Car of the future

Vegetarian Times, Jan, 2002 by Maria Rabat

Put some tofu or tempeh in the hands of a talented cook, and you'll get a delicious and nutritious meal. Give an ambitious scientist some soy to work with, and soon you'll be driving away in a brand new car. Although research is still in the early stages, scientists have already found a way to replace metal engine parts with ones derived from soybean oil. The result could be fully biodegradable cars.

The idea was hatched at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Illinois. Scientists were looking for ways to use the surplus soybeans produced by American farmers--an amount often in excess of 1 billion pounds each year.

In simplest terms, the scientists use extremely high heat to solidify soy oil into a paste, which is then cured in a hot oven. The result is a material that's just as strong as aluminum--and cheaper to make. The downside is that the process of turning soybean oil into a durable and strong substance sufficient to build a car takes an incredible amount of time: Producing just one soy-based screw can take up to four hours. And while you shouldn't expect to trade in your Toyota for a soy-ota anytime in the near future, scientists are confident that this new soy-based material is destined to become a drive-away success.