The latest generation of low rolling resistance tyres can pat themselves on the back – they have played a role in enabling the UK car parc to reach, and pass, the 2015 EU-wide average emission target of 130g/km CO2. According to the ‘New Car CO2 Report 2014’ published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today, the average new car in the UK now emits 128.3g/km CO2 – a 3.6 per cent decrease over last year.
Developed in co-operation with Europe’s leading car manufacturers, the ContiEcoContact 5 “sets new standards in terms of the environment and safety”, according to Continental. As we all know, the continued challenge in tyre design is to reduce rolling resistance and wear whilst, at the same time, ensure that the tyre is still good at wet braking.
Kraiburg Austria reports that it will continue investing in machinery, facilities and processes at its Geretsberg site this year in order to provide its retreading partners the best possible quality and service. The company has earmarked a budget of three million euros for several projects, with a major chunk of this amount expected to be directed towards Kraiburg’s extruders. These will be upgraded to enable their meeting of potential future requirements, such as an extension of the tyre label to retreaded tyres. The Austrian retreading specialist also intends to provide its research and development department with an additional laboratory mixer. Last but not least, the company will invest in numerous process operations in order to improve production and administrative efficiency.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems reports it is participating in the ‘Zero Impact’ project organised by Italian organisation LifeGate. Zero Impact is a project that calculates and compensates for non-reducible CO2 emissions resulting from human activities, such as the manufacture of products. The idea behind Zero Impact is that environmental impact assessments are used to measure the affect of a particular activity, and participating companies can support the offset of this through the creation and protection of forest growth.
London’s largest green minicab company has switched to a full Michelin tyre policy. Explaining the decision to switch over to Michelin, greentomatocars managing director Jonny Goldstone said “Our customers expect us to offer the most environmentally friendly service possible, and working with Michelin helps us to achieve that goal. We believe Michelin products are the best on the market and we have been thoroughly impressed with the tyres since we started using them in February this year.”
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.
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