DaimlerChrysler Spending Big on Environment

Daimler/Chrysler ^ | July 30, 2001 | unknown

[doug from upland]

1.5 Billion US-Dollar for Environmental Protection

Opportunities for new fuels and new technologies DaimlerChrysler presents Environmental Report 2001 Stuttgart/Auburn Hills, July 30, 2001

The DaimlerChrysler Group spent some 1.5 billion US-Dollar on environmental protection in 2000. The major portion of this, around 0.9 billion US-Dollar, was invested in the research and development of hybrid and fuel cell technology as well as of new engines with greater fuel economy and reduced pollutant and noise emissions. The construction and operation of modern, environmentally compatible facilities absorbed 0.6 billion US-Dollar. Between 1996 and 2000, the fuel consumption of the Mercedes-Benz passenger car fleet in Germany was lowered by 15.8 percent to 8.0 liters per 100 kilometers. This is revealed by the Group's Environmental Report presented this week. These figures are stated in the Group's Environmental Report published today.

Prof. Werner Pollmann, Chief Environmental Officer at DaimlerChrysler: "Ongoing, tangible progress in reducing fuel consumption and emissions will no longer solely depend on the use of the most advanced technologies and facilities but also on the available fuels and energy media."

Opportunities for renewable fuels are opened up by fuel cell technology which DaimlerChrysler continued to develop with high priority last year. About six months ago, the Group presented its latest fuel-cell-powered car, the NECAR 5. The methanol-driven car recently completed its first test operation in Japan.

The first 30 fuel cell buses operating on hydrogen were sold by DaimlerChrysler to ten European cities. Local public transport operators are currently setting up individual hydrogen filling stations in the cities in cooperation with local energy suppliers. Three of these buses will be operated in Iceland's capital, Reykjavik. This will be Iceland's first step toward an economy that is to rely entirely on renewable energies.

The proportion of renewable resources in vehicle production materials also rose significantly. In Brazil, DaimlerChrysler increasingly uses coconut fibers for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class produced in Juiz de Fora. Trucks are fitted with head restraints and sun visors made of coconut fibers and, since recently, also with seat and bunk upholstery made of this material. This not only has ecological advantages: coconut fiber harvesting and processing is a new source of income for a large number of families in the Amazon delta.

As in previous years, young journalists researched and covered up-to-date topics for the DaimlerChrysler Environmental Report, including new recycling methods, holistic ecological lifecycle analyses for vehicles and fleet management designed to reduce the strain on the environment. These and many other activities of DaimlerChrysler not only resulted in good environmental key figures; they also form the basis for sustainable, environmentally compatible mobility in the future.

[doug from upland]

I've gotten to know the people at DaimlerChrysler, having driven their vehicles on the Mercedes test track in Stuttgart and gotten drunk on Caipirinhas with them in Brazil.

The NECAR 5 is a fast and efficient vehicle. The diesel hybrid Hyper is very quick and with lower sulfur fuel may actually get to production some day and come to this country. The ESX-3 is a 5-passenger fuel cell sedan that is comfortable, stylish and quick.

In Brazil, they are not acting like environmental whackos but doing some sensible and good things by teaching people skills to efficiently and responsibly use natural resources. I was there for the opening of the factory where they make seats, headrests and sun visors from coconut fibre that is harvested in Brazil. Jobs are created, people are less dependent, and DaimlerChrysler has cut costs. (And, of course, after a boat trip to the island of Marajo, I wrote a song about the adventure to the tune of Gilligan's Island that two women and myself sang to the group after dinner.)

If more companies acted responsibly, we wouldn't hear from the idiots who are claiming they are going to save the environment but that they must shut down business. Business doesn't have to be shut down to be good stewards of this planet. This kind of effort from DaimlerChrysler is being looked at by many companies. You who have been here awhile know me for someone very much on the right side of the political spectrum. I do believe, however, that too many people here sometimes knock things that really do deserve some support. Making an effort to take care of the planet really is a good thing. Teaching people to rotate crops, create their own little businesses, harvest coconut fibre and not tear down more of the jungle (or, as PC people say, "rainforest") really is a good thing.

And becoming less dependent on the powder keg known as the Middle East is a very good things. It is in our strategic interest. Unfortunately, we are more dependent on them than a decade ago.

Well, alright. That's my sermon for tonight. No, I am not becoming PC.