Daimler Takes Aim at Fuel Efficiency Across Entire Fleet

Published June 22, 2008

FRANKFURT, Germany — Daimler will take a tip from BMW and improve fuel efficiency across its fleet portfolio, rather than focus on a select group of models.

The company’s BlueEFFICIENCY program will begin with 20 models this year to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and improve fuel economy by 12 percent, Reuters reported. The approach is similar to BMW’s EfficientDynamics program, according to Thomas Weber, Daimler’s head of research and development.

“We will go through every single model with a fine-tooth comb, nothing will be spared examination," Weber told the Stuttgarter Zeitung in an interview.

Daimler plans to improve engine efficiency and aerodynamics of its fleet, as well as lower roll resistance of its tires to drive fuel economy. The company sees its program of helping it reach its goal of reducing CO2 emissions to 138 grams per kilometer, as set by the European Commission.

BMW is spending millions to implement its EfficientDynamics program across its fleet, but critics say it is one of the factors behind the company’s struggling profit margins.

Still, environmental concerns are playing heavily in the minds of consumers, and the price of oil is expected to remain high, Weber said.

"The trend will continue,” Weber said. “We are finding ourselves in a dramatic transition phase and we are making adjustments to this in product development."

Honda Boosts Rail Transport Fleet Honda plans to take advantage of rail service to ship more than 80 percent of its Honda and Acura cars across the U.S., the automaker said Thursday. The company has deployed 400 Auto-Max railcars across the U.S., with each capable of holding up to 22 vehicles....	Sage Awards to Highlight Sustainable Furnishings, Design The American Home Furnishings Alliance plans to honor home furnishing or bedding manufacturers, designers or retailers that commit to sustainable design, growth and practices....
Intelligent IT Deployments to Cut Global Emissions 15 Percent: Report Even as the technology sector's carbon footprint is expected to double in the next 12 years, applying tech tools to monitoring energy use, maximizing energy efficiency and reducing the need for travel, shipping and resource use could save businesses billions of dollars and cut overall CO2 emissions, according to a report released today.	CBS Joins Mayors to Green U.S. Cities The project will draw from an earlier model tested in Miami with the support of Mayor Manny Diaz. A private-public partnership there delivered a mass tree planting, solar energy system, lighting retrofit and storm drain filter installation, helping earn Miami the designation of “America’s Cleanest City” by Forbes....
Honeywell Launches Green Power Evaluation Tool The Renewable Energy Scorecard evaluates solar, wind, biomass and geothermal for a given location and offers information for each on the payback, tax implications, rebates, subsidies and other incentives....	U.K. Retailers Feeling the IT Energy Crunch Data center energy costs are skyrocketing for United Kingdom retailers, who on average waste more than $2 million (£1.25 million) a year in excess energy consumption....
Chevron Tops List of Calif. Companies for Sustainability Reporting The Roberts Environmental Center of Claremont McKenna College studied the ways in which public California companies used their web pages to communicate their environmental and social efforts....	Supermarkets Failing to Adopt Sustainable Seafood Buying Practices: Report Grocery stores across the U.S. are contributing to the demise of global fisheries by stocking shelves with fragile fish varieties and failing to develop sustainable purchasing strategies, according to a new Greenpeace report. Even the grocers that ranked at the top of the heap -- such as Whole Foods and Ahold USA -- failed to score more than four out of 10 possible points....

News

Daimler Takes Aim at Fuel Efficiency Across Entire Fleet

GreenBiz Events