Here's a Hint -- USCAR's VRP is Involved
According to statistics published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on its Web site, 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles, 45 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans, 63 percent of all steel packaging and 67 percent of all major appliances are now recycled.
More than any of these, however, is a consumer item whose recycling percentage and trail goes far beyond the municipal waste yard. It’s your car or truck, when it’s no longer usable. Today, more than 95 percent of all vehicles in the United States go through a market-driven recycling infrastructure, with no added cost or tax to consumers. More than 84 percent, by weight, of each end-of-life vehicle (ELV) is recycled.
Better yet, the United States Council for Automotive Research’s (USCAR) Vehicle Recycling Partnership (VRP), composed of DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation, is working with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council to raise the recycling percentage of each ELV to as close to 100 percent as conceivably possible.
The group is now in its fourth year of its third Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), and it has been working to maximize vehicle recycling in the United States since its first CRADA in 1991.
“The U.S. automakers have long taken a proactive stance in vehicle recycling. They continue to work side-by-side with government and private industry to optimally recycle all vehicles, regardless of age, content or origin,” said Don Walkowicz, executive director of USCAR. “If it’s driven and disposed of here, the vehicle becomes part of the mix – along with a lot of other big disposables, like appliances and building demolition or commercial and industrial waste materials.
“The USCAR Vehicle Recycling Partnership, Argonne and the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council really are taking a national leadership role, addressing the entire lot of shredder residue, regardless of its source,” Walkowicz added. “They are working to implement sustainable recycling solutions that keep waste out of landfills, save energy and put materials into reuse.”
Thus far, the CRADA team impact has been broad and diverse and includes:
* Establishing and publishing preferred practices for recycling.
* Establishing efficient fluid removal processes.
* Running a licensed Vehicle Recycling Development Center to establish procedures that optimize materials recovery in vehicle dismantling.
* Researching separation technologies for commingled material streams.
* Initiating efforts targeted at removing substances of concern from shredder residue, regardless of its source.
A plastics sorting Pilot Plant in operation at Argonne is one of the more visible demonstrations of the CRADA team’s research in action. “While the CRADA team is benchmarking and evaluating a range of technology options for sustainable recycling of ELV, the facility at Argonne serves as a focal point for the team’s work,” said Ed Daniels, director, Energy Systems Division at Argonne and head of the vehicle recycling research effort at the Lab.
The team also is working to anticipate and meet the recycling needs for components and parts in future and emerging vehicles such as hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.
“With energy issues at the forefront, lightweighting and the use of composite materials are becoming more commonplace in vehicle content,” said Jim Kolb, head of the American Chemistry Council’s Automotive Learning Center. “As a result, solving the issues surrounding end-of-life for present and future materials becomes all that more important.”
The research is funded by the VRP, the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council and U.S. DOE Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies.
The VRP is part of the United States Council for Automotive Research, under which DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation cooperatively address shared technological and environmental concerns.
Argonne National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC. Argonne's mission is to serve the nation by advancing the frontiers of knowledge and by providing innovative and effective approaches and solutions to energy, environmental, and security challenges.
The Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council, a leading trade association of resin producers, advocates unlimited opportunities for plastics and promotes their economic, environmental and societal benefits.
###
Source: USCAR
Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts
Monday, April 23, 2007
Drivers Can Help Fight Climate Change, Save at the Gas Pump with Fuel-Efficiency Tips from Alliance to Save Energy
Washington D.C, April 20, 2007 – With gas prices already approaching $3 a gallon nationwide well in advance of the summer driving season – and Earth Day around the corner – the Alliance to Save Energy urges drivers to cut their own energy costs while helping to curb climate change by driving more fuel-efficiently.
The Alliance also encourages consumers to test their “Energy IQ” and take the 6° of Energy Efficiency Challenge at www.sixdegreechallenge.org to learn how their energy use and energy waste affects their communities, the nation, and the planet – and how being more energy-efficient contributes to our nation’s economic and energy security.
The Alliance offers these tips to improve gas mileage and reduce costly trips to the pump:
* Maintain your vehicle. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.
* Keep your tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent and also improve safety and tire life. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi (pounds per square inch) drop in pressure of all four tires.
* Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil to improve gas mileage by 1-2 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
* Idle minds and idling vehicles -- be mindful when behind the wheel. Avoid idling, which gets 0 mpg. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.
* Obey the speed limit. It's safer and less expensive. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, each 5 mph over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon for gas.
* Curtail "road rage"/aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration, and braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is safer, too – so you may save more than gas money.
* Are you carrying around too much excess "baggage?" Pack lightly when traveling, and avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car’s fuel economy by up to 2 percent.
* Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving.
* Combine errands into one trip to drive fewer miles, use less fuel, and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.
* Investigate other options for getting to work and other places -- carpooling, ridesharing, public transportation, biking, walking.
* Telecommute or stagger work hours if your employer permits to avoid sitting in traffic and wasting gas, especially during peak rush hours.
* If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas mileage whenever possible. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, driving a car that gets 20 mpg rather than 30 mpg will cost you nearly $650 more. That’s approaching $2,500 extra in fuel costs in just four years!
* Buying, leasing, or renting a vehicle? Select a model that gets better fuel economy. Check out www.fueleconomy.gov , for information on fuel-efficient vehicles.
* Take advantage of 2007 federal income tax credits that reduce what you owe to Uncle Sam or increase your tax refund by $250 to $3,400 for purchases of hybrid-electric or diesel vehicles. Amounts are based on the vehicle’s efficiency and fuel savings.
Details in English and Spanish on the Alliance's website -- www.ase.org/taxcredits
The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.
Source: The Alliance to Save Energy
The Alliance also encourages consumers to test their “Energy IQ” and take the 6° of Energy Efficiency Challenge at www.sixdegreechallenge.org to learn how their energy use and energy waste affects their communities, the nation, and the planet – and how being more energy-efficient contributes to our nation’s economic and energy security.
The Alliance offers these tips to improve gas mileage and reduce costly trips to the pump:
* Maintain your vehicle. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.
* Keep your tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent and also improve safety and tire life. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi (pounds per square inch) drop in pressure of all four tires.
* Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil to improve gas mileage by 1-2 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
* Idle minds and idling vehicles -- be mindful when behind the wheel. Avoid idling, which gets 0 mpg. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.
* Obey the speed limit. It's safer and less expensive. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, each 5 mph over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon for gas.
* Curtail "road rage"/aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration, and braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is safer, too – so you may save more than gas money.
* Are you carrying around too much excess "baggage?" Pack lightly when traveling, and avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car’s fuel economy by up to 2 percent.
* Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving.
* Combine errands into one trip to drive fewer miles, use less fuel, and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.
* Investigate other options for getting to work and other places -- carpooling, ridesharing, public transportation, biking, walking.
* Telecommute or stagger work hours if your employer permits to avoid sitting in traffic and wasting gas, especially during peak rush hours.
* If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas mileage whenever possible. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, driving a car that gets 20 mpg rather than 30 mpg will cost you nearly $650 more. That’s approaching $2,500 extra in fuel costs in just four years!
* Buying, leasing, or renting a vehicle? Select a model that gets better fuel economy. Check out www.fueleconomy.gov , for information on fuel-efficient vehicles.
* Take advantage of 2007 federal income tax credits that reduce what you owe to Uncle Sam or increase your tax refund by $250 to $3,400 for purchases of hybrid-electric or diesel vehicles. Amounts are based on the vehicle’s efficiency and fuel savings.
Details in English and Spanish on the Alliance's website -- www.ase.org/taxcredits
The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.
Source: The Alliance to Save Energy
Monday, April 16, 2007
Nanostellar Introduces Gold in Oxidation Catalyst That Can Reduce Diesel Hydrocarbon Emissions by as Much as 40 Percent More Than Commercial Catalysts
Boost in catalyst technology aims to slash emissions in light- and heavy-duty diesel engines and other lean-stream applications
DETROIT, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- SAE 2007 -- Nanostellar, Inc., a leader in nano-engineered catalyst materials, today announced a first in diesel emissions technology: the introduction of gold as an oxidation catalyst. Nanostellar's NS Gold(TM) catalyst enables manufacturers of light- and
heavy-duty diesel engines to reduce noxious emissions by as much as 40 percent more than existing pure-platinum catalysts at equal cost. Nanostellar introduced its first-generation product, based on a platinum and palladium alloy, in mid-2006, and it achieved 25%-30% higher performance than commercial pure-platinum catalysts. NS Gold(TM), Nanostellar's second-generation product, delivers a further 15%-20% performance increase.
Platinum is the most expensive component of the diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) that are required to meet the new, stringent emission regulations for the 14 million light-duty and 2 million heavy-duty diesel vehicles produced annually worldwide. In recent years, Nanostellar and other producers of catalyst materials have introduced the use of palladium to partially replace the four-times more expensive platinum. Now, to further reduce the amount of platinum needed and the overall cost of the catalysts, Nanostellar has pioneered the use of gold -- which is currently about half the price of platinum -- for diesel emission control.
Independent testing of Nanostellar's NS Gold(TM), in comparison with today's pure-platinum catalysts, has shown that NS Gold(TM) increases hydrocarbon oxidation activity by as much as 40 percent at equal precious-metal cost. When compared to emerging platinum-palladium catalysts, NS Gold(TM) promises to increase hydrocarbon oxidation activity by 15-20 percent at equal precious-metal cost. A tri-metal formulation of gold, platinum, and palladium, NS Gold(TM) allows the proportions of each metal to be adjusted to help catalyst systems engineers meet engine-specific performance targets and stabilize the overall cost of diesel catalysts, despite fluctuations in the price of precious metals.
"Not only does NS Gold(TM) break performance barriers imposed by mixed platinum and palladium catalysts, but also its performance can be more easily tuned to the characteristics of a variety of diesel engines," said Pankaj Dhingra, CEO of Nanostellar. "We are excited to offer NS Gold(TM) to improve the cost equation for the diesel industry. Gold is not new to catalyst scientists, but this is the first time it has been successfully adapted for use in automotive diesel oxidation catalysts."
According to Dhingra, the continued evolution and maturity of Nanostellar's Rational Catalyst Design methodology brought NS Gold(TM) into existence in record time. "Rational Design combines computational approaches with targeted experiments to accelerate the development of new materials," he explained "Nanostellar has over 50 man-years of Rational Catalyst Design experience and a substantial database of catalyst-specific knowledge, developed from both computational and experimental approaches. We have unique algorithms and software that address computational catalyst design, along with proprietary synthesis technologies and novel testing methods that provide a detailed understanding of catalytic processes."
NS Gold(TM) is potentially suitable for treating all lean-stream exhaust, where air is in excess of fuel-borne hydrocarbon gases. Applications include, but are not limited to, treating particulates and hydrocarbons in soot filters, stationary-source volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and ammonia slip in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems.
NS Gold(TM) is immediately available for targeted application-specific testing. Production quantities will be available as production programs are identified and released.
About Nanostellar
Nanostellar, Inc. provides diesel automotive and stationary power industries with nano-engineered catalyst materials that reduce exhaust emissions and increase the effectiveness of precious metals in catalysts. Focusing in the fields of quantum computational nanoscience, chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering, Nanostellar utilizes Rational Catalyst Design, which combines computational approaches with targeted experiments, to accelerate the development of new materials. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, Nanostellar is funded by premier investors including 3i, Khosla Ventures, Monitor Ventures, Firelake Capital Management LLC, and AsiaTech Management.
For more information, visit http://nanostellar.com/
Nanostellar is a registered trademark and NS Gold is a trademark of Nanostellar, Inc. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Source: Nanostellar, Inc.,
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DETROIT, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- SAE 2007 -- Nanostellar, Inc., a leader in nano-engineered catalyst materials, today announced a first in diesel emissions technology: the introduction of gold as an oxidation catalyst. Nanostellar's NS Gold(TM) catalyst enables manufacturers of light- and
heavy-duty diesel engines to reduce noxious emissions by as much as 40 percent more than existing pure-platinum catalysts at equal cost. Nanostellar introduced its first-generation product, based on a platinum and palladium alloy, in mid-2006, and it achieved 25%-30% higher performance than commercial pure-platinum catalysts. NS Gold(TM), Nanostellar's second-generation product, delivers a further 15%-20% performance increase.
Platinum is the most expensive component of the diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) that are required to meet the new, stringent emission regulations for the 14 million light-duty and 2 million heavy-duty diesel vehicles produced annually worldwide. In recent years, Nanostellar and other producers of catalyst materials have introduced the use of palladium to partially replace the four-times more expensive platinum. Now, to further reduce the amount of platinum needed and the overall cost of the catalysts, Nanostellar has pioneered the use of gold -- which is currently about half the price of platinum -- for diesel emission control.
Independent testing of Nanostellar's NS Gold(TM), in comparison with today's pure-platinum catalysts, has shown that NS Gold(TM) increases hydrocarbon oxidation activity by as much as 40 percent at equal precious-metal cost. When compared to emerging platinum-palladium catalysts, NS Gold(TM) promises to increase hydrocarbon oxidation activity by 15-20 percent at equal precious-metal cost. A tri-metal formulation of gold, platinum, and palladium, NS Gold(TM) allows the proportions of each metal to be adjusted to help catalyst systems engineers meet engine-specific performance targets and stabilize the overall cost of diesel catalysts, despite fluctuations in the price of precious metals.
"Not only does NS Gold(TM) break performance barriers imposed by mixed platinum and palladium catalysts, but also its performance can be more easily tuned to the characteristics of a variety of diesel engines," said Pankaj Dhingra, CEO of Nanostellar. "We are excited to offer NS Gold(TM) to improve the cost equation for the diesel industry. Gold is not new to catalyst scientists, but this is the first time it has been successfully adapted for use in automotive diesel oxidation catalysts."
According to Dhingra, the continued evolution and maturity of Nanostellar's Rational Catalyst Design methodology brought NS Gold(TM) into existence in record time. "Rational Design combines computational approaches with targeted experiments to accelerate the development of new materials," he explained "Nanostellar has over 50 man-years of Rational Catalyst Design experience and a substantial database of catalyst-specific knowledge, developed from both computational and experimental approaches. We have unique algorithms and software that address computational catalyst design, along with proprietary synthesis technologies and novel testing methods that provide a detailed understanding of catalytic processes."
NS Gold(TM) is potentially suitable for treating all lean-stream exhaust, where air is in excess of fuel-borne hydrocarbon gases. Applications include, but are not limited to, treating particulates and hydrocarbons in soot filters, stationary-source volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and ammonia slip in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems.
NS Gold(TM) is immediately available for targeted application-specific testing. Production quantities will be available as production programs are identified and released.
About Nanostellar
Nanostellar, Inc. provides diesel automotive and stationary power industries with nano-engineered catalyst materials that reduce exhaust emissions and increase the effectiveness of precious metals in catalysts. Focusing in the fields of quantum computational nanoscience, chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering, Nanostellar utilizes Rational Catalyst Design, which combines computational approaches with targeted experiments, to accelerate the development of new materials. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, Nanostellar is funded by premier investors including 3i, Khosla Ventures, Monitor Ventures, Firelake Capital Management LLC, and AsiaTech Management.
For more information, visit http://nanostellar.com/
Nanostellar is a registered trademark and NS Gold is a trademark of Nanostellar, Inc. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Source: Nanostellar, Inc.,
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Tuesday, April 10, 2007
AIAM Statement on Vermont Greenhouse Gas Regulations Lawsuit
Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM)* President and CEO Mike Stanton issued the following statement today:
Who is AIAM? "The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers is one of two automotive trade associations challenging the Vermont rule. Its members are the international automobile manufacturers operating in the United States, including: Aston Martin, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota. These companies account for approximately 40 percent of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold annually in the United States. More than 50 percent of these vehicles are built in this country."
What is AIAM's position on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles?
"AIAM has consistently recognized the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Many of our member companies are leading the industry in developing advanced technologies to address global warming and climate change concerns. AIAM supports federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles."
Why is AIAM suing to strike down the Vermont greenhouse gas regulations?
"AIAM has filed this lawsuit on the very narrow legal issue known as 'preemption.' The Vermont regulation seeks to control greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks by legislating 'average' fuel economy standards. Current law reserves this right exclusively to the federal government under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), the so-called 'CAFE law.' Section 32919(a) of EPCA expressly preempts states from adopting or enforcing a law or regulation 'related to fuel economy standards or average fuel economy standards.' Congress has long-recognized that the creation of a patchwork of state laws in this area would be costly to consumers and harmful to the industry. Consequently, it entrusted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), not the states, with the responsibility of weighing the competing economic, environmental, safety and technology concerns needed to determine a 'maximum feasible' fuel economy standard.
"At trial, AIAM will show that the Vermont regulation (an adoption of the California carbon dioxide standard currently being challenged in federal district court in California), is actually a de facto fuel economy standard. We will demonstrate the direct link between a CO2 emissions limit and a miles- per-gallon fuel economy standard. AIAM also will show that the Vermont regulation is impliedly preempted under EPCA, since it directly conflicts with the legislative intent underlying the EPCA."
* AIAM also represents original equipment suppliers and other automotive- related trade associations. For more information, visit our website at http://www.aiam.org/
Source: Association of International Automobile Manufacturers
Who is AIAM? "The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers is one of two automotive trade associations challenging the Vermont rule. Its members are the international automobile manufacturers operating in the United States, including: Aston Martin, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota. These companies account for approximately 40 percent of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold annually in the United States. More than 50 percent of these vehicles are built in this country."
What is AIAM's position on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles?
"AIAM has consistently recognized the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Many of our member companies are leading the industry in developing advanced technologies to address global warming and climate change concerns. AIAM supports federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles."
Why is AIAM suing to strike down the Vermont greenhouse gas regulations?
"AIAM has filed this lawsuit on the very narrow legal issue known as 'preemption.' The Vermont regulation seeks to control greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks by legislating 'average' fuel economy standards. Current law reserves this right exclusively to the federal government under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), the so-called 'CAFE law.' Section 32919(a) of EPCA expressly preempts states from adopting or enforcing a law or regulation 'related to fuel economy standards or average fuel economy standards.' Congress has long-recognized that the creation of a patchwork of state laws in this area would be costly to consumers and harmful to the industry. Consequently, it entrusted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), not the states, with the responsibility of weighing the competing economic, environmental, safety and technology concerns needed to determine a 'maximum feasible' fuel economy standard.
"At trial, AIAM will show that the Vermont regulation (an adoption of the California carbon dioxide standard currently being challenged in federal district court in California), is actually a de facto fuel economy standard. We will demonstrate the direct link between a CO2 emissions limit and a miles- per-gallon fuel economy standard. AIAM also will show that the Vermont regulation is impliedly preempted under EPCA, since it directly conflicts with the legislative intent underlying the EPCA."
* AIAM also represents original equipment suppliers and other automotive- related trade associations. For more information, visit our website at http://www.aiam.org/
Source: Association of International Automobile Manufacturers
Supreme Court Ruling on Greenhouse Gases Reinforces Need to Consider Lightweighting to Curb Auto Emissions
Aluminum Sets the Standard for Others to Follow
Reacting to this week's Supreme Court ruling that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can regulate auto emissions associated with global warming, The Aluminum Association, Inc. noted that the application of light weight materials, along with other advanced technologies, represents an excellent option to help automakers reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Lighter cars and trucks consume less fuel and produce fewer tailpipe emissions which are linked to global warming. Clean diesel, ethanol, hybrids and even fuel cells all offer incredible potential, and lightweight materials such as aluminum can greatly enhance each of these promising technologies. Among material options, high strength, low weight aluminum is well positioned to help automakers improve the fuel economy and environmental performance of their products," said Steve Larkin, President of the Aluminum Association, Inc.
The application of automotive aluminum has increased uninterrupted for more than three decades. Last year, aluminum surpassed iron to become the second most used automotive material worldwide. With the world's automakers and policymakers striving for even more greenhouse gas reductions, the aluminum industry expects to compete aggressively and successfully for new and advanced applications well into the future.
According to Larkin, "In today's environment, competition for lower weight materials will be even more spirited. Our colleagues in the steel industry have acknowledged the importance that lightweight materials must play in the future. We welcome them to a position that the aluminum industry has occupied for more than three decades."
"Automakers will always opt for the best material in a given application. From reduced emissions and better gas mileage, to better crash energy absorption and the highest recycling rates, aluminum offers outstanding value for a wide-range of applications. Lightweighting with aluminum - coupled with smart design and other advanced technologies - can help automakers meet increasingly stricter fuel, emissions, and safety requirements," according to Larkin.
The Aluminum Association's Auto & Light Truck Group (ALTG) communicates the benefits of automotive aluminum to help accelerate its market penetration through research programs and related outreach activities. Its mission is to serve member companies and act as a central resource for the automotive industry on aluminum issues. Member companies include: Alcan, Inc., Alcoa, Inc., Aleris International, Inc., Aluminum Precision Products, Inc., ARCO Aluminum Inc., Indalex Aluminum Solutions, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, and Novelis, Inc.
Source: The Aluminum Association, Inc.
Reacting to this week's Supreme Court ruling that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can regulate auto emissions associated with global warming, The Aluminum Association, Inc. noted that the application of light weight materials, along with other advanced technologies, represents an excellent option to help automakers reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Lighter cars and trucks consume less fuel and produce fewer tailpipe emissions which are linked to global warming. Clean diesel, ethanol, hybrids and even fuel cells all offer incredible potential, and lightweight materials such as aluminum can greatly enhance each of these promising technologies. Among material options, high strength, low weight aluminum is well positioned to help automakers improve the fuel economy and environmental performance of their products," said Steve Larkin, President of the Aluminum Association, Inc.
The application of automotive aluminum has increased uninterrupted for more than three decades. Last year, aluminum surpassed iron to become the second most used automotive material worldwide. With the world's automakers and policymakers striving for even more greenhouse gas reductions, the aluminum industry expects to compete aggressively and successfully for new and advanced applications well into the future.
According to Larkin, "In today's environment, competition for lower weight materials will be even more spirited. Our colleagues in the steel industry have acknowledged the importance that lightweight materials must play in the future. We welcome them to a position that the aluminum industry has occupied for more than three decades."
Aluminum's environmental performance
-- Vehicles made lighter with aluminum can achieve better fuel economy
while reducing tailpipe emissions associated with global warming.
Over the average life of a vehicle, these benefits more than
compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions associated with aluminum
production. This will deliver a net reduction in those gases and
significantly advance the aluminum industry's initiative that aims to
be greenhouse gas neutral by 2020.
-- Nearly 90 percent of automotive aluminum is currently recovered and
recycled.
-- Recycling aluminum saves nearly 95 percent of the greenhouse gas
emissions (CO2) associated with primary aluminum production and
requires only about five percent of the energy. This is a distinct
advantage over other materials as nearly 60 percent of aluminum used
in today's vehicles is sourced from recycled aluminum.
Aluminum's safety performance
-- Since aluminum is strong, yet light, it can be used to maintain or even
increase the size of a vehicle's crumple zones without increasing
overall weight. Weight reduction can be achieved without the need to
produce smaller vehicles.
-- Pound for pound, aluminum absorbs more crash energy than steel.
-- Aluminum folds predictably in a crash, allowing the vehicle, not the
passengers, to absorb more of the force.
The Aluminum Association's Auto & Light Truck Group (ALTG) communicates the benefits of automotive aluminum to help accelerate its market penetration through research programs and related outreach activities. Its mission is to serve member companies and act as a central resource for the automotive industry on aluminum issues. Member companies include: Alcan, Inc., Alcoa, Inc., Aleris International, Inc., Aluminum Precision Products, Inc., ARCO Aluminum Inc., Indalex Aluminum Solutions, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, and Novelis, Inc.
Source: The Aluminum Association, Inc.
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