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.