Kia Uses Sustainable Materials to Build the Kia EV9
The Kia Corporation has been headstrong about leading a new path for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Ahead of the game with several electrified models and new all-electric models, such as the Kia EV6, Kia EV9, and upcoming EV5. Spreading its wings, the automaker isn’t just working on battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) – purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) and software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are the next big thing. With the Kia EV9 amongst the first to receive the technology, the EV9 is also one of the most sustainable models Kia has produced to date. With the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, the automaker detailed 10 must-have sustainability items found in the Kia EV9 that will be used in future new models coming to the lineup.
10 must-have sustainability items in the EV9
- Bioplastic
Many people have heard about the plastic ocean problem going on in the seas of the world. So much plastic is thrown away or gets dumped into the ocean, thinking it will degrade and simply vanish. Well, it doesn’t, and biodegradable products can take a long time to degrade until they become virtually non-existent. Instead of using more plastic, Kia uses a type of plastic that is made from renewable sources, including such as vegetable oils, corn extract, sawdust, and sugar cane. Consumers can find bioplastic in the interior of the Kia EV9, such as the dashboard, console, pillars, and garnishes (sometimes chrome or weather strips to seal openings in the vehicle body).
- Post-consumer material (PCM) plastic
Another plastic alternative, the source is in the name – plastic made from recycled materials. Honestly, why isn’t this already a big thing? We recycle, but where does it all go? Instead of letting plastic end up at another landfill that pollutes the environment and makes for horrible, smelly drive-by’s when on the road, post-consumer recycled plastic helps to conserve non-renewable resources that aren’t as prevalent as all of the plastic already available. Consumers can find PCM in the Kia EV9, primarily in the door garnishes.
- Bio PU
Kia has slowly reducing its use of leather in the cabin interior, using SynTex synthetic leather for upholstery. Bio Polyurethane (PU) will soon replace this altogether for the more sustainable balance the automaker is aiming for. Sustainable and comfortable, Bio PU is used in the seats and interior coverings of the new Kia EV9.
- Recycled PET fabric
Thankfully just an acronym, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most easily recycled plastics in the world. Made to resist impact, moisture, and solvents, this is the ideal fabric for interior upholstery. To regally make PET upholstery sustainable, a percentage of the PET fabric in the Kia EV9 is made from recycled yarn. With multiple uses, numerous areas of the EV9’s interior are made from recycled PET, including the seats, headliner, sun visor, garnish, and headrests.
- Recycled PET carpet
The carpet in the Kia EV9 is 100-percent made of recycled PET made from fishing nets. Fishing is a great past-time, but many fish can be strong and tend to break fishing lines or damage nets. Over 640,000 tons of fishing gear ends up in the oceans each year, damaging the ecosystem and wildlife. Kia is working towards the mitigation of plastic in the water by gathering recyclable gear like fish nets and using them in their upcoming models to make up the carpet flooring.
- Bio PU foam
Polyurethane (PU) foam is another versatile material that can be recycled. Found in sports gear, furniture, bedding, and footwear, and even space shuttle insulation, PU foam is pretty durable. That kind of resilience and suppleness can create a comfortable environment for consumers while also keeping them protected. Consumers can find bio PU foam in the headrests of the new Kia EV9.
- Bio paint
Led-based paint was once a huge problem in America, and even more deadly was led-based makeup. Changing with the times, that’s no longer the case, but crude oil and other chemicals still find their way into the manufacture a lot of paint. Kia is working to avoid such exposure by using bio paint, made from rapeseed oil, a vegetable oil found in food, biofuel, paint, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. To minimize environmental impact and keep up quality, bio paint is used on the door switch panels of the new Kia EV9.
- BTX-free paint
Another type of paint used by Kia is made from a combination of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) as a sustainable solution. This offers the same high-quality protection and finish that customers expect without the harmful chemicals. BTX-free paints can be found almost throughout the Kia EV9, aside from the bio paint used above for the door switch panels.
- Recycled PET yarn
Yes, more yarn! Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is versatile and has many cabin applications in Kia models. Found in the seat stitching, of the EV9’s interior design, more than 70 recycled PET bottles are used for the production and application of PET yarn.
- Recycled PET felt
Soft and durable, felt is sustainable and can be used to transport a variety of things. Offering acoustic absorption, the interior cabin can avoid the transmission of sound to improve the driving experience for the driver and passengers. Recycled PET felt is currently used on the luggage board of the new Kia EV9.
Wow, that’s a whole lot of sustainable materials. When it comes to BEVs, the energy they run off of is the first step to a more sustainable vehicle. Using recyclable materials to lessen the impact on the environment is another great step towards carbon neutrality for Kia. Ready to reduce your carbon footprint? Take a look at a new Kia EV9 at Miami Lakes Automall.