A Car Made From Water Bottles

By Billy Shih
At the Geneva Auto Show in March, Hyundai announced a concept vehicle using recycled plastic bottles to create most of its outer skin. The QarmaQ, an Intuit word for “dwellings made of Earth, whalebone, and animal skins”, was an idea brought about by Hyundai’s Europe’s Design and Technical Center, along with GE Plastics. [...]

By Billy Shih
At the Geneva Auto Show in March, Hyundai announced a concept vehicle using recycled plastic bottles to create most of its outer skin. The QarmaQ, an Intuit word for “dwellings made of Earth, whalebone, and animal skins”, was an idea brought about by Hyundai’s Europe’s Design and Technical Center, along with GE Plastics. The design of using plastic as opposed to glass and steel allows for a 130 pound weight reduction, equaling 20 gallons of gas savings every year.

In addition, to the use of recycled plastic bottles, the rest of the vehicle uses less chemicals and paint than regular vehicles. A new Exatec coating protects the glass outside, preventing it from scratching and also reflecting heat to keep the inside cool.

It’s nice to see a company not really known for innovation, going for a green angle, even if it’s still a gas guzzling SUV. Hyundai plans to roll these and other technologies in the Qarmaq into its 2008-2014 models, so hopefully we’ll see greener Hyundai’s on the road soon.