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Lightweight material and green tire have rosy future, study says
By Richard Fu |
December 24, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LIGHTWEIGHT materials and "green" tires with lower rolling resistance are more efficient and feasible in the sustainable development of the automobile industry, according to the results of a new study.
The study, conducted by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center and commissioned by specialty chemicals maker Lanxess, analyzes four types of innovation enabling green mobility along with their effects including green tires, lightweight materials, aerodynamics techniques and new energy vehicles. While all the four factors could contribute to the sustainable development of the automobile industry, the study finds green tires and lightweight materials are the most viable.
New energy vehicles could be less effective in protecting the environment. That's because even if the government target on new-energy autos is met, the ownership of such cars as a percentage of China's total vehicle ownership will still be relatively small, said Wilson Yun, of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center.
Green tires are of great potential because they can be used in all kinds of vehicles and in both new cars and the replacement market. Support from the government could also promote the use of fuel-efficient tires.
While the European Union, the US and Japan have already enacted tire labeling systems to promote the use of green tires, China is planning to introduce similar standards.
Tire giants, such as France's Michelin, have been rolling out green tires in China to help save fuel. According to industry estimates, green tires with lower rolling resistance could save 4-6 percent of fuel consumption without compromising on safety. The China Rubber Industry Association has launched a program which calls for half of China's tire makers to be capable of producing a fuel-efficient tire by 2015 and for a quarter of passenger vehicle tire production to be green tires by the same date.
The new study also finds that lightweight materials, such as plastics and plastic-metal hybrids, could make great contribution.
These materials have been increasingly used in the auto industry with applications from under the hood to functional parts such as fastening elements, contact surfaces, engine bearings and door structures, it said.
"With the increasing conflicts between expanding mobility and needs to protect the environment, innovative solutions will play a vital role to drive the green mobility forward," said Martin Kraemer, China CEO of Lanxess, which makes plastics, rubber and specialty chemicals.
Together, the four green mobility technologies could save approximately 380,000 tons of fuel consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.26 million tons in Shanghai by 2020. That's equivalent to reducing passenger cars by around 340,000 units, or a sixth of the city's car ownership last year.
The study chose Shanghai as an example because the city has taken a leading role in the mobility trend.
The study, conducted by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center and commissioned by specialty chemicals maker Lanxess, analyzes four types of innovation enabling green mobility along with their effects including green tires, lightweight materials, aerodynamics techniques and new energy vehicles. While all the four factors could contribute to the sustainable development of the automobile industry, the study finds green tires and lightweight materials are the most viable.
New energy vehicles could be less effective in protecting the environment. That's because even if the government target on new-energy autos is met, the ownership of such cars as a percentage of China's total vehicle ownership will still be relatively small, said Wilson Yun, of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center.
Green tires are of great potential because they can be used in all kinds of vehicles and in both new cars and the replacement market. Support from the government could also promote the use of fuel-efficient tires.
While the European Union, the US and Japan have already enacted tire labeling systems to promote the use of green tires, China is planning to introduce similar standards.
Tire giants, such as France's Michelin, have been rolling out green tires in China to help save fuel. According to industry estimates, green tires with lower rolling resistance could save 4-6 percent of fuel consumption without compromising on safety. The China Rubber Industry Association has launched a program which calls for half of China's tire makers to be capable of producing a fuel-efficient tire by 2015 and for a quarter of passenger vehicle tire production to be green tires by the same date.
The new study also finds that lightweight materials, such as plastics and plastic-metal hybrids, could make great contribution.
These materials have been increasingly used in the auto industry with applications from under the hood to functional parts such as fastening elements, contact surfaces, engine bearings and door structures, it said.
"With the increasing conflicts between expanding mobility and needs to protect the environment, innovative solutions will play a vital role to drive the green mobility forward," said Martin Kraemer, China CEO of Lanxess, which makes plastics, rubber and specialty chemicals.
Together, the four green mobility technologies could save approximately 380,000 tons of fuel consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.26 million tons in Shanghai by 2020. That's equivalent to reducing passenger cars by around 340,000 units, or a sixth of the city's car ownership last year.
The study chose Shanghai as an example because the city has taken a leading role in the mobility trend.
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