AD Ingenious ideas come in many shapes and sizes, but when they do, it’s often the result of applying some lateral thinking to something that’s hiding in plain sight. So it was with Carbon Air, the British materials company, which saw an opportunity to improve the ride quality of air suspension using a material made from coconuts that can be used to enhance the performance of audio system loudspeakers. The material is activated carbon and, apart from coconut shells, it can be produced from other organic sources such as nutshells and wood. Air springs work, as the name suggests, by using compressed air in a cylinder as a spring. The advantage is that they provide a smoother ride than steel coil springs, with added benefits such as being able to vary the ride height to improve aerodynamics, cover rough terrain and make access to the vehicle easier.