Car makers promote their environmental credentials
Car makers promote their environmental credentials
By Russell Williamson
As the Indonesian car market expands, many of its relative
newcomers, particularly from Europe, are realizing the potential
value in promoting their environmental credentials.
Previously, many foreign carmakers have regarded developing
nations like Indonesia as a dumping ground for older, less
technologically advanced and, subsequently, more environmentally-
damaging vehicles.
However, as the government and environmental groups are
becoming more concerned about the impact of the growing number of
cars, particularly in cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, the
carmakers have moved to improve their environmental record.
The total vehicle market in Indonesia has more than doubled
in the past three years.
In 1992, total sales reached 171,899 cars and this year they
are expected to top 390,000 cars, with the 500,000 mark likely to
be achieved before the end of the decade.
To cope with this increase and ensure pollution levels do not
increase proportionately, it is essential that the latest
environmental technology finds its way into the Indonesian car
market.
The government and the Indonesian Automotive Federation are
conscious of the need to ensure that Indonesia's pollution levels
do not get out of control with the vast increase in the number of
cars.
The evidence of this is in strong rumors, that should
Indonesia's national car project get off the ground, one company
under consideration for the supply of engines could be
Australia's Orbital Engine Company.
This company builds two stroke engines which are extremely
fuel efficient and offer very low emissions.
Early this year, independent testing of the company's 1.2
liter three-cylinder, two-stroke engine by European authorities
indicated that under high mileage, this engine was capable of
passing the extremely stringent United States Tier Three emission
legislation, currently the toughest in the world.
However, while the introduction of such an engine may not
eventuate, the government, through the state-run oil company
Pertamina, has introduced unleaded petrol in an effort to reduce
pollution concerns.
Unleaded fuel has been the standard in most developed markets
for several years, with many governments' legislating for its
mandatory use.
Lead in petrol has, through toxic emissions, been linked to
various forms of cancer by medical authorities around the world.
Lead's properties of engine lubrication, temperature
restriction and octane boosting are no longer required in modern
engines and in unleaded fuel, these functions are now carried out
by less harmful additives, such as Benzene.
While most carmakers have applauded Pertamina's move to
introduce unleaded petrol, there are concerns over the lack of
government policy on its supply and distribution.
Carmakers insist that the responsibility to reduce the
environmental impact of the burgeoning car market is a two way
street, with both sides required to make a substantial effort.
Many feel that as they try to introduce new environmentally-
responsible vehicle technology, the government needs to keep pace
and help with ensuring legislation improves demand for such
technology.
Companies such as Audi, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen, all of whom
are launching new vehicles into the local market next year, have
developed vehicles and vehicle production systems in Europe,
Japan and the United States to meet the ever increasing
environmental controls.
Engine technology, such as in Audi's A4, due to go on sale
about the middle of next year, is an example of what can be done
to help reduce pollution.
The 1.8 liter four-cylinder A4 engine uses a multi valve setup
with three inlet and two outlet valves per cylinder.
This allows a higher power output from a smaller swept volume,
together with lower fuel consumption and reduced weight, all
contributing to fewer emissions.
Honda's VTEC Civic, arriving early next year, is another
example of the latest engine technology helping to address
environmental concerns.
The VTEC engine uses a computer managed variable valve timing
system, which offers improved economy without any sacrifice in
power.
Subsequently, the fuel consumption and emissions in relation
to the power and torque are much better.
However, there is more to environmental responsibility than
just cleaner, leaner engines.
Vehicle weight is an important factor, which influences the
fuel consumption of vehicles.
Recyclability is another factor, and Volkswagen and BMW are
among the world leaders in producing vehicles with components
which can be reused.
About 80 percent of BMW's 318 M43 sedan, the company's latest
addition to the Indonesian market, is able to be recycled.
Plastics comprise a large part of this and all parts are now
labeled with the exact chemical composition of the various types
of plastic for ease of sorting in the recycling process.
The dashboard in the 3-Series has about six kilograms of
recyclable plastic, while the luggage compartment linings are
made from recycled bumpers.
However, recycling, like the introduction of unleaded fuel,
requires infrastructure and facilities to make it work and,
therefore, some form of government incentives to aid the process.