Photo: Toyota
Toyota has taken a new step in the field of eco-friendliness. The Japanese carmaker has announced it will use biosynthetic rubber for its engine and drive system hoses starting next month.
The employment of "biohydrin" is a significant step in making the production process of vehicles more eco-friendly, as this material is created from plant-derived bio-materials.
The eco-friendly part of this technology involves reducing material lifecycle carbon emissions when compared to petroleum-based hydrin rubber. Toyota estimates a 20% reduction of the described emissions thanks to this technology.
Furthermore, using bio-materials means recycling parts of plants that were not usable for animals or industry, so farming processes would not be affected by the new technology.
The first eco-friendly rubber hoses used by Toyota will be vacuum sensing hoses, used in engine intake components. These parts hold pressure sensors, which detect negative pressure in the intake manifold. The former then sends the collected information to the ECU, which adjusts fuel injection accordingly.
The breakthrough achieved by Toyota with these hoses is that they have resistance to oil, heat, heat aging, ozone resistance, and gas permeability. The levels of resistance for each of the characteristics mentioned above are “comparable” to those of conventional hoses.
Toyota wants to continue developing ecological plastic and biosynthetic rubber for a broad range of components. The next step for the Japanese company will be expanding the use of biohydrin for brake hoses and fuel line hoses, two elements that require high-performance rubber components.
Toyota is the first automaker to start using this new material, and the company will use it in all the automobiles manufactured in Japan under its main brand by the end of this year.
We expect Toyota to start using biohydrin for Lexus vehicles shortly, as well as employing the material for all of their factories. If the company takes this extra step, they will be able to turn the tide against the other carmakers. Toyota’s competitors use epichlorohydrin, an epoxy compound.
The eco-friendly part of this technology involves reducing material lifecycle carbon emissions when compared to petroleum-based hydrin rubber. Toyota estimates a 20% reduction of the described emissions thanks to this technology.
Furthermore, using bio-materials means recycling parts of plants that were not usable for animals or industry, so farming processes would not be affected by the new technology.
The first eco-friendly rubber hoses used by Toyota will be vacuum sensing hoses, used in engine intake components. These parts hold pressure sensors, which detect negative pressure in the intake manifold. The former then sends the collected information to the ECU, which adjusts fuel injection accordingly.
The breakthrough achieved by Toyota with these hoses is that they have resistance to oil, heat, heat aging, ozone resistance, and gas permeability. The levels of resistance for each of the characteristics mentioned above are “comparable” to those of conventional hoses.
Toyota wants to continue developing ecological plastic and biosynthetic rubber for a broad range of components. The next step for the Japanese company will be expanding the use of biohydrin for brake hoses and fuel line hoses, two elements that require high-performance rubber components.
Toyota is the first automaker to start using this new material, and the company will use it in all the automobiles manufactured in Japan under its main brand by the end of this year.
We expect Toyota to start using biohydrin for Lexus vehicles shortly, as well as employing the material for all of their factories. If the company takes this extra step, they will be able to turn the tide against the other carmakers. Toyota’s competitors use epichlorohydrin, an epoxy compound.
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