Apple car coming soon?

Sadly nothing to do with Cupertino though

28 March 2011 14:11 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

Cars made from the fibres of fruit plants could be the eco-lovers choice of transport in the future - and not just the chassis, we're talking full engines made from organic substances.

The claim comes from scientists in Brazil, who state that fibre-reinforced plastics, made specifically from banana and pineapple plants could be used to develop cars within 2 years.

The fibres are "super-strong" apparently, and when combined with plastics are more impervious to heat, spilled petrol, water and oxygen than ordinary automotive plastics.

Dr Alcides Leao, from Sao Paulo State University said: "The properties of these plastics are incredible. They are light, but very strong - 30 per cent lighter and three to four times stronger (than regular plastic).

"We believe that a lot of car parts, including dashboards, bumpers, side panels, will be made of nano-sized fruit fibres in the future. For one thing, they will help reduce the weight of cars, and that will improve fuel economy."

Cars made of bananas eh? And it's not even 1 April.

Via: google.com

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Eco, Eco cars, Car And GPS, Cars