Michelin Makes Energy Saving Big News

Michelin wants the world to know that its energy saving tyres reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions – and on October 30 the French tyre major launched a novel new method of getting its message across. Every evening at 7pm the company will project “Green” meters onto prominent landmarks in four major world cities. These meters will display the estimated fuel savings and reductions in CO2 emissions achieved since 1992, the year Michelin first released low rolling resistance tyres with silica used in part as a substitute for carbon black.

Featuring Bibendum, the iconic Michelin Man, the meters will be projected onto the façade of the Park Inn Hotel in Berlin, the NASDAQ and Reuters boards in New York’s Times Square, the Port de Suffren at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, and on the City Group Mansion tower, across from the Bund, in Shanghai – four cities, says Michelin, whose growth has been driven by the mobility of the goods and people who come and go every day.

Michelin estimates that over the course of 15 years, compared to conventional tyres on the road, the 570 million Michelin green energy saving tyres sold worldwide have reduced fuel consumption by an estimated 9 billion litres, resulting in a reduction of CO2 emissions of 22.7 million tonnes, the equivalent of the amount absorbed by 880 million trees in one year. This means that each second 44 litres of fuel are saved and 109 kilograms of CO2 are not released into the atmosphere. These figures will be presented on each of the four meters.

This eye catching display of the environmental benefits gained through energy saving tyres is but one measure Michelin has implemented to further promote awareness of the environment impact generated by the world’s 830 million motor vehicles – a fleet estimated to double in size by 2030. Michelin states that, contrary to what is commonly believed, a tyre’s greatest environmental impact – up to 86 per cent – when it is in use on the road. The introduction of energy saving tyres has enabled vehicles to achieve an average reduction in fuel consumption on 0.15 litres per 100 kilometres, however researchers at Michelin are confident that a significant additional reduction in rolling resistance is possible within the next ten years, and the company is presently engaged in research programmes aimed at achieving this goal.

The French manufacturer was also the first tyremaker to recommend the creation of an energy efficiency index system for car and truck tyres, and supports the introduction of a system similar to that used by the automobile industry since 2006 to rate vehicle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In Europe the tyre industry is now working towards the introduction of such an index, and it is hoped it will be ready for implementation by the start of 2011.