February 22, 2016 11:00 a.m.
According to a TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) publication, , Volvo is “developing a new carbon-fiber material which has lignin as its key ingredient — a natural polymer found in almost every dry-land plant in the world, including trees. When turned into energy-dense electrodes, this new carbon-fiber material can result in a lighter and more energy-dense battery, improving electric car range and performance.”
Although the model car is in it’s early stages of development, “one day in the not-too-distant future it could now be in a full-size car.”
Editor’s Note: Our readers are our at times our best source of information. John Moore, who retired to Fernandina Beach in 2014 after spending 52 years in the paper industry, began sending the Fernandina Observer information on lignin published in various magazines. Lignin is the product that will be used in the potential partnership with Rayonier A.M. and Florida LignoTech.
John was a former technical consultant, production manager, technical director and Vice President of Manufacturing in the pulp and paper industry. He graduated as a pulp and paper engineer from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
John notes, “The new business venture should provide high paying jobs with a long life time. Norwegian companies [Borregaard, a Norweigan company is an investor in the potential partnership] in particular are very environmentally focused.” We thank John for his contribution to the Fernandina Observer.