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Ford Uses Plastic Bottles in Vehicles

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With automakers looking at ways to help the environment, it makes sense that we would see some amazing innovations. Ford has come up with an interesting way to use recycled plastic water bottles. We’ve seen how Ford uses plastic bottles and turns them into carpets. Let’s take a closer look at the recycling efforts from the Blue Oval.

Ford uses plastic bottles
Ford

Plastic is a Problem

Treehugger states that 1,500 water bottles are used by Americans every second. These tend to end up in the ocean, waterways and landfills. It’s even becoming embedded in our geological rock for future generations to dig up one day.

Ford wanted to do something about it, so they got to work designing a solution. What they came up was to make carpets for their cars.

A Ford EcoSport contains floor mats and upholstery constructed from recycled plastic bottles. This subcompact crossover contains about 470 bottles of plastic. That means, since 2012, Ford has recycled more than 600 million plastic bottles equalling over 9,000 tons.

How Ford Uses Plastic Bottles

So, how does Ford do this? They start by shredding the bottles, caps included. What’s left are tiny plastic flakes. Then, they melt those flakes at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Following that process, the melted plastic spins into a fine fiber that’s thinner than a human hair. Ford balls this into a yarn-like style. Then, they use it for upholstery and carpets.

In total, Ford recycles 1.2 billion bottles each year with this method alone.

You can check out this video, done by Ford if you want to see it in action.

What do you think of this technology? Does it make you more likely to purchase a Ford vehicle in the future?

With all the new technology being created from CabinSense to external airbags, it makes sense that automakers would continue searching for ways to improve the environment.

Ford to Invest $500 Million in Rivian

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Right after GM ended partnership talks with Rivian, we got the news that Ford is set to join in. For Rivian to be a big company, they will need investments to keep them going. Otherwise, they will fall off the map just like many of the other automotive startups out there. Thankfully, they already received funding from Amazon and now it looks like Ford will be the next to join in.

Ford to Invest
Ford

Ford Investment

Ford Motor Company invested $500 million in Rivian. This should help bring the electric SUV and pickup to market. Still, it’s not going to be enough. Getting a new car equipped with a traditional engine costs most automakers about a billion dollars. Trying to build an electric car company out of nothing is going to cost a lot more. Just consider the factory, platform, employees and basic corporation stuff that needs to be dealt with.

Whether Rivian will make it or not is uncertain. Still, there’s a lot to discuss about the Ford investment. We see that Rivian gains money and some automotive expertise from Ford for the deal, but what does the Blue Oval receive? We’ve already reported that they plan to make an electric F-Series pickup.

With Rivian already investing their resources in creating an electric platform, Ford has an advantage when it comes to building their truck. This research and development doesn’t need to be done from the ground-up. Instead, Ford can piggyback on what Rivian already figured out.

As you can see, this is a win-win situation for both companies.

Which Electric Truck is For You?

Now the hardest decision will be which electric truck is ideal for your needs. We already learned a lot about the R1T and admit we are big fans. We will have to wait and see what the electric F-150 looks like to determine which one is the winner.

Ford and Volkswagen Planning a New Partnership?

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It’s rumored that Ford and Volkswagen have plans to expand their initial partnership into something more substantial. This time, they might start working on platforms and powertrains together.

Ford and Volkswagen

The Ford and Volkswagen Partnership

During the summer of 2018, Ford and Volkswagen started a joint venture. They shared technology for commercial vehicles. At the time, there were also rumors that the companies planned to share their technology for small trucks. This joint platform was rumored to become the new generation of Amarok and Ranger mid-size pickup trucks.

Now, we find out that these rumors might become a reality. Earlier this year, VW registered the Amarok name in the United States signaling that this truck might be on the horizon. To make that happen, they’ll need a production location in the States.

Possible Merger?

We expect something big to happen, but we don’t know anything yet. Both companies stand to gain a lot from a partnership, or a possible merger as well. Ford and Volkswagen have minimal overlap between the two groups. Ford dominates the SUV and truck market in the United States while VW leads their sales with cars. On top of that, VW is strong in China, which is the largest auto market across the world. Ford, on the other hand, holds a strong demand in America.

As far as electric powertrains go, VW has superior technology while Ford doesn’t know where to begin. If the two companies worked together, they could save millions by sharing platforms and powertrains. Since most people don’t truly understand what’s under the hood of their car, it won’t hurt anything.

The question is: are we looking at a partnership or merger of the two. Everything seems to be possible at this point. Both of the companies have some recovering to do. Ford is enduring a multi-billion dollar restructuring and VW still suffers from Dieselgate.

Maybe we’ll see them join forces soon. We plan to release additional information as it becomes available.

2019 Ford Ranger is the Leader in its Class

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The latest specs have been released for the 2019 Ford Ranger and they are impressive. While it only comes with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder, Ford still claims it beats all the other gasoline engines in its class in relation to torque. Does it stand up to the Chevy Colorado and other V6 competitors? To answer this, we’ve got the numbers you need. Let’s take a look at the new 2019 Ford Ranger.

2019 Ford Ranger
Ford

Best-in-Class Towing Capacity

Looking beyond the engine for a moment, we see that the 2019 Ford Ranger has a maximum payload of 1,860 pounds plus a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds. To compare it yet again to the Chevy Colorado, you’re only looking at a maximum payload of 1,574 pounds and towing capacity of 7,000 pounds with the V6 gasoline engine.

Keep in mind that those numbers for the Ford do require the truck to be equipped with a tow package and trailer brake controller.

Let’s get back to the horsepower and torque, shall we? The 2018 Chevy Colorado comes with a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 38 more horsepower than the Ranger. Even still, Ford says that the EcoBoost provides more engine-turning power than the other midsize pickups with gasoline engines . It’s true considering the Ranger produces 35 more lb-ft of torque than the Chevy Colorado does at 275 lb-ft of torque. Keep in mind that the Colorado is also available as a 2.8-liter diesel which bumps that number to 369 lb-ft of torque.

Other Info on the 2019 Ford Ranger

The 2019 Ford Ranger’s four-cylinder engine pairs with a ten-speed automatic transmission. On top of that, they’ll begin production at the Wayne, Michigan plant later on this year.

The starting price will be higher than you’re used to seeing in a mid-size pickup truck. With that in mind, it’s clear that consumers are going to get more for their money.

Ranger vs. Other Competitors

We’ve taken a look at how the torque, towing capacity and payload capacity exceed the Colorado, but what about some of the alternatives out there? Let’s break it down for comparison.

Nissan Frontier – 4.0-liter V6 producing 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. Hauls 1,502 pounds of payload and tows 6,710 pounds.

Toyota Tacoma – 3.5-liter V6 producing 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. Hauls 1,620 pounds of payload and tows 6,400 pounds.

Only time will reveal whether the Ranger satisfies user’s needs they way they claim. Therefore, we’ll have to wait and see. Of course, Ford’s been standing up against the competition in more ways than one. Just check out their latest F-150 ad.

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