weight is especially important for electric vehicles, as lighter electric cars have a longer range, addressing consumers' "range anxiety" about their batteries dying before they can reach a charger.
In addition to being lightweight and inexpensive, plastics are durable and corrosion-resistant, which appeals to safety concerns. They are also versatile and flexible, making them more practical than metal. For example, a nylon bracket that holds together components under the hood might be molded from a single piece of plastic, whereas a similar part made from metal would require multiple pieces and expensive assembly steps.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most widely used plastic in car manufacturing because it is versatile, flame-resistant, thermostable, and minimally conductive. It is also inexpensive and has a low melting point, making it easy to mold and shape. Other common plastics used in car manufacturing include polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene, and nylon 6/6. These plastics offer a range of benefits, including impact resistance, heat and water resistance, flexibility, and electrical insulation.
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Plastic improves fuel efficiency and performance
The automotive industry is witnessing a significant shift in its choice of materials, with plastic components gradually replacing metal and steel parts. This transition is driven by the inherent advantages that plastic offers in terms of cost, weight, and performance.
One of the critical benefits of using plastic in cars is the improvement in fuel efficiency. Plastic is significantly lighter than metal, reducing a vehicle's weight and, consequently, its fuel consumption. Despite constituting around 50% of a car's volume, plastic only accounts for about 10% of its weight. This weight reduction leads to substantial fuel savings, lowering both consumer expenses and greenhouse gas emissions.
The use of plastic in cars extends beyond fuel efficiency, also enhancing overall vehicle performance. Plastic components, such as bumpers and body panels, can be moulded into aerodynamic patterns, reducing drag and increasing airflow. This improvement in aerodynamics further contributes to better fuel efficiency and vehicle handling. Additionally, plastic's lightweight nature enhances a car's acceleration, braking force, and maneuverability, making the driving experience more enjoyable.
The versatility of plastic is another factor contributing to its increased presence in automotive design. Polypropylene, for instance, is highly versatile due to its high melting point, resistance to water, chemicals, and electrical connectivity, and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of automotive applications. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is known for its toughness, rigidity, and impact resistance, while also being heat and water-resistant. Polycarbonate, another commonly used plastic in cars, stands up to UV rays, water, heat, and cold, making it ideal for headlight covers and bumpers.
The automotive industry is also embracing sustainability by incorporating recycled plastics into various car components, such as textiles and tires, and developing improved types of plastics with heightened strength, heat moulding, and sustainability. These advancements not only enhance fuel efficiency and performance but also contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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Plastic is used in exterior car parts like doors, fenders, bonnets, and bumpers
Plastic is now used extensively in car manufacturing. It is significantly lighter than metal, reducing a car's weight and, in turn, its fuel consumption and emissions. Plastic is also cheaper and more flexible than metal, making it ideal for car parts that need to be moulded into specific shapes.
Polypropylene is the most commonly used plastic in car manufacturing. It is a thermoplastic polymer that can be easily formed into almost any shape. It is also resistant to heat, chemicals and impact, making it ideal for exterior car parts. You will often find polypropylene used in car bumpers, but it is also used for gas cans and even the carpet fibres of a car's interior flooring.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is another commonly used plastic in car manufacturing. It is a flame retardant plastic that can be formed into either flexible or rigid components. It is often used for dashboards and automotive body parts.
Polycarbonate is a plastic that is incredibly resistant to impact and stands up to UV rays, water, heat and cold, making it weather-resistant. It is often used for car bumpers and headlight lenses.
Other plastics used in car manufacturing include polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic derived from corn starch that is used for interior trim components and exterior body panels; and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a family of biodegradable plastics produced by bacteria that are used for making automotive parts such as airbags, seat covers and dashboard components.
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Polypropylene is the most common plastic used in car manufacturing
Plastic has become one of the most frequently used materials in vehicle manufacturing. This is due to its low cost, ease of manufacturing, and the wide range of benefits it offers over traditional materials like metal and steel. Plastic components are significantly lighter than metal, reducing the weight of the vehicle and leading to lower fuel consumption and reduced expenses for consumers. In addition, plastics are easy to shape, form, and mold, allowing for more design options and innovation.
Polypropylene also offers economic advantages, as it is a more affordable alternative to other plastics with similar characteristics. This helps drive down the overall cost of manufacturing, making it a cost-effective solution for the industry. Additionally, polypropylene exhibits a favourable strength-to-weight ratio, contributing to enhanced vehicle performance.
Beyond polypropylene, other commonly used plastics in car manufacturing include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polycarbonate. PVC is valued for its versatility, flame resistance, and ease of moulding, while polycarbonate is renowned for its exceptional impact resistance and weather durability, often being used in headlamp lenses and car bumpers. These plastics contribute to the safety, performance, and longevity of modern vehicles.
The use of plastics in car manufacturing has evolved over time, transitioning from traditional materials like metal and steel to moulded plastic components. This evolution has not only reduced costs but also improved fuel efficiency, safety, and design possibilities, shaping the future of transportation and meeting the diverse needs of consumers.
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Plastic is important for the infrastructure of autonomous vehicles
Plastic is an essential component of modern cars, with plastic parts making up around 50% of a car's volume. This is due to several benefits that plastic has over metal, which was traditionally used in car manufacturing. Plastic is significantly lighter than metal, reducing the weight of the vehicle and, in turn, the amount of fuel it consumes. Plastic is also much cheaper to source and manufacture than metal.
As automotive manufacturing continues to evolve, plastic will play an increasingly important role in the infrastructure of autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles will rely on a range of new technologies, including cameras, radar, LIDAR, sensors, and advanced safety features. Plastic will be essential for housing and connecting these electrical and electronic components. Plastic's lightweight and durable nature will also help to offset the weight of these new technologies, improving battery range.
In addition, plastic's radio frequency transparency will allow vehicle-to-vehicle sensors to penetrate shields, bumpers, films, panels, and fascia, enabling features such as cooperative driving and enhanced traffic efficiency. Plastic's flexibility will also enable multi-configurable interiors in autonomous vehicles, with features such as reversible or foldable seats, foldaway desks, and moonroofs for entertainment purposes.
Furthermore, plastic's self-cleaning, antimicrobial, and healing properties will be important for meeting future comfort, durability, and hygiene demands, especially in shared autonomous vehicle ownership scenarios. The use of plastic in autonomous vehicles will also spur innovative new technologies, with plastic assemblies consolidating sensors, switches, relays, and timers, satisfying space requirements, weight reductions, and security demands.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, cars have plastic in them. Plastic has been used in car manufacturing since 1907 when Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, a synthetic plastic. Plastic is used in exterior body panels, interior components, and internal mechanics.
Plastic is lightweight, inexpensive, and durable. It is also corrosion-resistant, which makes it safer than other materials. Using plastic in cars improves fuel efficiency. Plastic is also versatile and can be formed into almost any shape.
Polypropylene is the most common type of plastic used in cars. Polycarbonate, polyethylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are also used.
The average car made in North America in 2016 was made with 151 kg of plastics and composites, which was about 8% of the car's weight and 50% of the volume of materials in the car.
