Do you racers have any interest in carbon footprint?
 

Hi all,

Here's the question: What would you think if a manufacturer was to bring a car that was manufactured with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint?

Obviously this would lead to different production countries and ultimately to higher production costs.

The best way to improve the carbon footprint of this hobby is to build a track on every street corner!

I'm trying to build a track, but finding the land is proving harder than I thought :(

Please guys this is not about where we race, I suggest if you want to talk about this you open a dedicated thread. We would like to know if a manufacturer has any interest in being environmentally friendly, where the cars are raced afterwards cannot be controlled by a manufacturer.

Couldn't give 2 hoots, to be honest - I'll buy the best product I can afford, no matter where it comes from.

If a well designed product happens to have a lower carbon footprint because a. the production techniques are modern, therefore b. the equipment is newer/uses less energy in production (not a certainty) and c. it doesn't break too much so you don't need to make lots of additional spares for it, I'd just say that's good quality manufacturing techniques which will help sell a product because it's reliable and well developed.

If the manufacturer gets a return on their investment in buying low energy machinery all well and good, but carbon footprint for most racers really I can't see being a major issue - particularly for nitro racers, or anyone running li-pos etc with precious metals in them!

My 2p as someone who studied manufacturing engineering and loves racing 8th scale nitro.

I hear what you're saying ref having local production to avoid carbon from transporting goods, but that means you need more tooling making, which uses quite a lot of energy in its own right. If the net result is an average product for more cost, people will vote with their wallets in this cut throat industry.

The only thing I would like to see is if the plastic used on some of the parts could be recycled. I reuse as many of my rims by using acetone and removing the tyres but I do see a lot of rims thrown away and there must be a way of recycling those. Also a lot of parts we have to throw away are usually just cracked but the rest of the plastic is still good.

I can't work out if this is a real thread or not... but here goes....

The biggest impact of manufacturing, is transporting goods to different countries, most are shipped by sea or land, to not do this, would mean having manufacturing on each continent at least, and then every mould would have to be made at least 5 times, then you got local tolerances... then, for moulded items, you got to get the raw material to the locations to. So instead of one plant turning out, you want five smaller, less efficient ones?

The only way to reduce footprint efficiently, is manufacturers to have a 'recycling' facility, so your broken parts can go back, be ground down and possibly re-used, especially tyres.... but then you have to ship the worn/broken stuff back?

Not that simple, as rubber is a one use kind of material.

Shame there isn't an option in the vote for "I have no interest in reduced carbon footprint and/or I will always go for the most competitive model". It is a noble thought and maybe for bashers it might be more of a consideration, but in any form of racing performance is king. If it is recyclable but slower then a very small percentage from the already very small market would choose to race them.

If it is the same quality, or even better then there is some hope, but I think you would have to show a detailed breakdown of the carbon footprint to show it is a substantial improvement.

just my 2 pennies

Ben

We've been saving all our broken parts to make into a trophy for the most ham-fisted driver at our meetings, does this count as re-cycling ;).

Mr bobby you are wrong to think that the use of the item you design is of your concern. Designers need to consider that in their initial specifications. Where are the models we buy used the most? The track or the park will be the most common answers. How do you get there? On the train, bus or by car.

There's no point in having a model that uses little carbon in manufacture when you need to burn fuel to use it!

I think a massive can of worms has been opened here.

My opinion is why should I care about my footprint when there are companies spilling oil, cutting down rainforests etc etc. Some will think that's the wrong attitude but I'm sure there are many who agree with me.

It all got to start somewhere..... I mean, at home trying to save energy and what not benefits me directly, as more money in my pocket.

get a grip its a toy car for god sake

joke
 

Recycling parts that weigh a few grams?

Do you really think this will help the environment? Seriously?

Thats like turning up at a massive earthquake with a dustpan and brush.

Ok guys I understand you all have your ideas on what's best, but the question is simple and straihgtforward and only relates to manufacturing, which is the only thing that can be controlled by the manufacturer.

For model car racing? I couldn't care about the carbon footprint one bit! The government screw me out of so much tax on just about everything they should be able to have a bigger impact on the carbon footprint with the vast money they roll over than a race car could ever!

So I buy low energy light bulbs, because it saves on electrickery bill. I consider tax band and mpg when buying a car - because I can't afford to tax, fuel or insure it otherwise.

I am not given a choice, as I can't afford to not consider my carbon footprint, but if I could afford to (aware of carbon footprint too), id still want to drive a fuel guzzler, id drive it the long way to places with the fun pedal pressed hard to enjoy it too. Id also want halogen light bulbs, leave them on willy nilly like a proper rebel.

Global warming may exist, the level is exagerated so the public can be scared (brain washed) - and then the government can justify taxing us for it without loosing popularity.... its all a con.

So back on topic. Given the choice of an RC car vs RC car made enviro friendly - id choose whichever was the better RC car AND best value for money, ignoring the enviro thing.

So if we all bought these cars manufactured with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint, the higher production costs would of course be passed onto us. While we then would feel quite proud to have done our bit to save the world the CEO of these companies would be taking their higher profits and screaming down the road in the biggest fastest fuel guzzling car they could buy with our money cancelling out our bit to save the world.
Your on a loser here mate, try another forum.

I have to disagree here. Not debating about what the government blah blah blah because I don't care about that.

The idea of reducing carbon footprint is that if everyone makes a small effort, it will have a HUGE impact overall, regardless of it being a person or an industry.

No matter what you think we ARE putting out huge amounts of carbon dioxyde into the atmosphere, there is no harm in trying to reduce this, right?

So why knock someone down if they intend to reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing their product?

I dont think any one is knocking any one down here, I think its due to the fact people struggle with how the current climate is. People are struggling at the moment, with the government charging us for everything, prices pretty much everywhere going up, BESIDE our wages!

Times are tight, if someone is in the situation where they are comfortable and can warrent the cost to be eco friendly then go for it.. as for my self and many others, ill keep penny pinching however I can, at what ever needs necessary to keep me going.