In today's rapid economic development, environmental protection is a topic that we cannot avoid, reflected in daily travel, that is, the emergence of a large number of new energy vehicles. But what is the meaning of environmental protection? In addition to the seemingly unattainable social meanings of "sustainable development" and "harmonious coexistence between man and nature", it should be healthy for everyone, which is also the "people-oriented" often mentioned in environmental protection.
Because of this, environmental protection has also made car companies more concerned, and they have put forward their own environmental protection policies and concepts. And Volvo, which has always taken environmental protection as its own responsibility, has no action and is unusually quiet. This may be because the 95-year-old Volvo has already completed the blueprint planning and is methodically practicing.
【Bring old parts back to life】
In 1945, Volvo introduced a parts exchange system that revived old parts as remanufactured parts. You may say that the integrity of World War II at that time was a necessity due to the lack of raw materials. But 50 years ago, at the first UN Environment Conference, Volvo believed that cars would have a negative impact on the environment and said it would take action to that end. So half a century ago, Volvo was already drawing up their blueprint for environmental protection.
【Invention of ternary catalyst】
Then, in 1976, Volvo invented a gadget - a three-way catalytic device with an oxygen sensor, which greatly reduced the emission of harmful gases in the exhaust gas of the car, and gradually spread to almost all cars. We also often see cases of theft because of its high cost on the news, which shows that Volvo does not care much about costs in environmental protection.
【Phase out fluorinated air conditioners】
As we all know, Freon-containing air conditioners were banned for destroying the ozone layer, and Volvo launched the world's first Freon-free car as early as 1991, and only two years later completely eliminated the manufacture of Freon-containing cars.
["Sustainable development" is as important as "automotive safety"】
In 2008, when we were proud, Volvo's European plants used renewable hydroelectric power to power, while the four Volvo plants in the country were all 100% carbon neutral. The roof and parking lot of the Taizhou factory are covered by electric plates, which not only achieves 100% carbon neutrality of electric energy, but also reaches 93% of the level of intelligence. In addition to the carbon neutrality of electric energy, the Zhangjiakou engine plant also produced Drive-E engines for high efficiency, energy saving and environmental protection, which was also rated as ward's top ten engines.
Volvo's sense of social responsibility is not a "show", Sweden, one of the three Nordic countries, has led the "world's most sustainable country" for many years, and Volvo's hometown of Gothenburg has been rated as the best city in the world in terms of sustainable environmental protection for many years, and environmental protection has long been part of Swedish humanism. As Volvo President Hanken Samuelson puts it: "We believe that sustainability is as important as car safety.
【Make the most of renewable resources】
As we mentioned earlier, Volvo has built an XC60 T8 with "CLEAN SEAS" printed on it to show people interiors made from recycled materials. Volvo replaced around 170 plastic parts in the new car with recyclable plastic, weighing about 60 kilograms. For example, the central passage is made of plastic and fibres recycled from discarded fishing nets and sea ropes; the hood is made of recycled car seats; the carpet is made of fishing nets; and the foot pads are made of PET material recycled from plastic bottles and scrap materials recycled from garment processing plants.
【Eco-friendly, fasten seat belts for health】
The social significance of environmental protection falls on everyone's health, Volvo uses environmentally friendly water-soluble spray damping materials or butyl rubbers to achieve sound insulation and noise reduction effects in the new generation of models, abandoning the asphalt damping tablets used in traditional car manufacturing, and asphalt damping is also an important source of "new car flavor".
Speaking of odor, it is necessary to mention the CLEANZONE clean cockpit system, which captures particulate matter to purify the air through the dual action of electrostatic adsorption force and traditional mechanical force, and can prevent up to 95% of harmful PM2.5 particles from entering the cockpit under public road tests. Even for the health of the driver and passengers, seat belts are also fastened.
There is a saying in the automotive industry that Volvo's history is a history of the development of a new world. Moving towards the future, this is Volvo's car-making philosophy. In the past, the symbol of luxury cars was to do every detail that consumers could see and touch; In the future, the standard of luxury cars is not only to do every visible and invisible detail, but to let manufacturers and users think about the relationship between cars from the perspective of man and nature, which should include respect for life, emphasis on health, and protection of the environment.