Toyota to be world’s first carmaker to use eco-friendly biosynthetic rubber in engine and drive system hoses

Toyota biohydrin rubber

Beginning next month, Toyota will use biohydrin, a newly-developed biosynthetic rubber product, in its engine and drive system hoses. The imminent move makes it the world’s first carmaker to do so, an important step in meeting a range of environmental targets outlined by Toyota in October 2015.

Biohydrin rubber uses plant-derived bio-materials instead of epichlorohydrin, a commonly-used epoxy compound. As plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, using such bio-materials can result in an estimated 20% reduction in material lifecycle carbon emissions (when compared to conventional petroleum-based hydrin rubber).

The eco-friendly rubber is jointly developed by Toyota, Zeon Corporation, and Sumitomo Riko Co., Ltd., and the first Toyota vehicles to use vacuum sensing hoses made from biohydrin rubber will be produced in May, with usage expected to be rolled out to all Toyota automobiles manufactured in Japan by the end of this year.

According to Toyota, engine and drive system hoses require a particularly high level of oil and heat resistance. Production of biohydrin rubber uses a variety of compound technologies for bonding plant-derived materials with petroleum-derived materials at the molecular level.

Through these technologies, biohydrin rubber is capable of providing levels of oil resistance, heat resistance, and durability required for vacuum sensing hoses in engines and drive systems. In the future, Toyota plans to expand the usage of biohydrin to other high-performance rubber components, such as brake hoses and fuel line hoses.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • nabill (Member) on Apr 21, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    its just another way of saying “we are saving so much cost on this,lets give it a fancy name”

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 5
    • It takes years to know when there is a recall.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
      • WT Fuchhh on Apr 21, 2016 at 9:14 pm

        Damn…japs! Forever making Rubber prices to drop. Our rubber tappers are all already below poverty line. Stop using non replaceable petroleum for all your products.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Same L00 on Apr 21, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    Toyota, responsible company committed to environment saving.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 5
  • ABTguy (Member) on Apr 21, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    Oh Oh, in future all Toyota cars will decompose itself after certain years ?! I am going to avoid buying one haha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • Wooden coffin will oso decompose aftercertain years. R they trying to say something?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • tokmoh. on Apr 21, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    Zeon Corporation, Toyota gonna produce Zaku? Sieg Zeon!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Orang J-Bee on Apr 21, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    I hope it wont decompose after 5 – 8 years. Those BMW, Merc and Audi they have using so called eco-friendly plastic and rubber (which is biodegradable materia;s), it is eco-friendly but not durable. U can see most of the european car its cabin rubber and plastic will start melt (decompose) after 6 – 8 years, the headliner will fall off, wiring harness and the engine department rubber hoses start leaking bcs of using ‘eco-friendly materials ‘

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • i support going green, but please dont make your car butt ugly

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required