...BMW Group Information 2004 Employing environmental principles to build cars Holistic concepts that lead to optimum solutions Taking an actively responsible approach to the protection of our natural environment is of fundamental importance to the development, manufacture, use and recycling of vehicles and their components. The BMW Group has thus for many years consistently employed methods such as Life Cycle Assessment and Design for Recycling in its decision-making. The application of these holistic philosophies generates results that are often surprising – and decisive. BMW Group research & development The BMW Group Concept: Sustainable Mobility In every corner of the world, individual mobility is an essential requirement for maintaining economic growth and prosperity. As traffic on the road grows steadily, it is imperative that solutions be found which are compatible with the needs of people and the environment. In this context, the BMW Group pursues a holistic approach in its efforts to entirely eliminate or continuously reduce the environmental impact of its products and processes through intelligent technology-based solutions. Key aspects of this strategy are: • Mobility-based research focused on the intelligent networking of various modes of transport • Improving environmental awareness and safety in the transport sector • Encouraging suppliers and partners to adopt the BMW Group guiding principle of sustainable development. • Further integration of the automobile...
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...Viability of Adding Alternative Fuel Vehicles to Lotus Rental Car Fleet The focus of this paper is to estimate the importance and feasibility of adding alternative fuel vehicles to the Lotus Rental Car fleet. This paper is addressed to the Chief Financial Officer. There are many types of alternative fuel vehicles (AFV); however, this paper will be focusing on hybrid vehicles. The discussion will cover the overview of existing operations, the advantages and disadvantages of adding AFV’s, the summary of the examination, and the recommendations on why and how it should be implemented. Current Fleet Status The Current fleet size for sister companies, Alamo, Enterprise and National, carry nearly 450,000 cars combined that achieve 28 mpg or better. The introduction of EPACT in 1992 introduced AFV’s into the US market, where they were mainly used by government agencies. The common term used to describe AFV vehicles is light duty vehicle (LDV). In addition, federal fleets are required to use dual-fuel vehicles unless a waiver is granted. Because of high oil consumption in the US transportation sector, concerns about national energy usage began to rise. This raised many questions regarding the resulting environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. An example of this was in 2008, when it was estimated that the transportation sector emitted 1,930 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which represents a 33.2 per cent share of total carbon dioxide emission from all sectors...
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...have many options available, an attempt to purchase a car without researching extensively can become a costly mistake. This report deals with one of the complex decisions on owing a right vehicle. The main aim is to decide the best suitable car for our family, which meets the intended expectations. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which is based on pair-wise comparison of each alternative, is used to structure the approach towards the decision. At the end of the calculation we check the consistency of results using the Consistency Ration (CR). The decision parameters and ratings awarded for analysis are purely based on my perspective and has nothing to do with the brand or car company. SUMMARY Purchasing a new car is an expensive purchase, second only to a new home for many Indian consumers. That is why it is also critical for us to research before choosing a car that optimises financial and operation goals. This report distils the various available alternatives in the Indian car market to come up with the optimal car, which suits both the personal and business need of our family. Conventional wisdom says that the diesel vehicles are more fuelefficient than the petrol, in spite of higher initial cost. Further, calculation in this report justifies it. A set of criteria derived from the vehicle features is defined which plays a major role in decision-making. Built on these criteria viz., cost, safety, boot capacity and aesthetics the whole problem is split into sub models using...
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...of chemical derived from human activities, organic materials, and particulate matters. Automobile is the greatest contributor to our air pollution. Various living organisms, such as animals, humans, and plants are at risk. Plant life is critical to keep our air uncontaminated. Human daily activity is the prime impact of both negative and positive effect to air quality. United States is suffering from major air pollution because of the mixture of immense population use of automobiles and manufacturing industries. Motorized vehicle emits substantial amount of carbon monoxide and nitrogen in to the air every day. Manufacturing industries, such as power plants and other facilities, release ten times more of particulate matters and sulfur oxide than motorized vehicles. In contrast, the positive effects humans have to offer are taking a few initiatives to redeem their mistakes by inventing non conventional fuels such as biodiesel, batteries and fuel cells, and other biomass resource. This proposal is to establish a mitigation plan to discuss the benefits and challenges of air pollutions. Furthermore, this devise strategy will encompass government and societal support to enhance the air quality we breathe. “The atmosphere is a complex, dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the Earth's ecosystems.” ("Air Pollution"...
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...the mind (Moore’s Law, n. d.). The ripples from the technological growth have begun to have a profound effect on the automotive manufacturing industry, and Nissan has taken the reins with the introduction of the all-electric Nissan Leaf bringing the entire industry into a new paradigm. What is the Leaf? The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric 4 door passenger sedan powered by a lithium ion battery pack running an 80 kW AC synchronous electric motor creating 107 horsepower (Nissan Leaf, n.d.). Its Lithium-ion battery pack is estimated to give the Leaf a range of approximately 100 miles on a single charge, making it the leader among the all-electric automobiles available today. Charging the leaf can be accomplished in one of three ways. The vehicle can be charged in 12 hours from 0% to 100% at any standard 110 volt electrical outlet, is can be charged in approximately 4 hours using a dedicated charging station at normal charge, and it can be...
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...Types of Alternative Fuel There are different kinds of alternative fuels in the world at present. There are eight different types of alternative fuels which are Ethanol, Natural Gas, Propane, Hydrogen, Bio-Diesel, Electricity, Methanol and P-series. All these alternative fuels have different properties, different source used, and different vehicle's used and different impact on the environment and on the world. But one point to be noted is that even though they have different impact on environment, alternative fuels in vehicles can generally reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. Another interesting fact I found about these fuels in particular is that they can rather be domestically produced and can be derived from renewable resource but the fossil fuels which are being used today such as petroleum and diesel cannot be derived from renewable source. Once these fossil fuels will be extinct alternative fuels are the one which will come to use. I personally think that if even a small majority of the people in the world start using alternative fuels then the pollution and disease will decline and the pressure on fossil fuels, of course, will decrease. The advantages to use alternative fuels are massive. The impact of alternative fuels can have on earth, on people, on so many things is just great. Using alternative fuels can change a lot of things on earth a pollution free place. Here are some possible alternative means of propulsion for road vehicles. 1. Biodiesel ...
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...Lekeisha Mitchell Eng 102 Howell T/TH Is Ethanol the New Fuel of Tomorrow? If you’re like me, the prices at the pumps have probably got you ready to trade in your car keys for a helmet, knee pads, and reflectors. Since the beginning of the current term, our fearless leader has repeatedly reminded us that we must no longer be dependent on foreign oil. I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds like we’re addicts who’ve just missed a few steps of the 12-step program. He talks as though we have a choice in the matter. Is there an alternative fuel that would no longer force billions of Americans to have to choose between feeding their family a healthy meal or having a ride to work? Would you give it a go? Well, let me be the first to tell you that everything that glitters isn’t gold. As with any and everything, there are pros and cons of alternative fuel. At the risk of sounding like my mother: remember way back when the price of a gallon of unleaded fuel cost the same as an item on McDonald’s Value Menu, when you could literally pay for gas from the change in your couch cushions? Those were the days. Unfortunately, nowadays, you’d have to dig in all of your friends’ cushions, and you would still have to sell a pint of blood just to have gas for the week. And at the risk of sounding like my mom yet again: I never thought I would see the day when the cost of a gallon of milk and the cost of a gallon of gas would be running a tight race--and in some parts of the country--the...
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...Bell Alternate-Fueled Vehicles Going green is becoming more and more popular with advances in technology. One way is to own a vehicle that uses other than fossil fuels. Automobiles in the last 10 years have evolved from using gasoline and diesel as a primary power source, and now include features once only seen in luxury cars. Introducing them to a rental car company may give it more of a variety to offer its customers. Introduction This paper is to introduce the idea of the integration of alternate-fueled vehicles into the Lotus Rental Car Company and the feasibility to do so to the Chief Financial Officer. There are numerous factors to consider. A large purchase, especially for vehicles, requires in-depth research and weighing of advantages and disadvantages that need to be evaluated. Alternate Fuel Sources There are a few power source options when looking to buy or lease alternate fueled vehicles; ethanol; flex-fuel; hybrid; electric; and natural gas. Alternate fuel source seem to be attractive for consumers as the high prices for fossil fuels continue to climb. With the purchase of new fuel-saving vehicles in mind, each fuel source will be examined. Each type of fuel does have its own great benefit as well as drawback. Ethanol Ethanol is a fuel that is usually comprised of 10% gasoline and 90% ethanol. The more commonly known mixture is 15% and 85% called E85. Internal combustion engines are able to utilize this type of fuel with modifications made...
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...Ethics Key Issue The key issue involving Tesla Motors is the organizations approach to marketing their product and social mission. The fundamental idea behind the company’s existence is to create vehicles that require sustainable energy as oppose to fossil fuel dependency. The demand for their products is built on the zoom out, bigger picture idea that consumers will eventually switch from the current fossil fuel powered cars to alternative energy powered cars in the future (Kanter, 114). The founder and current Chief Executive Officer, Elon Musk, created this organization based on his long term vision that the future of automobiles requires a less oil dependent vehicle. Tesla Motors has consistently reported losses since implementation but the growth and popularity of the organization is based on the future potential and not present success. Shareholders and those involved will eventually want to see real results for them to continue to support Musks bigger picture (Kanter, 114). By non-GAAP standards the company has reported an expectation to create positive earnings and cash flow by early 2016 but previously the company has failed to meet short term expectations (https://hbr.org/2015/05/teslas-not-as-disruptive-as-you-might-think). The lack of profit stems from a combination of dismal efforts to reach more consumers and generate awareness, the costs associated to purchase a vehicle and Teslas approach to marketing and generating sales. Tesla Motors marketing ploy is based on...
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...and distributes vehicles and vehicle parts [1]. In this report, we will identify three risks and three opportunities related to sustainability for the company and the manufacturing activities of the GM. For each risk/opportunity, we will also identify some possible actions to address the risk/opportunity. Furthermore, we will develop a process for assessing potential cost/benefit of addressing the risks and opportunities and the potential cost/benefit of taking no action. All the detail data resource in this report is from GM sustainability report [2]. 2. Risk Management Sustainability strategy of GM is guided by this simple truth, that energy diversity, resource conservation and CO2 reduction are business imperatives. To achieve sustainable development of the company, GM is faced up with a series of global issues. Among them, fuel economy and CO2 emissions, manufacturing energy use and emissions, and resource and material management are most imperative to address. 2.1 Fuel Economy and CO2 Emissions The need to increase fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions remains one of the most important risks facing automakers around the world, including GM. Though dramatic progress has been made over the past 40 years, the need to “go farther with less” is as relevant today as ever, due to risks associated with petroleum dependence, climate change and the continued growth of vehicle use. Energy security and climate change concerns are driving increasingly stringent fuel economy and CO2...
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...Rather than grow algae and then harvest and ferment it, the algae grow in sunlight and produce ethanol directly, which is removed without killing the algae. It is claimed the process can produce 9,000 US gallons per acre per year compared with 400 US gallons per acre for current corn production. This process actually absorbs CO2. (Biofuels Digest) Ethanol-gasoline blends are denoted by E and the percentage of ethanol in the fuel. Pure ethanol (E100) consumption in an engine is approximately 51% higher than for gasoline since the energy per unit volume of ethanol is 34% lower than for gasoline. (Autos) Despite this, the higher compression ratios in an ethanol-only engine allow for a power output higher than could be obtained with lower compression ratios of a gasoline-only engine, and approximately 20 to 30% more fuel efficiency and 30% less carbon emissions....
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...attempt to estimate the components of gasoline demand using aggre-gated data (Gallini 1983; Dahl 1982). The problem with these models is that they do not identify the relationship between the household decisions on vehicle holdings and on usage. These two decisions are likely to be dependent; the use of a vehicle depends on its type and the type of vehicle chosen depends on its expected use. Since these decisions are made within the household, household data should be used for estimating the various components of gasoline demand. This paper provides an estimate of household gasoline demand in Canada by applying a detailed model to pooled time-series (1969-1988) and cross-sectional provincial data. The model recognises three major behavioural changes that households can make in response to gasoline priče changes: drive fewer miles, purchase fewer cars, and buy more fuel-efficient vehicles. In the model, fuel есопоту is treated in considerable detail. The two components of the fuel есопоту of new cars sold—the technical fuel efficiency of various classes of cars and the distribution of new car sales according to their interior volume rather than their weight — are estimated as functions of economic variables. Car manufacturers are assumed to improve the technical fuel есопоту according to their expectation of consumers[1] response to future changes in gasoline prices and general economic condi-tions. The next three sections of this paper discuss the model, the data, and the...
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...avoided. Air pollution from industry, from the large numbers of homes clustered together in and around the cities and the widespread use of motor vehicles means that the quality of the air in cities suffers. The findings of the EPA1 show that motor vehicles are the major source of urban air pollution. In Melbourne in 2006, motor vehicle emissions contributed the following levels of pollutants to the overall air quality: * 72 per cent of all carbon monoxide (CO) emissions * 70 per cent of all nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions * 28 per cent of all volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions * 31 per cent of all emissions of particles smaller than 2.5 microns(PM2.5) * 27 per cent of all emissions of particles smaller than 10 microns(PM10) * 6 per cent of all sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can combine to form ozone (summer smog). Particle emissions can build up in the air to form autumn/winter smog in the cooler months. Both diesel and petrol vehicles emit particles into the air. The economic consequences The economic consequences of motor vehicle emissions in Melbourne are; * Health issues – In economic terms, noxious vehicle emissions are externalities which lead to significant health impacts on people. * Congestion – The large number of vehicles in the CBD causes delays to transportation and the workforce with a flow on effect to the economy in lost productivity. * Lost productivity...
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...increase environmental issues along, (2) Some controversy relationship issue between transport growth and economic development, environmental and political factors, (3) Emission rise of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Carbon Dioxide (CO²) worsen the greenhouse effect. 2.1 Road freight transport and environmental issues. The freight transport in Europe by road, rail and waterway together has grown by about 60 per cent since 1970; especially road transport has more than doubled, while rail and waterway still remained static. In this case, there is involving an increasing number of road freight traffic that could cause towards the increasing of environmental problem. For a case in point, when heavy goods vehicles are being used to transfer goods from a point of origin to another destination, it could be leaking out pollutant material and energy emission that would be harmful to humans as well as flora and fauna. 2.2 Controversy relationship issue The relationships between transport growth and economic development are significantly different from those linking the economy to the energy sector generally. The energy intensity of economic defined as the amount energy needed to generate 1 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) unit has declined sharply since 1974. Thus, energy use and economic growth would have to be separated. Furthermore, transport and the economy factors had always been related to each other during the last decades. Economists have become...
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...provide students every accommodation Centro offers through its other current routes. In exchange for a higher price, Centro is liable for their drivers and insurance expenses. In addition Centro handles any maintenance and fuel expense. Centro bus has the advantage of easily seating over 45 students. Even at full capacity there is room to stand as well as efficiently carry on anything bought at Destiny Mall. Centro can also accommodate all handicapped students. Centro would run on a consistent predetermined schedule. Realignment of Current Transports Shuttle service is already provided by the University and will not be difficult or costly to realign services. The University is currently responsible for the operation of a fleet of over 230 owned and leased motor vehicles distributed among 30 departments (consisting of approximately 500 drivers), as well as additional motor vehicles which may be leased as needed. The University is liable for its drivers, insurance expenses, maintenance, and fuel expenses. While this approach seems costly on the surface, one must remember that these expenses are already incurred by current operations. The realignment of resources could only possibly raise fuel, driver wage, and depreciation expenses. Advantages of this approach include better utilization of current resources, a satisfied student body, and constant communication between SU Parking and Transit...
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