Earth Day serves as a poignant reminder of our shared duty to protect the environment and adopt more responsible behaviors in our daily lives. Recognising the carbon dioxide (CO2) impact we generate is crucial, and we have the power to reduce this impact through better choices and practices.
One actionable step is the adoption of renewable energy sources. Despite initial investment costs, renewable energy offers a sustainable alternative for powering homes and businesses. Gentari Sdn Bhd exemplifies this with their commitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions, including green and blue hydrogen and solar energy.
The shift to solar power, for instance, not only benefits individuals and corporations financially but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in mutual funds supporting sustainable initiatives further promotes the transition to cleaner energy.
GENTARI Sdn Bhd, which was established in June this year, had its official launch by the Prime Minister recently, raising its presence among Malaysians. The company, formerly known as PETRONAS Gas & New Energy Sdn Bhd, aims to become a one-stop integrated clean energy solutions provider, beginning with a suite of renewable energy, hydrogen and green mobility solutions for commercial, industrial, and retail applications.
Having begun operations earlier under its old name, GENTARI has already embarked upon a series of initiatives and collaborations in its mission to rank amongst the world’s leading clean energy companies. Guided by the Net Zero Carbon Emission 2050 goals of PETRONAS, it has set a course to ensure that PETRONAS continues to evolve as a cleaner and renewable energy provider, while supporting the energy transition.
Sunshine contains energy and it’s free and abundantly available, so it makes sense that it can be used to power facilities. Modern technology had made it possible to collect sunshine and convert it into energy and Shell Malaysia is making use of this technology in efforts to lower carbon emissions.
The company has installed solar panels at 216 of its retail stations around the country as is part of the drive to adopt a combination of measures to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. Installation of solar panels at retail stations help supplement and reduce dependability on local utilities, resulting in increased electrical savings for the stations in the long run.
216 stations to date
Shell is working with Cleantech Solar to install the solar panels at its retail stations in Malaysia. So far, a total of 22,505 solar Photo Voltaic panels with a total capacity of 10.12 megawatt (MWp) have been installed on the roofs of 216 stations as part of the company’s commitment to run a safe, efficient, responsible, and profitable business. Exemplifying this, the current number of solar panels in the stations can generate 12,939 MWh of electrical energy, enough to power roughly 3,740 households in a year.
“At Shell, we aim to make the transition towards a low-carbon future possible for our operations and will always look out for initiatives that will enable us to provide cleaner and sustainable energy solutions for our customers. We have fitted 216 of our stations with solar panels and we will be progressing towards about 350 stations by the end of 2022,” said Seow Lee Ming, General Manager of Mobility Shell.
Green Building Index Certification
In 2019, Shell Damansara Jaya and Shell Taman Connaught were the first two retail stations in Malaysia to receive the Green Building Index (GBI) Certification. The GBI is the country’s industry-recognised green rating tool for buildings to promote sustainability in the built environment by saving energy and resources. These two Shell stations mark the first entries in the new retail fuel category introduced for the certification standard. The company is also the first in the Asia Pacific region to receive this GBI certification.
Shell also opened what is an example of ‘the station of the future’ – Shell Mint Hotel – which is Malaysia’s First Gold GBI Certified Petrol Station. Apart from being powered by solar, this station has sustainable features such as a food waste composting machine that converts food waste into fertilisers, energy-efficient air-conditioners and chillers, recycling facilities and a smart LED lighting system at the forecourt. To lessen the station’s usage of water from municipal systems, a rainwater harvesting system is utilised to collect and store rainwater to be reused in its facilities such as the toilets.
Shell has now received GBI certification for 5 of its stations in Malaysia. They are Shell Taman Connaught, Shell Damansara Jaya, Shell Mint Hotel, Shell Tangkak Lay-by and Shell Alor Pongsu.
The Shell Group has set a target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society. This is also in line with the government’s ambition towards Malaysia achieving Carbon Neutral in the same year. By powering Malaysia with cleaner energy and innovation mobility solutions, Shell hopes to mobilise the energy sector and increase its efficiency by offering products and services with lower carbon emissions.
Polestar, the Swedish car brand in the Geely Group, began its existence as a racing team before its expertise was used to start developing high-performance Volvos. It must have done pretty good work that Volvo decided to acquire it in 2015 and designate it as a high-performance division. After Geely acquired Volvo, Polestar was made a company on its own specialising in electric vehicles. And as its background was in high-performance products, it is focussed on high performance.
So far, the company has come out with two production models with others on the way. It has shown a concept car called Precept which will become a production model eventually. And more recently, it surprised the automotive world with a second concept car, this time a roadster. Called the Polestar O2, this is a hardtop convertible which shows that even with in the electric age, there will still be sportscars that can offer driving pleasure.
‘Hero car’ for the brand
“Polestar O2 is the hero car for our brand,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s CEO. “It opens the door to our ‘secret chamber’ of future potential. This is a taste of what we can design and engineer with the talent and technology we have in-house. It looks incredible, and being able to lower the roof and not hear an engine promises a superb sensation.”
The driving experience with the O2 is designed to be lively, light and full of confidence. Predictability and playfulness are core to exciting, spirited driving. Tight body control, high rigidity and intuitive dynamics are inherent benefits of the bespoke bonded aluminium platform, which is adapted from the upcoming Polestar 5, developed in-house by the R&D team in the UK.
The high quality and rigidity of the bonded aluminium platform are geared towards heightened dynamic response. Handling dynamics are taut thanks also to small roll angles and high roll damping, and the agile, direct steering feel is linear, with great steering torque build-up.
Related to Precept concept
Clearly related to the Precept concept car but with its own distinct character, the look of O2 shows how Polestar’s evolving design language can be adapted to different bodystyles with a strong family resemblance. The low and wide body with an assertive stance, compact 2+2 cabin design, minimal overhangs and a long wheelbase, embody classic sportscar proportions but with a clearly modern, electric feel.
Aerodynamics are manipulated to maximise range, thanks to disguised design features like integrated ducts that improve laminar airflow over the wheels and body sides, and the rear lights that function as air blades to reduce turbulence behind the car.
Sustainability and technology
The O2 also showcases advances in sustainability and technology. A new thermoplastic mono-material features extensively in the interior. The term ‘mono-material’ describes the use of a single base material to manufacture different components. In the O2, recycled polyester is the sole material used for all the soft components of the interior: foam, adhesive, 3D knit fibres and non-woven lamination. This simplifies recycling and is a significant step towards greater circularity, while also reducing weight and waste.
Polestar’s sustainability teams believe that materials should be recycled, not downcycled. In the O2, they have integrated a new method of controlling recycled content and improving circularity of metal components. Different grades of aluminium are used throughout the chassis to help deliver a thrilling driving experience.
These different grades are labelled, allowing them to be recycled more effectively and for their properties to be retained. High grade aluminium remains high grade, while other grades maintain their varied characteristics, allowing for greater material efficiency and a lower requirement for virgin aluminium.
Integrated autonomous drone
As a special feature, the O2 features an autonomous cinematic drone integrated behind the rear seats. Developed in collaboration with Aerofugia’s consumer electronics brand Hoco Flow, the concept drone can be deployed while the car is moving. An integrated aerofoil can be raised to prevent turbulence behind the seats where the drone launches from.
Once in the air, it can follow the car at speeds up to 90 km/h and be set to autonomously record video from above. A control panel on the dashboard allows the driver to choose between an atmospheric sequence – great for a coastline cruise – or a more action-filled sequence with a sportier expression. After filming, the drone can autonomously return to the car. Video clips can be edited and shared directly from the 15-inch centre display when the car is parked.
“We wanted to emphasise the experience you can have with a car like the Polestar O2 in new and unusual ways,” said Maximilian Missoni, Polestar’s Head of Design. “Integrating an autonomous cinematic drone was something that allowed us to push the boundaries on the innovation front. Not needing to stop and off-load the drone before filming, but rather deploying it at speed, is a key benefit to this innovative design.”
Polestar has not said it will make the O2 for sale but given the enthusiastic response to it, perhaps they may consider. In any case, there are three cars confirmed over the next 3 years and each ‘has potential to gradually realise some of the ideas presented by these concept cars’, the company said.
For the auto industry, this decade is one which will require a major decision to be made on the type of vehicles to produce in future. It is clear that, besides going back to horse carriages, electrification of motorcars is the quickest solution to addressing one of the contributors to climate change. While there are ongoing debates about the actual benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) from a total perspective (including generating the lectricity), it cannot be denied that EVs generate no emissions and that can make a difference to air quality.
The industry has already begun its path to electrification and many have announced targets that will see 100% or almost 100% of the vehicles they produce and sell being fully electric by the end of this decade. But can this full-scale transformation take place globally? Can every country on the planet do away with combustion-engined vehicles and use only electrically-powered ones?
This is something the carmakers are grappling with and as Toyota has said, they do not want to leave any customer behind [by offering only EVs). Other carmakers have also said that they will introduce EVs in markets where conditions are acceptable and offer other solutions for those which cannot afford EVs in the immediate future. This can mean offering hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) which are a bit less costly or try to cleanse the emissions of the combustion engine as much as possible.
Ford’s approach
Ford has announced its approach which will be to cover both the EV segment and the ‘old’ segment where combustion-engined vehicles will still be in demand. It will have two business units in its company as part of the Ford+ plan introduced last May. There will be two distinct, but strategically interdependent, businesses – Ford Blue and Ford Model e – the former focussing on products with combustion engines and the latter to be fully focussed on EVs and have the agility of a start-up.
Driving the change was recognition that different approaches, talents and, ultimately, organizations are required to develop and deliver of electric and digitally connected vehicles and services, while also fully capitalize on the company’s iconic family of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Ford has over 100 years of experience in manufacturing motor vehicles and it will draw on this vast experience to continue making conventional combustion engine vehicles as well as the new generation of EVs.
“This isn’t the first time Ford has reimagined the future and taken our own path,” said Ford Executive Chairman, Bill Ford. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to lead this thrilling new era of connected and electric vehicles, give our customers the very best of Ford, and help make a real difference for the health of the planet.”
Dedicated EV division in China
The creation of Ford Model e was encouraged by the success of small, mission-driven Ford teams that developed the Ford GT, Mustang Mach-E SUV and F-150 Lightning pickup as well as Ford’s dedicated EV division in China.
“Ford Model e will be Ford’s centre of innovation and growth, a team of the world’s best software, electrical and automotive talent turned loose to create truly incredible electric vehicles and digital experiences for new generations of Ford customers,” explained Ford President & CEO, Jim Farley.
Continuing with iconic models
“Ford Blue’s mission is to deliver a more profitable and vibrant ICE business, strengthen our successful and iconic vehicle families and earn greater loyalty by delivering incredible service and experiences. It’s about harnessing a century of hardware mastery to help build the future. This team will be hellbent on delivering leading quality, attacking waste in every corner of the business, maximizing cashflow and optimizing our industrial footprint,” he said, adding that the company will continue to invest in combustion engines.
Ford’s President stressed that company will continue to invest in internal combustion engines and offer them in some models under the Ford Blue brand.
Ford Model e and Ford Blue will be run as distinct businesses, but also support each other – as well as Ford Pro, which is dedicated to delivering a one-stop shop for commercial and government customers with a range of conventional and electric vehicles and a full suite of software, charging, financing, services and support.
Making ownership experiences better
Back in the ‘dotcom era’ over 20 years ago, Ford was an early promoter of online media for its business. In this decade, Ford Model e also will lead on creating a new shopping, buying and ownership experience for its future EV customers that includes simple, intuitive e-commerce platforms, transparent pricing and personalized customer support from Ford ambassadors. Ford Blue will adapt these best practices to enhance the experience of its ICE customers and deliver new levels of customer connectivity and satisfaction.
The carmaker expects to spend US$5 billion on EVs this year, a two-fold increase over 2021. By 2026, Ford aims to produce more than 2 million EVs annually, which will represent about one-third of the company’s global volume. This is expected to rise to half by 2030, capturing with EVs the same, or even greater, market shares in vehicle segments where Ford already leads.
“This new structure will enhance our capacity to generate industry-leading growth, profitability and liquidity in this new era of transportation,” said John Lawler, Ford’s Chief Financial Officer. “It will sharpen our effectiveness in allocating capital to both the ICE and EV businesses and the returns we expect from them – by making the most of existing capabilities, adding new skills wherever they’re needed, simplifying processes and lowering costs. Most importantly, we believe it will deliver growth and significant value for our stakeholders.”
Hydrogen is in the air all the time but lately, the gas that is the lightest element has been ‘in the air’, so to speak, with companies like Toyota running a hydrogen-fuelled engine in the Super Taikyu race series in Japan, Renault teasing a hydrogen-powered concept car, and Toyota and Yamaha having a project to adapt a Lexus V8 to run on the gas instead of petrol.
Now Extreme E, the all-electric off-road series, has revealed also plans to launch an off-road hydrogen Championship in 2024. To be called ‘Extreme H’, it will run alongside Extreme E, currently in its second season, and will be a world-first for motorsport. Development for the Extreme H vehicle is already underway, with goals to have a prototype launched in early 2023.
Extreme H cars will use same powertrain and chassis as those for the current Extreme E cars; however, instead of a battery pack, a hydrogen fuel cell will be used which can generate electricity.
Evolution of Extreme E
“Extreme E was designed to be a testbed for innovation and solutions for mobility. It has become increasingly clear to us that creating a hydrogen racing series is a natural evolution of our mission to showcase the possibilities of new technologies in the race to fight climate issue,” said Alejandro Agag, CEO of Extreme E.
“Together with the current Extreme E Teams, we will decide in the coming months the best way to integrate the hydrogen-powered cars into the racing weekend. Two separate categories, full transition to hydrogen or joint racing are all options on the table,” he added.
Elaborating further, Agag said: “Extreme E is an FIA International Series and our intention is to work closely again with the FIA and the Automobile Club de Monaco on the development of Extreme H. Sport is the fastest and most effective platform for driving innovation and, by using the existing Extreme E platform, we can also utilise our transport, talent and operations to ensure we are minimising footprint in the process. This effectively means we can have double the race action, with marginal additional impact.”
Fuel cell for electric power
The Extreme H car will retain the same powertrain and chassis used in Extreme E. The key differentiating factor will be that a hydrogen fuel cell will replace the battery as the principal energy source. This propulsion concept has already been commercialized with models such as the Mirai by Toyota and Insight by Honda.
Green hydrogen sources will be used to power the Extreme H fuel cells, created using a combination of solar and water. This technology is already being used behind the scenes in Extreme E, where it provides the energy source to the vehicle’s batteries.
Extreme E’s operations at each event in remote locations utilise various methods to keep its overall carbon footprint as low as possible. To power equipment and recharge the electric rallycars, the organisers provide a combination of battery and green hydrogen power sources in the paddock..
“It is fitting to launch the concept of Extreme H here in NEOM, Saudi Arabia (where the first round of the 2022 season is being held], a place with huge ambition around clean energy solutions, and the perfect example of a location which can and will become home to large-scale green hydrogen production and distribution,” Agag added.
Commenting on the new initiative, Jenson Button, Team Owner of the JBXE Extreme E team, said: “For Extreme E to be evolving into Extreme H is incredibly exciting and a brilliant step forward in such a short space of time for the series. To see racing of this calibre powered by Hydrogen cells, which will allow for even more racing with less impact, is remarkable.”
If Sir Alec Issigonis was designing the original Mini today, chances are it would have an electric motor. When it was launched in 1959, it was not just a little car but one which saved fuel at a time when there was an oil shortage caused by the Suez Crisis. Within its small footprint, creative use was made of the available space to accommodate four persons with their luggage.
The original Mini showed creative use of space in a small car.
Living on in a sustainable way
Although the original Mini was retired and its succeeding generations have charted a new course for the model, many units still exist around the world. With the MINI Recharged project which converts classic Minis to electric drive, the Mini legacy continues in the 21st century in a sustainable way.
The conversion of classic Minis to an electric drive combines traditional values with future-oriented technology. The idea was born even before the carmaker had a fully electric car. As a one-off, a classic Mini Electric was built in 2018 and presented at the New York Auto Show. The reactions were so positive that a dedicated team from MINI Plant Oxford set to work and developed the plan to offer a conversion to those who had the original Mini.
Changes are ‘reversible’ later on
To experience traditional go-kart handling with an emission-free drivetrain, the original petrol engine of the classic Mini is replaced by a modern electric drive. Only reversible changes are made to the substance of the car during the conversion as part of MINI Recharged. Careful handling of the historical heritage is an important part of the concept.
This makes it possible to restore the classic Mini to its original condition at a later date. During the conversion, the original engine of each vehicle is marked and stored so it can be reused in the event of a future retrofit of the classic Mini.
The MINI Recharged project means a vehicle’s life can be extended in a sustainable way. A classic Mini can now be given a new lease of life, accompanying its owner into the future, whilst maintaining its much-loved heritage. The drive is a modern electric motor that generates a continuous output of up to 90 kW and accelerates the electrified classic Mini from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 9 seconds.
Classic Mini dashboard with meters positioned in the middle but look closely at the meters (below) and you’ll see that they show drive temperature, the selected gear, range and of course, speed.
The energy is supplied by a high-voltage battery pack, which can be charged with an output of up to 6.6 kW for a range estimated to be around 160 kms. In addition, every electrified classic Mini from MINI Recharged receives the characteristic central instrument cluster, familiar since the early days of the model, but with displays showing the drive temperature, the selected gear, range and speed.
A whole new driving experience
The Mini has been well known as loved for its go-kart character and with the MINI Recharged, that zippiness will still be available with instant acceleration and an almost silent drivetrain. And while original Minis with combustion engines cannot enter the electric or low-emission driving zones of many large cities in Europe, this electrified Mini will be allowed to do so. Thus its owners will be able to drive along the streets of London just like the original owners in the Swinging Sixties and once again be part of the cityscape, without the driver having to pay an environmental tax (congestion charge) beforehand.
The original fuel filler point for petrol (inset) is replaced by a charging port on the Mini Recharged.
In addition, the converted car does not need a new registration (such a conversion is not allowed in Malaysia, which the JPJ has made clear). This, in a way, fits in the aspect of circular economy which the BMW Group promotes. For this project, no new vehicles are being produced and are created from much-loved, existing cars. It allows an original Mini to carry on in a second, more sustainable life.
Today, one in five new MINI models has an electrified drive and now the MINI Recharged project will allow the love of the brand’s classic vehicles to become an experience combining the past and the future.
The modern MINI Electric has been available in Malaysia since 2020 and can be purchased tax-free for the next few years.
Since the days of Henry Ford who said ‘you can have your car in any colour you want as long as it’s black’, the process of painting a car constantly evolved. In the earliest days, the work was done manually and took around 40 days to complete painting a car. Today, with automated processes using robots, the complete job can take about 18 hours (including passing through the oven). The principles are essentially the same but the technology has become more advanced to achieve higher quality, especially the finish.
However, one constraint in painting cars in factories that assemble them is that variations are very limited. Even the number of colours is controlled for optimization and for personalisation, the work has to be done outside of the normal process. Factory managers would love to do it Henry Ford’s way with just one colour.
However, in today’s market, customers want choice and those who can afford it also want a degree of personalisation. This is especially so in the premium luxury segment and the manufacturers even have special divisions to cater to such specific requirements.
Increasing scope of individualisation
At the BMW Group’s factory in Dingolfing, Germany, a new pilot painting process has begun where several paint colours can be used and designs applied without stencils or masking the vehicle as the process is free of overspray. This highly innovative application method not only increases the scope of individualisation for customers but also contributes to sustainability by reducing waste and energy consumption.
The process developed by the BMW Group, in collaboration with Durr (a well known company in this field) is known as EcoPaintJet Pro application. It applies waterborne base coats and 2K clear coat without electrostatics, relying instead on jet application. In the conventional procedure, paint is atomised by a rotating bell with 35 to 55,000 revolutions per minute and adheres electrostatically to the body.
Different approach to painting
The paint is applied using an orifice plate that enables high edge definition with a variable paint thickness of between 1 and approximately 50 mm. This requires maximum precision from both the robot and application technology. It also means two different colours of paint can be used, eg for a contrasting roof, with stripes and other designs applied on various parts of the bodywork.
The focus of technology and material development was on achieving the maximum range of applications. It will now be possible to paint every exterior component – offering customers virtually limitless options for individualisation.
No need for masking
Until now, custom designs like this can only be realised using manual masking, a time-consuming process. With the new technology, the material and personnel costs this previously entailed will be also eliminated, making it possible to realize these options at a lower cost. The precision of spraying means there is no overspray and therefore no excess paint particles to be disposed of.
A further contribution to sustainable production comes from lower energy consumption. Since paint separation is no longer required, the amount of air needed is also les. At around 7,000 operating hours, this results in energy savings of more than 6,000 megawatt hours and reduces the carbon footprint by nearly 2,000 tonnes per year.
BMW M4 Coupe used for trial run
The technology is being used for the first time for 19 BMW M4 Coupes. These will have custom two-tone paintwork and M4 identification on the bonnet and tailgate. With the paintwork for the M4 small series, the BMW Group is testing the possibilities of the new process. These unique vehicles will initially be used in the company’s own fleet. Wider use of the innovative paint process is scheduled to begin in 2022 when other factories in the BMW Group production network adopt it.
From its early days, Volvo has been well known for being a leader in automobile safety, which was its strongest selling point. Then the company (not surprisingly with its Swedish roots) started to be determined about its products being environmentally-friendly. Whatever regulations there were, the carmaker aimed to meet them and even be better than what was required.
Now that the company is moving rapidly towards a fully electrified range of vehicles, the matter of environmental-friendliness is readily addressed as electric vehicles do not have any toxic emissions. As usual, Volvo is also taking the lead in the field with innovative approaches to designing and making the new generation of electric vehicles.
Leather has long been associated with luxury in cars (above) but Volvo Cars will not have leather anymore and use new sustainable or recycled materials that can still maintain the same premium feel in its electric models of the future (below).
Now it is turning its attention to animal welfare and is taking an ethical stand where all new fully electric Volvo models will be completely leather-free, starting with the new C40 Recharge. As part of its ambitions to go completely leather-free, Volvo Cars is working actively to find high-quality and sustainable sources for many materials currently used in the wider car industry.
By 2025, the company is aiming for 25% of the material in new Volvo cars to consist of recycled and bio-based content, as it looks to become a fully circular business by 2040. As part of its climate action plans, it also aims for all of its immediate suppliers, including material suppliers, to use 100% renewable energy by 2025.
The company’s move towards leather-free interiors is also driven by a concern about the negative environmental impacts of cattle farming, including deforestation. Livestock is estimated to be responsible for around 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, with the majority coming from cattle farming.
Instead of leather interior options, Volvo Cars will offer customers alternatives such as high-quality sustainable materials made from bio-based and recycled sources. For example, Nordico, a new interior material created by Volvo Cars will consist of textiles made from recycled material such as PET bottles, bio-attributed material from sustainable forests in Sweden and Finland, and corks recycled from the wine industry. This material will make its debut in the next generation of Volvo models, setting a new standard for premium interior design.
Volvo Cars’ new leather-free material for its next generation cars consists of textiles made from recycled material such as PET bottles, bio-attributed material from sustainable forests in Sweden and Finland, and corks recycled from the wine industry.
Volvo Cars will also continue to offer wool blend options and ensure that suppliers are certified to source responsibly, as the company looks to ensure full traceability and animal welfare in its wool supply chain.
“Being a progressive car maker means we need to address all areas of sustainability, not just CO2 emissions,” said Stuart Templar, Director of Global Sustainability at Volvo Cars. “Responsible sourcing is an important part of that work, including respect for animal welfare. Going leather-free inside our pure electric cars is a good next step towards addressing this issue.”
Volvo Cars is also looking to reduce the use of residual products from livestock production commonly used within or in the production of plastics, rubber, lubricants and adhesives, either as part of the material or as a process chemical in the material’s production or treatment. The company takes this step because it believes that while going leather-free is a step in the right direction, doing so alone does not make a car interior vegan.
Volvo C40 Recharge
By aiming to actively replace these materials as much as possible, Volvo Cars takes a strong and ethical position to do what it can to help stop animal harm, by contributing to a reduced demand for these materials containing animal products.
“Finding products and materials that support animal welfare will be challenging, but that is no reason to avoid this important issue,” said Mr. Templar. “This is a journey worth taking. Having a truly progressive and sustainable mindset means we need to ask ourselves difficult questions and actively try and find answers.”
Cars and shoes… in some ways, they can be considered have similar functions since both ‘transport’ people around, though in very different ways. Cars use energy from the combustion engine or electric motor to move but with shoes, you have to provide your own energy. So it’s not unusual that on World Car-Free Day (September 22), Volvo Cars Canada and Casca footwear will launch a limited-edition sneaker. Available in Canada for $198 (about RM645), the shoes have been inspired by the fully electric Volvo XC40 Recharge.
“At Volvo Cars, we are committed to setting the highest standards of sustainability in mobility and that goes beyond electrifying our fleet to transforming all aspects of our business. The shoe we have created with Casca in celebration of World Car-Free Day, is one way to recognize the many steps we are taking on our journey to climate neutrality,” said Matt Girgis, Managing Director of Volvo Car Canada Ltd.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
For a carbon-neutral future
As would be expected, the shoe is all about sustainability in the long term, and both brands have a shared vision for a carbon-neutral future. On Volvo Cars’ part, there is a commitment to reducing lifecycle emissions per vehicle by 40% by 2025 and producing only fully electric vehicles by 2030. Casca’s adoption of water-based, low-energy UV treatment processes coupled with their 2-year product warranty are a testament to their ‘buy less, waste less’ philosophy.
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge was designed to reduce environmental impact, so it was the perfect inspiration for the shoe,” said Kevin Reid Lead Director and Co-Founder, Casca. “Through this collaboration, we’re also celebrating many design firsts – our first shared design, our fastest production to market, and new recycled materials we’ve never used before.”
Scandinavian influences
The goal was to create a shoe rooted in conscious design. Scandinavian influences of the XC40 Recharge were purposefully integrated for a collaborative new interpretation of Casca’s trademark clean lines. For instance, the ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlight influence can be seen in the linework and panelling, delivering a more performance-inspired aesthetic to Casca’s popular Avro silhouette.
The Swedish flag is represented on one shoe tag, while the classic Casca yellow can be seen on the other, honouring the collaboration between the two brands as well as minimalist, Scandinavian design.
Recycled materials
Of course, an important aspect of the shoe is how it is made and its environmentally-friendly credentials come from having 10% of each sole made from recycled car tyres, the first time this material has ever been used in a Casca shoe as part of an intentional repurposing and recycling of materials. Furthermore, 7 recycled plastic bottles are used to make the yarn for each breathable, flexible knit upper.
Those two features are a preview of some of the initiatives by both companies. By 2025, Volvo Cars aims to increase the share of recycled and bio-based materials in their vehicles by 25%. By 2022, all of Casca’s knit uppers will be made from recycled or renewable materials.
By 2025, Volvo Cars aims to increase the share of recycled and bio-based materials in their vehicles by 25%.
“We know that being advanced isn’t just about great design and technology; it means implementing ethical and sustainable practices,” said Braden Parker, CEO and Co-Founder, Casca. “This is just one of many similarities we see between our brand and Volvo Cars, we both want to create something with intention that lasts.”
