Hubert Waltl

Volkswagen Passenger Cars has set some ambitious environmental targets for car production, with a plan to reduce energy consumption, waste volumes, air borne emissions, water consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 25 per cent by 2018, at all its factory production plants worldwide.

The “Think Blue. Factory” initiative is an addition to the “Think Blue” portfolio and the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee,was the first factory worldwide to receive a platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental) certificate. This certification confirms Volkswagen’s compliance with some of the most demanding standards for sustainable, environmentally compatible vehicle production.

Hubert Waltl (pictured) , Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand, said,”Through the growing efficiency and productivity of our plants, the Volkswagen brand is already making a key contribution to the achievements of Group strategic targets for 2018. However, we are going a step further: by 2018 we intend to make production at all our plants 25 per cent more environmentally compatible”.

THINK

THINK, the Scandanavian electric vehicle manufacturer, and its largest fleet customer, Move About the Norwegian car-share fleet operator, is supplying 15 THINK City courtesy cars to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

All conference delegates will be able to use the urban EV during their time at the summit. The THINK City EV’s have a range of up to 180k/km (circa 108 miles) and also emit zero emissions. As yet the electric battery powered car has been sold to selected markets such as Norway, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Switzerland and most recently Spain. The vehicles have been targeted at municipal fleet holders, governments and utility partners.

Paul Clark, the Road Safety Minister, has launched a new child road safety initiative using a new innovative online game. The multi-player online game is set in the fantasy land of Everland ,which is a place inhabited by dangerous creatures, crossing spirit channels.

The game actually allows children to confront road safety hazards, based on real life situations that they will face on UK roads and is sponsored by THINK!. Research has shown that children learn from using onlne games and develop essential skills such as logical thinking, planning ahead and cooperation.

THINK! is the road safety campaign that has been launched by the Department for Transport. The campaign is urging parents to make sure their children follow the “Be Bright, Be Seen” advice this winter, especially as the clocks go back tonight.

In 2008, 712 children aged six to 11 were killed or seriously injured while walking in Great Britain and 155 children of the same age were killed or injured while cycling.

Road Safety Minister, Paul Clark said, “Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world and we have reduced the number of children killed while walking or cycling by 54% since the mid-1990s. However, more than 850 child pedestrians and cyclists were killed or seriously injured on our roads and we are determined to do more to keep children as safe as possible”.

An advertising campaign will start shortly in cinemas and on TV and the advice for parents from the THINK! campaign is below, as well as a link to the DfT video on further road safety tips.

Be Bright, Be Seen – Road Safety Advice

• Brightly coloured or fluorescent clothing show up well in daylight and at dusk
  
• If you’re out by the roads when it’s dark, wear reflective gear to make sure you can be seen in car headlights. Reflective vests, sashes or wrist bands work well. Remember, fluorescent clothing doesn’t work after dark.
  
• Clip on reflectors, arm bands and stickers on your outfit or school bag will improve your visibility.
  
• It is the law to have clean and working lights on your bike – red at the back and white at the front – you must also fit your bike with red rear reflectors.   Fitting spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen in the dark.
  
• ‘Being Bright’ isn’t the only way to be safer. If you’re out at night, choose routes and crossing places that are well lit and remember to always use the Green Cross Code – Find the safest place to cross, Stop, Look and Listen.

The ‘Tales of the Road’ website can be found at http://direct.gov.uk/talesoftheroad.  

It has interactive games for children as well as educational material for teachers and parents

The dangers of texting whilst driving at the wheel are highlighted by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick after research showed that 30% of young drivers admitted to texting at the wheel. Using a mobile at the wheel is considered the second most unacceptable behaviour among motorists with 93% saying that texting is dangerous. However 12% of all motorists have admitted to texting while driving.

A new radio advert warning about the dangers of texting at the wheel is being launched as part of the new THINK! campaign which launched on the 4th May. Jim Fitzpatrick said ” It doesn’t matter how good a driver you are, if you text while driving then you cannot be giving the road your full attention. Our message is simple: Don’t use your mobile phone when you’re driving”. 

Using a hand held phone while driving was also made illegal in December 2003. Section 26 of the Road Safety Act 2006 increased the penalty for drivers using a hand held phone or similar device from £30 to £60 plus three penalty points on your licence.

THINK electric vehicle manufacturer to deliver 500 vehicles

The electric vehicle manufacturer is to supply 500 THINK city electric-powered vehicles this year to ElmoNet, a subsidiary of Mobility Service Netherlands.

The Dutch Parliament has already announced a fund of 10 million Euros to support the large scale introduction of electric mobility.

THINK city is a two seater urban car which has a top speed of 65 mph. It accelerates from 0-30 mph in 6.5 seconds and has zero emissions.  It can travel, in city driving, 112 miles on a fully charged battery.