Make cars greener says ex-Shell boss

Posted by jamie - 6 February 2008 at 10:48am - 4 Comments

As one fossil fuel giant sidelines its alternative energy projects and invests in even more damaging technologies such as tar sands, the former head of another multinational has made some startling demands vis a vis car efficiency. To all intents and purposes, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart- ex-chairmen of Shell - wants to see all gas guzzlers banned.

Expanding on a column he wrote for the BBC website, Sir Mark said that the EU should bring in a minimum standard of 35 miles per gallon (mpg). "Nobody needs a car that does 10-15mpg," he said. "We need very tough regulation saying that you can't drive or build something less than a certain standard. You would be allowed to drive an Aston Martin - but only if it did 50-60mpg."

That's fighting talk and few campaigning organisations have gone so far, let alone a heavy-weight from the oil industry. At the moment, car efficiency standards in the EU are purely voluntary but mandatory standards are being proposed. If they manage to resist the efforts of the auto and oil industries to knobble the process, it will have a huge influence on the rest of the car world.

Accusations of hypocrisy have been thrown at Sir Mark, more to do with the private jet and chauffeur-driven limos on hand at his current employers Anglo American than previous activities. But the point of his argument is that manufacturers of all goods - not just cars - will not set or achieve these goals on their own.

"Regulation was needed to channel the power of the market, but regulatory frameworks have to be simple and practical," he said in his BBC article, citing the introduction of catalytic converters and seat belts as earlier examples of developments being 'forced' on car manufacturers through legislation which no one would get rid of today. The market, he argues, will adapt.

As a business man, he's still wedded to the idea of the market as the perfect mechanism for development and innovation but even he acknowledges that consumer choice won't be enough to ensure companies become greener. Still, he's not advocating that we all drive less or buy fewer cars - that would be just a bit too radical.

Article tagged as: cars, climate change, fuel efficiency, road transport, transport

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Go to www.theaircar.com
a new car that runs on compressed air, most of the problems ironed out and almost ready for production - out in 2008!!
tell everybody you meet/talk to/know/friends/relations etc.this is the answer
a real car with practical possibilities and usage with no carbon emissions and very low energy input to attain this.

By jamalian - 11 February 2008 at 8:58pm

Go to www.theaircar.com a new car that runs on compressed air, most of the problems ironed out and almost ready for production - out in 2008!! tell everybody you meet/talk to/know/friends/relations etc.this is the answer a real car with practical possibilities and usage with no carbon emissions and very low energy input to attain this.

By jamalian - 11 February 2008 at 8:58pm

Make cars greener..how about make cars that do not use Gas! The technologies are out there. I have seen and heard about the air car. It only take energy the first time the air is compressed. After that is makes its own energy. Wheres my solar powered vehicle? I do dream of going home and plugging my car into solar panels to recharge!

By thomasr - 1 November 2010 at 9:53pm

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if you want to make your car greener here are some tips:

1. Drive a green car - There are now hybrids to match almost any need: two-door, four-door, SUV, luxury sedan. They get better mileage than their conventional counterparts, have cleaner emissions, and save money on gas. If a hybrid isn’t in your future, try for a car with the best MPG you can find; and remember that hybrids aren’t always the most efficient option, either.

Biodiesel can now be found in almost any state in the US. This clean, domestic, veggie-based, carbon-neutral fuel will run in any diesel car or truck with little or no modification to the engine. Straight vegetable oil is an option for the more ambitious green driver and can make fueling up almost free. Another veggie fuel is ethanol, and there are between 5-6 million flex-fuel vehicles already on the road -- you may even be driving one and not know it.

Also, affordable, practical electric cars and plug-in hybrids aren’t too far off, either. But whether or not you drive a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle, there’s lots you can do to green your car right now.

2. Best practices - Driving technique has a lot to do with your fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit use always a coolant for it like nissan coolant, audi a4 coolant and so on. Not only does speeding and herky-jerky driving kill your MPG, it's dangerous. And even if no one gets hurt in a fender bender, how green is it to get a new bumper or have your car re-painted?

As a general rule of thumb, keep your engine speeds between 1,200 -- 3,000 RPMs, and up-shift between 2,000 -- 2500 RPMs. Also, drive wise and minimize unnecessary miles by doing errands in one trip, getting good directions, and calling ahead.

3. Stay in tune - Getting regular tune-ups, maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. Pump up: if every American’s tires were properly inflated we could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year! (Check your manual for optimal pressure). Lastly, get the junk out of the trunk! All that extra weight is sapping your fuel economy.

4. Car minus the carbon - There are many services out there now that can help you calculate your yearly emissions from driving and offset those greenhouse gasses through various means. Check below for a few carbon offset opportunities.

5. Carpool - Of course. Find coworkers, neighbors, and fellow students headed the same direction. Start with one shared trip per week. Also look into car sharing programs like FlexCar and ZipCar.

6. Leave the car at home.

For shorter adventures, walk, take public transit, ride your bike (regular, electric-assisted, or something fancier), skateboard, rollerblades, or even look into an electric scooter. Carrying groceries or other bulky stuff can still be done on a bike with a backpack or some slick modifications. Check out the Xtracycle, for example.

7. Drive part of the way - If getting where you’re going by bike or public transit alone isn’t going to happen, consider driving part of the way and then jumping on public transit or your bike (a folder would be perfect). A great way to beat traffic!

8. Go easy on the AC - Use the windows to help keep the car cool. Or try an electric or solar fan. Parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade can keep your car cooler when parked, meaning it takes less to cool it off when you get back in. If you car is new, however, let it air out. That new car smell is not friendly stuff.

9. Telecommute - Drive less with the wonders of working from home (or internet café, tree house, Mojave desert, etc.) With instant messaging, video chat, teleconferencing, and other world-flattening technologies, making the rush-hour trek to work and back might not be that necessary. Ask your boss or offer your employees a teleconferencing day once a week. Hey, it works for TreeHuggers and 44 million Americans.

10. Aspire to carlessness - Not everyone is going to be able to do it, at least not cold car-key. It will probably entail a shift in thinking and some time, but living car-free might be more within reach than you think. Living closer to work and school is a big part of it. Walking, biking, public transport, car sharing, car borrowing, and teleconferencing are a strong arsenal of tools to help reduce the need for a car. Give it some thought.

By floydpo - 25 January 2011 at 1:29am