Vehicle manufacturers reduce carbon footprint
UK vehicle manufacturers have shrunk the carbon footprint of production to its lowest level on record, according to the latest annual Sustainability Report by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The manufacturers have reduced emissions since last year by -2.8% despite electric vehicles requiring more energy to produce, by advancing carbon efficiencies of production. As a result, output is down almost 17,700 tonnes, the equivalent of more than 800,000 trees.
The firms also generated 4.7% more renewable energy through investment in on-site infrastructure, delivering 46GWh on energy, enough to produce 767,000 EV batteries a year.
Demand for electrified vehicles in particular means that the average CO2 tailpipe emissions of new cars fell by -6.9%. At the same time, manufacturers further streamlined their recycling and reuse, with the average amount of waste per vehicle down by more than a third (-37.0%).
In terms of specific policies, Jaguar Land Rover has developed a zero emission energy storage unit powered by second-life iPace batteries, Bentley has supported its retailer network to embed sustainable practices, bus firm Alexander Dennis has formed a monthly energy committee to deliver more efficient energy use and reductions, Leyland Trucks has put 20 electric DAF trucks into operation as part of the Battery Electric Truck Trial, and Scania’s Eurocentral site, which enables the servicing of Scania’s conventionally fuelled and electrified trucks, has been futureproofed with the installation of 950kVA of power on site.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Britain’s automotive industry is building record numbers of zero emission vehicles while cutting its carbon footprint to a record low. This double success has been delivered thanks to huge investments from manufacturers to decarbonise both their facilities and vehicles.
“As demand for electric vehicles continues to grow at home and overseas, the UK can distinguish itself as a low-carbon manufacturing nation – but this depends on critical investment in gigafactories and the affordable, renewable energy needed to power them. The sector has made huge strides in recent years but there is much more to be done.”
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