Plastics Make it Possible has launched Plastics Speedway a challenging online car racing game that highlights many of the ways plastics contribute to automobile fuel-efficiency, safety, and design.Plastics Speedway drivers can choose from seven decades of virtual vehicles—from muscle cars to minivans—to experience the differences in gas mileage, handling, speed, and more. As drivers maneuver around curves and obstacles at high speeds, they will experience firsthand how plastics have contributed to vehicle performance. Plastics Speedway game players can enter multiple times for a chance to win a $1,000 gift card.
“If you like cars, Plastics Speedway is a fun way to experience the transformations in car design since the 1950s and to get a better understanding of the growing role of plastics,” said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council. Plastics Make it Possible is an initiative sponsored by America’s plastics makers through the American Chemistry Council.
For example, experts estimate that plastics make up 50 percent of today’s automobiles by volume—but only 10 percent by weight. “Replacing traditional materials with plastics has contributed significantly to lightweighting, which minimizes the load on the car engine, so it needs less fuel,” Russell continued. “That’s good news for your wallet and for the environment.”
Since the 1950s, when plastics were used to make sport cars lighter and more agile, plastics have played a growing role in overall vehicle design. Because of their strength and versatility, plastics are used extensively in safety features that car owners depend on, such as seatbelts, airbags, and crumple zones. And today’s vehicles take advantage of advanced plastics with special properties—such as lightweight, shatter-resistant polycarbonate—to contribute to fuel economy, safety, and innovative design.
To play Plastics Speedway, visit the Plastics Make it Possible Facebook page.
