The mining process to source the materials used in lithium-ion batteries isn’t the cleanest, to say the least, so offsetting this impact with green materials elsewhere is a great idea. Currently, EV manufacturers are working to implement greener materials to help make the supply chain more sustainable.
1. Multiple EV Manufacturers Use Vegan Leather
Real leather from cow hides fuels a hugely wasteful industry and produces tons of damaging emissions yearly. Deriving leather from a live animal is also cruel, especially when the animals are confined and live in poor conditions.
The alternative is vegan leather, which is adorning the interior of more and more electric vehicles. Tesla uses synthetic leather in its vehicles, and the material is super resistant to stains and is also waterproof.
If you’ve ever seen one of Tesla’s Ultra White interiors, like the one available in the ultra-fast Model S Plaid, you’d never know it was synthetic leather by simply looking at it. Eventually, the ideal solution involves using vegan leather made with natural materials, such as mangoes, pineapples, or mushrooms.
All of these alternatives are available, and as the technology to make these cruelty-free hides becomes more viable, expect to see these leather alternatives begin to pop up everywhere in the automotive industry.
The leather interior in a vehicle is something that will eventually be considered as archaic as the ICE engine, and the phasing out of these animal-based interiors can’t come fast enough. Imagine sitting in a comfortable interior made of fruits, this is the type of direction we’re heading in, and the cows of the future will be very grateful indeed.
2. Recycled Materials Abound in the BMW i3
Creating a more sustainable supply chain is key to making green cars truly better for the environment. In this regard, BMW has been trying to make a difference by implementing recycled materials in the production of its i3 model. According to BMW i’s sustainability page, the BMW i3’s interior is built with a focus on sustainability and using materials that come from recycled sources.
Manufacturers need to understand the importance of producing emission-free vehicles for consumers and ensuring that the manufacturing process is clean. The source of the materials and how sustainable they are is also vital.
The ideal scenario is to substitute 100% of a vehicle’s interior materials for recycled options, as well as materials that can easily be reused and put back into the supply chain.
3. Mazda Uses Cork Its MX-30 EV Interiors
Cork is a material usually associated with wine bottles, so finding out an EV interior uses cork is very surprising to most. However, Mazda is using this material inside its MX-30 EV, the automaker’s first try at competing with the best electric SUVs.
Cork may seem strange, but it’s not when you consider Mazda’s history. The Japanese automaker originally started out as a cork manufacturer, which explains why they chose to go for the quirky material.
It’s a mix of nostalgia and Mazda’s concern for sustainability. Going with cork is a brilliant choice if you think about it because it’s an ingenious material that also comes from a renewable source. It’s the best of both worlds for Mazda, especially considering its fun historical tie to the company. Better still, cork looks fantastic inside a vehicle and is much more appealing than hard plastic.
If cork keeps finding its way inside more mainstream vehicles in substitute of hard plastics, I don’t think many people would complain. The material is also extremely sustainable. It can be gathered from cork trees without killing the tree itself.
The interior of the MX-30 is paving the way for a sustainable future through innovative materials. Cork, along with vegan leather sourced from fruits and mushrooms, has the potential to change the way traditionally-wasteful interior vehicle parts are made.
4. Polestar’s Precept Concept Car Uses Old Fishing Nets
Polestar is an innovative company, and it’s making sure that the innovation extends into its vehicle’s interiors. Its Precept concept uses a cool fabric that originates from PET bottles in order to line the seating surfaces, creating an attractive material for the seats, which is also extremely sustainable. The interior also features an amazing use for old fishing nets.
Finding second uses for materials will be one of the greatest priorities for manufacturers in the coming years, and Polestar’s innovative carpets, which are made from old fishing nets, demonstrate that sustainability can result in innovative choices when finding substitutes for wasteful materials.
Keeping an open mind in regard to what materials are acceptable for a vehicle’s interior will be very important moving forward, especially as fun solutions like this continue to appear. If Polestar plays its cards right, it can even establish recovered materials as “premium” items that are desirable in an expensive vehicle’s interior.
5. Volvo’s EVs Will Eschew Leather for Its Nordico Material
Volvo has always been a forward-thinking company. The Swedish automaker is very well known for always being ahead of the curve in terms of passenger safety. Now, Volvo is trying to lead the charge in terms of sustainable EV interiors.
The Swedish company is aiming to make all of its EV interiors leather-free. This is a tall task in the luxury vehicle segment, but it’s a great initiative by Volvo. The material Volvo has chosen to replace leather in its vehicle’s seating surfaces is called Nordico. According to Volvo’s press release, the material was developed by Volvo Cars and is made from recycled materials.
Nordico is a material that will eliminate the cruel practice of using animal hides for a vehicle’s interior, and it’s also a green alternative. The materials used to make Nordico range from recycled PET bottles that would normally end up congesting landfills to old wine corks.
It’s great to see automakers think outside the box and implement new materials in vehicle interiors, especially materials that go a long way toward making the production line greener and more sustainable.
Interior Materials Will Continue to Evolve Drastically
The typical automotive interior has been tirelessly played out, and the use of leather and plastic is not only unsustainable but also boring.
As new and more exciting interior materials continue to pop up in vehicle interiors, it’s important to keep an open mind as consumers. If it means the environment will benefit from the introduction of these materials in our vehicle’s interiors, we’re all for it.
