Nissan Updates on Nissan Green Program 2010; New Vehicle CO2 Needs to Be Reduced 90% by 2050
22 June 2009
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. provided an update on its progress under the Nissan Green Program 2010 (NGP 2010) mid-term environmental plan. Nissan also announced the introduction of an automatic transmission (AT) model with a clean-diesel engine in the Japanese market, planned for spring 2010.
Along with the mid-term NGP 2010 plan, originally announced in December 2006, Nissan is reviewing its long-term CO2 emissions-reduction scenarios. According to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), global CO2 concentration in the atmosphere should be stabilized below 450 ppm, Nissan noted. Nissan estimates—based on the findings of AR4—that the CO2 emissions of all new vehicles in 2050 would need to be reduced by 90% compared to the 2000 level. Based on this scenario, Nissan will conduct a review of its road map for CO2 emissions reduction of new vehicles and reflect it in the next mid-term environmental action plan.
Mid-term results for minimizing CO2. In reviewing its efforts to date in reducing CO2 emissions, Nissan said that AESC (Automotive Energy Supply Corporation), its joint venture with NEC Corporation and NEC TOKIN Corporation, aims to be a leader in battery technology. AESC will market its laminated compact lithium-ion batteries to automotive manufacturers around the world for use in electric-powered vehicles (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles)
Other actions included:
In April 2009, Nissan introduced the Nissan ECO Series (NECO Series), which qualify for tax breaks under Japan’s new preferential tax scheme for environment-friendly vehicles. There are 16 available NECO Series models (as of June 23): Tiida, Tiida Latio, Cube, Note, Wingroad, Serena, X-TRAIL, Lafesta, AD/AD Expert, March, Presage, Pino, Otti, Atlas H43, NV200 Vanette and Moco.
Introduction of an original EV test vehicle in August 2008.
Between January 2008 and June 2009, the Alliance established 27 “zero-emission mobility partnerships” with governments, municipalities and other sectors around the world for full-scale EV diffusion. Deployment of infrastructure, including charging stations and incentives for zero-emissions vehicle purchases, are being studied. Agreements already have been reached between the Alliance and Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama City in Japan; the State of Tennessee; the State of Oregon; Sonoma County and San Diego in California; Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona; Seattle, Wash.; Raleigh, N.C. and Washington, D.C. in the United States; and Israel, Portugal, Monaco, United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Ireland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
During FY2007 and FY2008, per-unit CO2 emission from all the Nissan plants was globally reduced by 10% (compared to 2005 level). The reduction target was 7%.
In the area of logistics, global CO2 emissions were measured in FY2006 and its comprehensive management started in FY2007.
Reducing Other Emissions. In September 2008, a new clean diesel X-TRAIL 20GT, fitted with the Alliance-developed M9R engine, was introduced in Japan. This was the first vehicle to meet the Japan’s stringent Post New Long-term Regulations (PNLT). An automatic transmission-equipped (AT) model will be added in the Japan market in spring 2010.
In July 2007, an ultra-low precious metal catalyst for gasoline vehicles was developed. This unit provides cleaner emissions and utilizes half the amount of precious metals compared with conventional catalysts.
In November 2008, an ultra-low precious metal catalyst was introduced on the new Cube. This is the first production vehicle in the world to employ the application.
Recycling Resources. Nissan has achieved a 100% resource recovery rate in five Nissan plants, one office and three affiliated manufacturing companies in Japan in FY08. Nissan achieved a recovery rate of end-of-life vehicles in Japan in FY08 of 95.7%.
Working with Society In March 2009, Nissan and Yokohama City jointly embarked on YOKOHAMA Mobility Project ZERO, aiming at reducing CO2. The following items will be implemented or studied as part of that project:
- Wider adoption of environmentally friendly eco-driving
- Study of route navigation systems to alleviate traffic congestion
- Promote mass acceptance of environmentally friendly EVs
- Impact measurement and information provisions regarding the items studied
Nissan also expanded eco-driving support services for customers utilizing the Nissan CARWINGS navigation system in Japan, and developed technologies to support ecodriving such as a fuel efficiency gauge and the “ECO Pedal”
In May 2009, an eco-driving support system featuring technology advancements such Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and engine modulation, was installed in 2WD models of Tiida, Tiida Latio, Cube, Note and Wingroad in Japan. In addition, the CARWINGS ECO support system was adopted in Tiida and Tiida Latio.
The targets get more rediculous ever day. CO2 is not a pollutant and reducing it below the amount released by an American of the Civil War era is utterly stupid, and wholly uneccessary.
Dr. Ference Miskolczi's work at Nasa reveals that CO2 cannot change the climate more than .25 degrees per CO2 doubling and at that level that is wholly beneficial.
As we transition away from fossil fuels, the C02 in the atmosphere wil rapidly wash out, naturally.
Posted by: ExDemo | 22 June 2009 at 08:33 AM
Dr. Ferenc Miskolczi was proven to be wrong a year ago: http://www.realclimate.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ferenc_Miskolczi
Not keeping up with the latest trends in denialism, are you?
The 'CO2 washing out' remark can be ignored as being your opinion. Well, to give you the benefit of the doubt, you might have forgotten to post a reference. So: do you have a reference for that?
Posted by: Arne | 23 June 2009 at 02:09 AM