• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Ford Takes On Stinky Car Interiors

October 26, 2012 By Nadeem Muaddi

Early last year, a study conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University in London found that car interiors are home to more bacteria than public toilets. Since then, the idea of developing a self-sanitizing car has kept automakers busy.

The biggest advancement, of course, came when Nissan announced that its new NV200 taxi cab would be trimmed in antimicrobial nonstick upholstery. Now, Ford is getting in on the action.

Researchers at Ford and the University of Michigan are experimenting with silver-ion additives to kill odor-causing bacteria. They’re putting these additives into waxes and paints that they’re using to coat the inside of cars.

Tech-blog GigaOM explains:

Ford Research and Innovation Center engineers have been working with University of Michigan microbial ecologist Blaise Boles to test different materials for microbe resistance. Cars – especially ones that have lost their new car smell – tend to become breeding grounds for colonies of mildew and mold. … And as you might expect, the build-up of those microorganisms produce unpleasant odors. […]

Working with Ford engineers, Boles tested several compounds including ammonium salt and polyolefin wax, but ultimately they found that a silver-ion additive that goes by the trade name Agion was most successful at arresting microbial growth. The silver ions, when infused into a coating or paint, react with microorganisms with which they come in contact – starving, sterilizing and suffocating them so they can’t reproduce. […]

Ford has begun putting the Agion-infused coating on interior car parts and has begun testing their efficacy in real world conditions in Ford’s developmental vehicles. If those tests prove positive, silver ions may one day be keeping the stink at bay in our cars and trucks. [more]

An advancement that keeps car interiors bacteria- and stink-free sounds good. Auto trimmers know better than anyone else how rancid some car interiors can be. Seriously, what’s worse than spending your day cooped up in a car that smells like last week’s lunch?

But prolonging new-car smell may not be such a good idea. Earlier this year, researchers found that it’s extremely toxic. Hopefully, Ford is taking that research into account as well. I, for one, would rather deal with the stink than risk exposing myself to more hazardous chemicals.

Filed Under: Archive, Safety Issues Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior, Ford Motor Company, Nanocide Antimicrobial Fabric, New Car Smell, Nissan Motor Company, Nissan NV200, Queen Mary University, University of Michigan

Primary Sidebar

anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • Keyston Bros
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Albright's Supply
  • Leather Craft
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Hyde Leather

THR Favorites

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Mercedes-Benz Interior Paint

Mercedes-Benz SLK: Painting Interior Plastic

I recently purchased a 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK … [more] about Mercedes-Benz SLK: Painting Interior Plastic

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Juki Sewing Machine

How Does a Sewing Machine Work?

You know how to work a sewing machine, but do … [more] about How Does a Sewing Machine Work?

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Trim Den

Shop Profile: Kaze Williams of Trim Den

To run a successful auto upholstery shop, you … [more] about Shop Profile: Kaze Williams of Trim Den

How Did You Learn Auto Upholstery?

Stories about how individual auto trimmers … [more] about How Did You Learn Auto Upholstery?

What’s Your Type of Upholstery Shop?

Auto upholstery isn’t a uniform industry … [more] about What’s Your Type of Upholstery Shop?

10 Duct Tape DIY Upholstery Disasters

Though duct tape can fix a lot of things, … [more] about 10 Duct Tape DIY Upholstery Disasters

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Running a Trim Shop is Hard. This Free SBA Tool Makes It Easier
  • Subaru Seat Bolsters Are Failing. Here’s How to Fix Them (and Make Money)
  • Support Trimmers Affected by Catastrophic Flooding in Texas
  • Mercedes Reimagines Comfort with Custom Fit, 3D Printed Seat Pads
  • Wishing You a Happy Independence Day!

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in