European cars getting greener
Preliminary figures released by the European Environment Agency show that Europeans are buying more efficient cars, with average carbon dioxide emissions from cars continuing to fall.
Preliminary figures released by the European Environment Agency show that Europeans are buying more efficient cars, with average carbon dioxide emissions from cars continuing to fall.
After winning the "Car of the Year 2012" award, the Vauxhall/Opel Ampera has now also won the 13th International Monte Carlo Rally for electric and alternative propulsion cars.
Four Amperas ranked among the top 10 vehicles. The French duo Bernard Darniche and Joseph Lambert managed to beat the entire competitive field. On Sunday, the final day of the contest, the revolutionary electric vehicle reached the finish line in the capital of the Côte d'Azur principality.
As of today, specialty chemicals company Lanxess enters the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World index. In announcing its addition to the index, company Management Board member Werner Breuers commented: “Sustainable economic success is impossible without a diligent approach to the environment and society. This conviction is part of Lanxess’ philosophy. That is why the principle of sustainable development is firmly anchored in our corporate strategy.”
It is five years today since the death of Edouard Michelin. The then 43-year old company chief executive lost his life in a boating accident along with Guillaume Normant, an experienced deep sea fisherman. Although the seas were calm that day, it appears their boat became enveloped in rapidly forming fog. Edouard Michelin drowned and his body was discovered later that same day near the Isle de Sein off the northwest coast of France; his fishing companion wasn’t found. Upon the discovery of the sunken boat on the Atlantic sea floor it became apparent that a thick cable had tangled around its propeller. Non-subscribers can view the full text of this article, by copying this URL into your browser's address bar: http://magazines.tyrepress.com/InmemoriamEdouardMichelin.html
Concurrent with the release of its revised Environmental Mission Statement, Bridgestone Corporation has announced its approach towards resource conservation, declaring its commitment to ongoing improvement as a steward of natural resources and to continue refining its processes, products and services to reduce, reuse or recycle raw materials, water and energy. Key activities the company is undertaking to achieve these aims include a reduction in CO2 emissions throughout all its products’ lifecycles and “doing more with less” in regards to raw material usage.
In December 2010 Bridgestone Europe have achieved the distinction of being the first tyre maker to gain EN 16001 certification for one of its facilities. The EN 16001 standard, currently held by fewer than 100 companies in Europe, was obtain by the Bridgestone Technical Center Europe (TCE) and certifies that the centre has successfully implemented an energy management system and developed and implemented an energy policy. To achieve this, Bridgestone says the TCE identified all areas of significant energy consumption, targeting energy savings, while also introducing projects to produce energy from renewable sources. These activities are now fully integrated within the centre’s daily working procedures.
Yokohama Rubber intends to reduce its greenhouse gases by 25 per cent (using the year 1990 as a benchmark) by 2020, and to achieve this target the company is introducing natural energy sources and more energy efficient equipment. As part of this programme, China based company subsidiary Hangzhou Yokohama Tire Co., Ltd. is installing a photovoltaic power generation system at its head office administration building and guardhouse. The solar power equipment to be fitted there is comprised of seven hundred and twenty nine 100-watt panels in a space of approximately 3,000 square meters, and these will supply about 67,000 kWh of electricity annually – about 0.3 per cent of the facility’s requirement – and cut CO2 emissions by about ninety four tons per year. This first solar power system installed at a Yokohama Rubber company outside of Japan will enter operation in February 2011.
From 2012, the EU requires maximum vehicle CO2 emissions levels to be reduced to 130 g/km across Europe. Start-stop technology, also known as micro hybrid technology, is a key part of vehicle manufacturers’ efforts to meet this target. Interest in start-stop has already skyrocketed, and forecasts indicate that 70 per cent of all vehicles produced in Europe by 2015 will feature this technology. Under its Varta brand, Johnson Controls Power Solutions EMEA has developed AGM and EFB batteries it says can meet the demands of this technology, and its Varta Start-Stop Plus and Start-Stop batteries are now ready to be launched to the aftermarket.
Interstate has announced that it has released its new eco-conscious tyre, the ECO Tour Plus. The tyre, as its name suggests, is particularly concerned with addressing ecological issues, such as lowering CO2 emissions through decreased rolling resistance. The company states that the tyre includes the development of materials technology called I-ECO combined with a new non-directional tread design. I-ECO, Interstate continues, produces a lower rolling resistance coefficient by reducing energy loss in the top compound during rotation. The new non-directional tread design features a connected block and a thin rib with strategically placed noise reducing ovals, which aims to enhance contact pressure and wet braking performance. All tyres are produced with the Interstate Clean-Oil.
Yokohama's commitment to making the WTCC a environmentally friendlier goes further – this year, as was the case in 2008, the company will make use of "green electricity" at the Yokohama Tire Service Garage at the WTCC Race of Japan between October 30 and November 1.
On 1 July Bandvulc won the Low Carbon and Efficiency Award at the Motor Transport Awards in London. Bandvulc was up against stiff competition from companies such as Tesco, United Biscuits, John Lewis, DPD and A F Blakemores, but was judged to be winner by an independent panel of experts drawn from the industry. According to the company, these annual awards are the ‘Oscars’ of the Motor Transport Industry and recognise companies demonstrating innovation, outstanding service, efficiency and quality.
Every time you pad across the kitchen floor and help yourself to a refreshing drink from the fridge, you are reminded exactly how efficient – or inefficient – the large cooling appliance standing before you really is. Thanks to the EU Energy Label you can spot at a glance whether your beverage is kept at the desired temperature by a frugal “A” rated fridge or a power slurping “G”. With a sigh you walk away, drink in hand, wishing your tyres had come festooned with similarly helpful information…..
Fret no longer: On April 22 the European Parliament approved – by a large majority – a number of draft measures that will see various performance related measures, including fuel efficiency and noise levels, supplied with new tyres. The new rating system, pencilled in for implementation by late 2012, will use a scale similar to that utilised on the EU Energy Label.
Business secretary Peter Mandelson and transport secretary Geoff Hoon have given details of the government’s vision to promote ultra low carbon transport – in other words electric cars – over the next five years. This involves a headline subsidy for consumers worth £2000 – £5000 towards buying their first electric and plug-in hybrid cars when they hit the showrooms.
The consumer incentives will be introduced in 2011 to coincide with when the government expects electric and plug in hybrid cars to enter the mass market. To be eligible cars would need to meet modern safety standards and have a range and top speed sufficient to give mass market appeal.
The Auto Channel reports that on Monday 9 March, 2009, Michelin presented PSA Peugeot Citroën with the millionth Michelin Energy Saver tyre, reaffirming the strategic partnership between the two groups. The Energy Saver made its debut exclusively on the Peugeot 308 in 2007.
Michelin states that its ‘green’ technological solution “generates fuel savings of nearly 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined cycle driving, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions of nearly 4 grams per kilometre.” In recognition, it states of its “performance and the exceptional teamwork demonstrated by the partners,” PSA Peugeot Citroën presented Michelin with an Innovation award in May 2006. Today, this tyre technology is widely deployed on a large number of Peugeot and Citroën vehicles.
Pirelli, along with Italian brake systems specialist Brembo and technology systems manufacturer Magneti Marelli, has announced the commencement of a cooperative technological agreement. The aim of this joint work, says Pirelli, is to develop leading edge solutions for the Italian and international automotive industry.
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