etyres Evaluates Use of Bio-Diesel Fuels
27Nov06
Etyres Green Policy takes another look at how the
environmental impact of our mobile tyres and battery
fitting service could be further reduced.
Etyres sales and service proposition for car tyres and
van tyres is clearly less damaging to the environment
than that offered by traditional tyre depots. This is
because the journey times of our mobile fitting vans is
far less than the mileage that would be driven by
individual drivers if they all visited a tyre depot to
buy their tyres.. Additionally, all the vans that have
been added to our fleet since we implemented our Green
Policy over two years ago have been LPG models.
Unfortunately Ford have now ceased to produce their high
roof, long wheelbase 280 Transit in this format and so
we are now reviewing the retro fitting of the LPG
conversion. Fortunately we have sufficient tyre fitting
vans on order and already in production to satisfy our
requirements for the first half of 2007.
This has presented us with the ideal opportunity to
review our use of LPG, within our Green Policy, because
it would seem that it is not now viewed by
environmentalists as the fuel of the future. The new,
most hopeful, alternative to fossil fuels would appear
to be bio-diesel and we are currently appraising how we
can best become involved.
The whole issue of alternative fuels will be
increasingly important as world oil reserves decline.
This will limit supply and force up prices.
Unfortunately, other than seeking alternative fuels and
being as economical as possible with all oil based
products, there is not very much that small companies
and individuals can do about the impending problem of
Peak Oil. However it is important to be aware of the
fact that this major problem that will probably impact
far sooner than previously anticipated.
Many within the oil industry have expressed grave
concern about the amount of oil that is still available
and the speed at which it is being consumed. It is
almost certain that the major oil producing countries
have significantly over-stated their reserves. And world
consumption continues to rise. Everyone realised that
oil was a finite resource that would eventually run out
but because that point was thought to be in the far
distant future it did not cause much concern. Anyway by
then new sources of energy such as wave power or solar
would have been developed and all would be well. Former
US president Richard Nixon (1969 – 1974) told Americans
that their country had sufficient oil for “hundreds of
years” We all know that this certainly is not the case.
The massive economic growth that is taking place in
China and India is placing an extra burden on oil
production and is increasing the speed at which this
finite resource is being depleted. Meanwhile the west
and in particular the United States continues to drive
vehicles that are uneconomical and in many cases not
necessary.
Just released is an important documentary film titled “A
Crude Awakening” directed by Basil Gelpke and Ray
McCormack. This is a compelling, intelligent and highly
entertaining documentary that looks at what will happen
to the world when oil supplies run out.
In spite of the problems associated with dwindling oil
supplies we are convinced that there will always be a
strong demand for tyres. Almost every suggested
development for personal transport uses tyres of one
sort or another. The fuel and the means of propulsion
may change but cars will continue to run on roads and so
they will need tyres. We also know that car owners will
always want to spend as little as possible on their
tyres and so the company with the lowest cost tyres will
win an increasing share of the available business.
It is inevitable that the pace of climate change will
increase and environmental issues will become more
widely included in the buying decision. So we continue
to concentrate on both issues by offering the lowest
priced tyres in the least environmentally damaging
manner through our Green Policy.
|
