Volvo's dedication to the environment took off in the early 1970s and covers the car's entire lifecycle, from design, engineering and production to use, service and recycling. Efficient energy and resource utilisation and reduced emissions are important components in this dedication, and also contribute to a healthy environment inside the car.
For lower carbon dioxide emissions
One of the greatest challenges facing the car industry is to reduce fuel consumption and thus emissions of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate changes. Some of our most important contributions to lowering carbon dioxide emissions are:
- alternative drivelines, such as the biomethane-powered Bi-Fuel and bioethanol-powered Volvo Flexifuel
- increased proportion of high-efficiency diesel engines, such as the 1.6D in the Volvo S40, which consumes less than 5 litres per 100 km
- continuous work on weight reduction, aerodynamics and rolling resistance and further development of engines and gearboxes
- a new generation of compact Volvo cars.
Aternative fuels
On several markets, we have been offering methane-powered Bi-Fuel cars since 1995; when running on biomethane, emissions of fossil carbon dioxide are in principle zero. In November, we launched the bioethanolpowered Volvo Flexifuel in Sweden too. This model has up to 80% lower emissions of fossil carbon dioxide while driving. We are also investigating the possibility of offering a Volvo with electric hybrid technology.
For cleaner air
Already back in 1976, Volvo launched the three-way catalytic converter with lambda probe, which made it possible to cut emissions by 90%. Today, exhaust treatment systems in our petrol engines filter out between 95 and 99% of the carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases. Our diesel engines have a particle filter that takes care of about 95% of exhaust particles. All the engines meet stringent exhaust emission requirements -several of our engines, including the V8 and our new six-cylinder unit, also conform to the ultra-tough Californian ULEV II requirements. In seven American states, we also offer an engine that meets PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle)-one of the world's toughest exhaust standards. All our five, six- and eight-cylinder engines can be equipped with the PremAir® air quality system, which can convert harmful ground-level ozone into pure oxygen as the car is being driven.
For a healthy in-car environment
Offering a healthy in-car environment is a high priority for Volvo Cars. All our upholsteries and interior textiles are tested with regard to certain harmful or allergy-inducing substances and meet the requirements in Oeko-Tex Standard 100. Volvo's advanced air-quality system (IAQS) reduces the levels of certain harmful gases and particles. What is more, several of the interior metal components are tested for contact allergies- in fact, they even meet the EU requirements governing cosmetics. With the launch of the new Volvo S80, we are also introducing the Clean Zone Interior Package (CZIP), an interior developed specifically for allergy-sufferers, with an in-car atmosphere approved by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association.
For reduced environmental impact throughout the car's lifecycle
Volvo Cars has considerably reduced the environmental impact of car manufacturing-for instance, emissions of solvents are among the lowest in the industry. And 85% by weight of all Volvo models are designed to be able to be recycled. We were also the first carmaker with environmental product information that helps the consumer choose a Volvo model on the basis of its environmental performance throughout its lifetime.
We are also involved in several environmental projects-everything from the Volvo Environmental Award to the Volvo Adventure, an ecocompetition for schools throughout the world that we operate in collaboration with the UN Education Programme (UNEP).