ABSTRACT
Many of the basic materials used in the first gas-powered automobile, the Benz Patent Motor Car, are used in automotive industry albeit in different form. The Benz car utilised a tubular steel frame, wire wheels, rubber tyres and a wooden seat. There has been more significant change in the materials used in the interior of the vehicle. The automotive industry is moving towards sustainable mobility, e.g. through electric powertrains, biofuels and even a shift in business models around car ownership. Alongside more general environmental concerns that surround the daily use of automobiles, the industry itself, like many large industries, is subjected to meeting highly stringent legislative requirements and expectations across the whole of its operations. Natural materials have been shown to be effective in providing both acoustic and thermal insulation in the automotive industry. The cost of natural materials remains a significant problem within the automotive industry. The lubricants that were plant oil based and readily biodegraded in natural environment.
