Cars to be made from fruit fibres?

Drivers could soon be able to invest in new cars made from bananas and pineapples, with fibres from such plants used to create strong automotive plastics that could be utilised in vehicles within the next two years.

Scientists at Sao Paulo State University in Brazil believe this material - unveiled at the 241st conference for the American Chemical Society in California - could be featured not only for plastic applications but to replace metal parts as well.

Dr Alcides Leao described the properties of the new resource as "incredible", saying: "They are light, but very strong - 30 per cent lighter and three to four times stronger [than regular plastic]."

He went on to note that bumpers, dashboards and side panels, among other car parts, will be made from fruit fibres in the future.

Eco-cars appear to be of increasing interest around the world, with the Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council in the UK pledging £10 million to the study and development of low-carbon vehicle manufacturing, as well as the use of recycled materials in cars.

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