Hemp Car Made from 100 Pounds of Cannabis

Helene Gerber March 14, 2019 0 comments

The Renew delivers on the promise of Henry Ford’s hemp car – except faster and sleeker. Meet the latest car made out of hemp

Henry Ford originally designed the hemp car to be powered by hemp fuel back in 1941. Popular  Mechanics reported that the car would roll out for mass purchase in 1943. That never happened, mostly due to insanely low prices for fossil fuel-based gasoline. And, sadly, there was also no market for a care made out of hemp.

Bruce Dietzen, former Dell executive, has now designed the hemp car 2.0, with some major upgrades.  For starters, it’s made from the chassis of a Mazda. Love for the planet and a passion for speed were the two key inspirations for the Renew 2017. Dietzen wanted to create the most carbon neutral car possible.

Jay Leno standing in front of his red hemp sports car

CNBC | Getty Images
Leno with Bruce Dietzen’s 2017 Renew on CNBC’s “Jay Leno’s Garage”

Jay Leno Gets To Debut The Renew

Dubbed the ‘green machine’, this car made out of hemp was debuted on Jay Leno’s Garage.  Even though this is not the first car built to be based on hemp materials, it is the fastest with many upgrades from its predecessor. This makes it a much more marketable hemp car than those that came before it.

Dietzen innovated to create a carbon-neutral, stronger than steel, automobile that is made from 100 pounds of hemp covered in hard resin. In fact, the New York Post reports the body of the Renew is ‘at least 10 times more dent-resistant than steel.’

[bsa_pro_ad_space id=25]

After the ride, Jay Leno decided to purchase one for himself. Leno joked that Dietzen most have been high when he invested $200,000 into building the prototype. Dietzen quipped that he never smokes pot, only makes cars with it.

Why Hemp is an Environmentally Friendly Option for Cars

It’s the tightly woven cannabis fibers that reinforce the body of the car to ten times stronger than steel. It also makes it lighter than fiber glass while still being dent resistant. Dietzen proved this by banging on the hood several times. Leno even jumped in and delivered a hit to the hemp car, but still no dent appeared on the Renew!

RELATED  Henry Ford's Hemp Car: Hemp-Powered, Hemp-Made

The manufacturing process keeps the car “carbon neutral,” meaning that no extra harmful gasses are released into the atmosphere. Leno clarified that in the manufacture of a typical car, roughly ten tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. This happens even before the car ever hits the road. Leno said an additional six tons would be released throughout the year from regular use.

Jay Leno speaking at a podium about his hemp car

[bsa_pro_ad_space id=26]

Hemp is a Sustainable Crop

This bonus is that as hemp grows, it removes harmful pollutants from the soil. It also has a short growing season, taking about 100 days (4 month) to reach maturity. And once harvested, the waste is fully biodegradable.

The great majority of Dietzen’s vehicle design is made from hemp. This includes the body, upholstery, and dash. Consumers can reap enormous carbon rewards from driving hemp cars.

Is the Hemp Car is Expensive?

In many ways, the Renew is a practical and eco-conscious way to own a car, but the Renew’s cannabis structure has its downsides. The main reason is that it is still more expensive to produce a hemp car than a standard car.

“It is kind of a double-edged sword,” says Leno.

Importantly, while the cannabis connection spikes a lot of interest, car enthusiasts don’t take it seriously. It is viewed as a novelty rather than a serious car.

Another consideration is the cost. According to the Miami Herald, Dietzen reported the cost for a hemp car as ranging from  $40,000 to as much as $197,000. It all depends on the horsepower requested.

Renew is offering a number of powertrain options. The Canna 225 renders 225 horsepower and weighs 2,500 pounds. The Canna 525 has a 525-hp LS crate engine from GM. It weighs 2,800 pounds. If you want to be super green, you can look at the Canna EV. It uses an electric powertrain. It can easily be configured from a conservative 80HP commuter to a speeding dragster. A plus is that the Renew can be customized to use biofuels.

RELATED  Henry Ford's Hemp Car: Hemp-Powered, Hemp-Made

bruce dietzen designer for renew hemp car

It might not be the cheapest way to construct a car, but it most definitely is energy efficient with a low carbon footprint. Dietzen said he knew it would be a costly venture because he had to use unique production methods and exotic materials.

“No one said investing in the future is going to be cheap,” he said.

Arguably, it is far cheaper to invest in a sustainable hemp car than continue to pollute the environment with other automobiles. Keep your eye out for new developments in hemp cars.

Author avatar

Helene Gerber

Welcome to my profile! I am a South African living in Mexico for the last 20 years already. I love to learn and share my experiences with everyone. BREAKDOWN OF EXPERIENCES: I have worked as an independent writer for the past five years I have worked with several brands within the cannabis niche I'm an adept researcher Author of Books 40+ years of music experience I have extensive experience writing on (Medical Literature, Holistic topics, Nutrition, Animals and Pet Care, Culture, Self Help, Stone meanings and type of stones, Music, Reviews, Education) I have been teaching English for the last 15 years in Mexico. Additional Skills BA Degree with Post Graduate in Higher Education 15 years+ Experience as an ESL Teacher (Spanish to English) Fluent in Spanish 10+ years of direct sales experience (Trade Shows, Cultural Events, Insurance) Transcription Services Editing Services