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.
Michelin’s Agilis van tyre is the recipient of the What Van? Technology award for 2008. This is, says the tyre maker, further recognition that its Agilis sets the standard for van operators seeking increased grip, extended longevity, reduced fuel consumption and thus lower CO2 emissions.
Presenting the What Van? Technology award to Michelin, magazine editor Neil McIntee emphasised the significance of the Technology award. “The attributes of the new Michelin Agilis light commercial vehicle tyre offer vehicle operators improvements in all sectors of a tyre’s performance. In judging this category these advantages clearly indicated the merit of the Technology Award being presented to Agilis. This award is not presented every year but only when the judging panel identify such an important innovation as Agilis.”
Continental Tire North America launched a new environmental program tied to reduction in tyre rolling resistance and reduced production emissions. The program – Continental Tire Responsibility – extends the company’s efforts at improving tyre-related fuel efficiency and cuts its use of resources while cutting CO2 emissions. According to Andreas Gerstenberger, CTNA executive vice president of sales and marketing, by 2012, the company is committed to reducing energy consumption by 18 per cent from 2007 levels; water usage by 17 per cent; waste by 16.3 per cent and CO2 emissions by 15.5 per cent.
“We are continually aligning the production, quality and performance of our products with environmental soundness, and we strive to conduct all of our activities in an environmentally conscious manner,” he said. “Going forward, each and every employee is obligated to protect the environment, and we will continue to avoid harmful emissions and waste. Continental is not just focused on a green message but a responsibility message which encompasses community, environment and fuel efficiency.” (Tire Review/Akron)
The revolutionary Toyota iQ, the world’s smallest four-seater passenger car, has won the 2008 Japan Car of the Year award by a landslide over rivals such as the Citroën C5, Audi A4 and Jaguar XF. The innovative iQ scored more than double the points of the second placed, receiving top marks from 39 of the 65 jurors who voted.
The judges praised the iQ for its space efficiency and design, particularly the iQ’s capacity for seating four people within a body less than three metres long, as well as its combination of high levels of safety and low CO2 emissions.
Rhodia and Dow Corning Corporation have announced an agreement for the development and commercialisation of new silica/silane products to support the tyre industry’s drive for energy efficient, safer motoring.
This agreement aims to develop and commercialise innovative silica/silane combinations, principally for the tyre industry where the association of precipitated silica and silane is used in low-energy tyres to help reduce the rolling resistance and hence the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The silane is the component which enhances the interaction between polymer and silica.
Yokohama employees staged a charity fundraiser for the benefit of WWF-Japan, raising 1,334,850 yen (7,060 pounds sterling) for the ecological cause. “LIVE ecoMOTION” in Shibuya Tokyo – the second such event in two years – provided admission fees totalling 934,000 yen (500 yen per ticket), while a further 400,850 yen was collected at the event site. The proceeds and contributions will be used by WWF Japan for activities aimed at combating global warming, including reducing CO2 emissions.
The theme of the event, at which four musical acts performed without being paid, was – in the company’s own words – “Let’s enjoy ourselves and think together about eco-friendly activities.” About 40 employees of Yokohama worked as volunteers, picking up litter around the hall, staffing the reception desk, seeking and collecting additional monetary contributions, and passing out flower seeds as mementos.
Michelin claims that more than 2.6 billion gallons of fuel have been saved and more than 27 million tons of CO2 emissions have been avoided because of its “green energy-saving tyres.” “The 600 million Michelin green tyres sold worldwide over the past 16 years have saved almost 12 gallons of fuel each second, corresponding to more than 240 pounds of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere,” the tyremaker said.
“With its green tyres, Michelin is actively helping to reduce the cost and environmental impact of road transportation, as tires can use up to one tank out of five for automobiles and up to one tank out of three in commercial trucks,” Michelin said. (Tire Review/Akron)
Motorists passing the Eden Tyre Sales Farndon Road, Newark branch will have noticed the “life-size” Michelin man standing on the forecourt. According to the company, the iconic figure is a free airline service, dispensing air to any passing motorist eager to maintain correct tyre pressures to minimise fuel consumption, reduce CO2 emissions and to be certain that the car handles and stops as efficiently as possible.
An independent testing organisation has found that the Michelin Energy Saver tyre “has a rolling resistance 20 per cent lower than its direct competitors.” Furthermore, the tyre was also found to have safety features comparable to more roll-resistant tyres; braking distances were found not to increase when using the Energy Saver.
The test centre TÜV SÜD Automotive researched the comparative performance of Michelin’s Energy Saver alongside tyres from six other major European manufacturers. Doubts about the grip and braking performance of the Energy Saver have been scotched by the tests, which add to the evidence gathered by the same organisation in September last year that the tyre has greater durability than its nearest rivals.
June 5 was World Environment Day, and Bridgestone chose the occasion to announce its action plan for “Make Cars Green”, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness of the need for greener motoring around the world. During a parliamentary conference in Wellington, New Zealand, host city for World Environment Day this year, Mr. Shoshi Arakawa, chairman of the Board, CEO and president of Bridgestone Corporation, and Mr. David Ward, director general of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Foundation, made the announcement that the Bridgestone Group will promote the initiative on a worldwide scale as a global partner of the FIA.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
