He obtained a patent for a vehicle made almost entirely of agricultural plastic

Engineering and material science have always piqued Henry Ford's attention. In actuality, he began his career as an engineer. Ford later developed a keen interest in plastics made from agricultural products, particularly soybeans. He connected with American agriculture scientist George Washington Carver for this reason. Throughout the 1930s, Ford cars employed soy-based polymers in paint, plastic vehicle horns, and other equipment. 14 plastic panels were fastened to the tubular steel frame. 2000 lbs., or 1000 lbs. less than a steel automobile, was the weight of the vehicle. Since there is no current documentation of the recipe, the precise components of the plastic panels are unclear. According to one article, they were made from a chemical formula that included, among other things, soybeans, wheat, hemp, flax, and ramie.

Ford unveiled the soybean car, a prototype vehicle made nearly completely of agricultural plastic, to the public on August 13, 1941. It was created by Carver and was 30% lighter and 30% more fuel-efficient than a steel automobile. Additionally, rather than using gasoline, it operated on grain alcohol (ethanol). The soybean automobile was invented by Henry Ford in 1942. But it was never popular.