More 'green' cars please

The people of Singapore have many reasons to feel good today. A robust economy, the world’s busiest port, a superior airline, world class dining, more millionaires per capita than any other country – the list goes on.

But the actions, Singapore has taken to assure a clean, healthy and sustainable environment deserve to be put right at the top of the list.

Singapore has not only created one of the cleanest environments in Asia, it is now leading the way in reducing vehicle emissions with its new carbon emissions-based vehicle scheme.

This initiative sets the stage for a new era of Green Mobility.

Arguably, Singapore has consistently been at the forefront in establishing clean air standards, developing energy efficiency programs and promoting environmental awareness.

But nowhere is this environmental commitment of the nation more evident than in its regulations for motor vehicle use.

Since the formation of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in 1995, major efforts have been made to control the number of vehicles on the roads, to increase the use of public transportation, to ease traffic congestion, to promote better fuel economy, and to take tough enforcement actions against vehicles spewing excess emissions.

Because of these and other forward looking ideas, Singapore has largely been spared the costly, stressful and wasteful traffic congestion that has plagued most Asian cities depriving the public of valuable energy resources. And despite the inevitable increase in cars on the road, the International Energy Agency reports that for the last 10 years, CO2 emissions per capita have been steadily declining.

And now, Singapore is poised to take the next major step towards smarter, greener transportation for all.

The new carbon emissions-based vehicle scheme will influence consumer behaviour and encourage people to drive more fuel-efficient cars. This proposed law offers a simple proposition - the more emissions a car produces, the higher the tax will be.

The new system will not only reduce emissions in Singapore, it will send a clear message to the vehicle and tyre manufacturing industries that their success in this market can only be ensured through fuel-efficient and emission-free solutions.

Singapore is certainly raising the bar for Asia and will be playing an important role in shaping the future of green mobility.

The Republic is a major centre for R&D and the manufacturing of automotive components and a production hub for plastics, rubber and chemicals that are needed to build fuel-efficient vehicles.

Over the years, Singapore has clearly risen as a production centre for the advanced, high-performance rubber and rubber additives that are needed to produce green tyres.

These are tyres with excellent performance in rolling resistance, road grip, mileage and noise emissions which consequently reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 5 percent across all vehicle types.

These calculations reflect that Singapore could eliminate over 352,600 tons of emissions and save 144 million litres of fuel annually if all 932,046* of its’ vehicles that were on the road in 2010 converted to green tyres.

The country’s recent carbon emissions-based vehicle scheme offers competitive reasons for vehicle manufacturers to produce lighter cars. It can inspire designers to increasingly replace metal parts with tough, high-tech plastics that can significantly reduce overall weight, resulting in reduction of emissions and fuel consumption.

Without question the future of transportation moves in the direction of green mobility in all its forms –. This has become a global priority. And setting the example for green mobility is one more achievement the people of Singapore can feel good about. 

Axel C. Heitmann is the CEO of LANXESS AG, a leading specialty chemicals company.