Now, in addition to supplying a prospective option for powering our vehicles, bamboo is being put forward as a feasible material in the actual construction of more environmentally friendly vehicles.
At least one builder of electric cars is exploring the possibility of utilizing woven bamboo fiber and vegetable resin for the body of cars, in much the same way that bamboo composites are currently utilized in the production of surfboards.
Presently, carbon fiber is the most in-demand material among those who are seeking to construct lighter weight automobiles, which will demonstrate higher fuel-efficiency.
Carbon fiber is a lot lighter than the more classic alternatives for automobile bodies, being about half the weight of steel, and thirty percent lighter than aluminum.
Just a ten percent reduction in the overall weight of a vehicle increases its fuel efficiency by over six percent.
However, despite the fact that carbon construction decreases the environmental impact of the automobile itself, and reduces the associated fuel expenses, it is a reasonably pricey resource at thirty dollars per kilogram, and in fact tends to add to the initial price tag.
Its environmental benefit is not with out qualification, either.
At the same time that it can contribute to lower automobile emissions, it produces its own during the production process, with half of the carbon utilized for fiber production being given off as carbon dioxide.
Typically, when carbon fiber products reach the end of their life cycle, they're either placed in landfills or they're incinerated, resulting in even more polluting emissions.
It is possible to recycle carbon fiber to avoid this impact, but that option calls for the building of new infrastructure, which has not been widely put in place yet.
Bamboo presents an option with far more obvious environmental rewards, in addition to which it is much less pricey, while being of comparable high quality.
The plant grows with remarkable speed and converts carbon dioxide into oxygen at a rate quicker than trees.
As soon as it is harvested, its fibers can be broken down by either a mechanical or chemical procedure, however it does not require the extremely high heat and precise conditions needed for the creation of carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber enjoys a greater strength-to-width ratio than bamboo, but the latter beats out yet another alternative material, having twice the strength of an equal weight of fiberglass.
And beyond that, it naturally beats out virtually all of its competitors in terms of ecological friendliness, expense, and sustainability.
As bamboo in general becomes more mainstream as well as the benefit of increasing its production becomes better recognized, the list of its prospective and actual uses will continue to grow.
So in light of this story, add car production to the other emerging uses of of this green resource, which already acts as a defense against global warming, makes an excellent building material, and gives the source of high-quality viscose clothing and bedding that's as soft as cashmere.
When searching for alternative resources as we pursue a greener future, what greater alternative could there be than something with applications to practically all the major aspects of American life?