Setting new standards

摘要

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class that was premiered in September is said by DaimlerChrysler to be setting new standards in terms of environmental protection with more than 40,000 individual processes being analysed and optimised as part of the company's integrated environment analysis for the new A-Class, The overall assessment covers a total of more than 200 "input" factors (resources) and some 300 "output" parameters (emissions). A combination of technological innovations in the body, chassis and engine design and advances in manufacturing processes allowed for the reduction in the emissions generated through the production and use of the new A-Class. Examples of these successful developments include the solvent-free powder clearcoat, which protects the body, and the new or modified petrol engines. The result is that nitrogen oxides are down 17 per cent, sulphur dioxide is down by six per cent, volatile hydrocarbons are down by eight per cent and special waste materials are down by 10 per cent. Primary energy consumption also drops by around eight per cent, falling around 50 gigajoules below the value of the outgoing A-Class which equates to the energy stored in some 1,300 litres of petrol.