Photo: Wikimedia
Today's car companies are going over their heads to prove just how eco-friendly and sustainable they are, and that trend can sometims lead to pretty ridiculous decisions.
Instead of finding a way of reducing fuel consumption and dangerous emissions - or eliminating them altogether - manufacturers are more likely to find a cool gimmick and use it in their communication and advertising just because it sounds innovating.
There are plenty of examples, most of them related to the use of various combinations of recycled or recyclable materials to make some of the stuff that goes into our cars. The BMW i3 is a prime case in this respect, with an impressive percentage of the vehicle's interior being made out of stuff people woudl normally dispose of.
Other times, though, carmakers remain quiet about some of their less orthodox solutions. That seems to be the case with Toyota and its soy-based electric wiring. We all have a vegan friend so we've been lectured on the benefits of soy, but we never really expected it to go into the making of a car's electric circuit.
Well, we could have spent a lifetime without noticing it, but not the rodents, apparently. The little critters sniffed there was something amiss about those cables, switched from nose-mode to teeth-mode and rearranged the electric circuits of some of the vehicles from the Japanese manufacturer mainly by cutting them.
The owners weren't very happy to wake up in the morning, turn the key and notice the dashboard light up like a Christmas tree - or not light up at all. A service inspection identified the problem, and a few droppings found at the scene pointed a finger toward the culprit: rodents.
The issue here is that Toyota's warranty refuses to pay for the repairs claiming that the damage came from an exterior source. While that may be technically true, Toyota is ignoring the fact it was the wirings' savory flavor that invited the chewy guests to the feast in the first place.
Insurance companies have covered the expenses in most cases, but the people are still upsed over having to pay deductibles, not to mention now knowing their wiring is plant-based. CarComplaints.com says that a lawsuit against Toyota has been filed in Texas and that it classifies as a class-action, meaning it will include thousands of other cars.
There are plenty of examples, most of them related to the use of various combinations of recycled or recyclable materials to make some of the stuff that goes into our cars. The BMW i3 is a prime case in this respect, with an impressive percentage of the vehicle's interior being made out of stuff people woudl normally dispose of.
Other times, though, carmakers remain quiet about some of their less orthodox solutions. That seems to be the case with Toyota and its soy-based electric wiring. We all have a vegan friend so we've been lectured on the benefits of soy, but we never really expected it to go into the making of a car's electric circuit.
Well, we could have spent a lifetime without noticing it, but not the rodents, apparently. The little critters sniffed there was something amiss about those cables, switched from nose-mode to teeth-mode and rearranged the electric circuits of some of the vehicles from the Japanese manufacturer mainly by cutting them.
The owners weren't very happy to wake up in the morning, turn the key and notice the dashboard light up like a Christmas tree - or not light up at all. A service inspection identified the problem, and a few droppings found at the scene pointed a finger toward the culprit: rodents.
The issue here is that Toyota's warranty refuses to pay for the repairs claiming that the damage came from an exterior source. While that may be technically true, Toyota is ignoring the fact it was the wirings' savory flavor that invited the chewy guests to the feast in the first place.
Insurance companies have covered the expenses in most cases, but the people are still upsed over having to pay deductibles, not to mention now knowing their wiring is plant-based. CarComplaints.com says that a lawsuit against Toyota has been filed in Texas and that it classifies as a class-action, meaning it will include thousands of other cars.
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