by John Brian Shannon
Automakers embedding Sustainability As A Core Value
An international team of Volkswagen executives at the LEED Platinum certified VW Chattanooga plant, following the ‘Think Blue’ five-year (2012-2018) global sustainability initiative, have developed a comprehensive, four-stage Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology that now serves as the template for its manufacturing facilities worldwide.
Baseline references in four key performance indicators (KPI’s) – energy, water, waste, CO2 and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) have been established to mark progress.
With Think Blue, Volkswagen management aims to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, water use, waste, and (VOC’s) at its manufacturing facilities another 25 percent by 2018. Information courtesy of cleantechnica.com
BMW to power Leipzig factory by wind energy
In addition to winning many prestigious awards for sustainable production practices, BMW is powering its Leipzig factory with four massive wind turbines located near the facility, which assembles more than 200,000 cars per year. See; BMW Group Dow Jones Sustainability Index Leader for 8th consecutive year.
Mercedes too, has upped the ante on sustainable production practices — and now boasts the largest selection of electric vehicles in the world.
Not all Electric Vehicles are boring, perhaps this little blue number will pique your interest…
Mercedes says the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive will hit 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and a moment later, you will find that it is electronically limited to 155 miles per hour.
AMG’s latest supercar comes with 740 of the quietest horsepower you will ever own and can be recharged in 3 hours.
The automakers have responded to calls for sustainability in their production facilities and vehicle materials with passion, and continue to post huge gains in those areas.
But who would have thought that they could make sustainability so much fun for consumers? I’m getting on the bandwagon all over again!
Related articles
- VW’s Vision Of Ecological Sustainability Takes Shape In Tennessee (cleantechnica.com)
- Official: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive breaks Nurburgring EV lap record [w/video] (green.autoblog.com)
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive breaks Nurburgring lap record for EVs (scooprocket.com)
JOHN BRIAN SHANNON
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Filed under: Auto manufacturers, Electric Vehicles, Environment Tagged: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive, Auto manufacturers, BMW, economist, electric vehicle, John Brian Shannon, sustainable production facilities, sustainable vehicle materials, Volkswagen, wind energy
