Three ways the automotive industry can become greener

Posted on 20 Feb 2018 by The Manufacturer

If there is one industry that’s renowned worldwide for not being the most environmentally friendly, it’s the automotive industry.

Electric vehicles are fast becoming a mainstream option for drivers and solve many of the challenges facing our cities. - image courtesy of Pixabay
Electric vehicles are fast becoming a mainstream option for drivers and solve many of the challenges facing our cities. Image courtesy of Pixabay.

From the production line to the vehicles being in use every day, the industry has been at the forefront of environmentalists’ minds regarding ways to improve the impact it has on the planet.

The latest figures show that the UK alone has over 25 million licensed cars, with the numbers increasing by almost 600,000 in a year in 2016. The roads are busier than ever and more, and more people are relying on them for everyday tasks, like the daily commute and grocery shopping. It means that it’s more prominent than ever that the automotive industry evolves and adapts to become greener and serve the planet as best as they can. Below are three ways that the sector can continue to improve upon to help the environment.

Recycling Vehicles

One of the biggest issues facing the automotive industry is how we recycle unused, damaged and dated vehicles and how we dispose of them. While it is possible for certain vehicles to be repaired and brought back to life, there are occasions where it’s impossible to repair the vehicle, such as after an accident. A key way to ensure a car is disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner is to use a dedicated car scrapping company, who will recycle or reuse the vehicle. The model and age of the vehicle will depend on how much you can get for scrapping your car. However, a car scrapping company will take damaged cars, as well as motorbikes, vans and commercial vehicles, and recycle any salvageable parts to use on future upcycled vehicles.

Lower Emissions

Vehicles emit a variety of gases and matter which all contribute to global warming, and it is one of the major causes. Since the automotive industry began, global warming has increased rapidly, which affects the landscape, farming, and sea levels. For the automotive industry to improve their green credentials, they need to move towards lowering their emissions as much as possible. The air pollution created by the vast amount of cars, vans, commercial vehicles, tractors and motorbikes not only affects the environment and the ozone layer, but it has a direct effect on the health of all the inhabitants of the planet.

Renewable Energy

It’s not a secret that vehicles rely on fossil fuels to power them. These fossil fuels include diesel and petrol, and unfortunately, they contribute towards climate change as they affect the atmosphere and the ozone layer. Seven countries throughout the world have decided to promote the sale of only 100% electric cars or to ban fossil fuel cars on the road entirely. In Britain, the government has imposed a ban on any new petrol and diesel cars by 2040. This ban has caused the industry to react with worry, with it saying that the ban will damage the sales, production and the sector as a whole. On the bonus site though, it means that the industry is forced to evaluate the energy fuels they use and look towards renewable sources. While electric cars are already on the road, the industry could be forced to switch to creating more innovative hybrid models. The automotive industry needs to continue to make strides towards cleaner, renewable sources to enable them to become greener and help look after Earth.