New York, May 16, 2007 - As the focus on global warming continues to heat up, leaders from around the world gathered in New York City to discuss transportation solutions in relation to energy.
During the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, mayors and business executives reviewed both alternative fuels, new strategies used to help curb climate change and alternative vehicles such an Audi that runs on a special diesel fuel designed to reduce emission and engine noise levels.
This Audi A8 4.2 liter automobile, is the joint product of Audi and Shell Oil Company. It runs on Shell's Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) "SynFuel", a fuel designed to reduce carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide emissions. Shell officials say the GTL Fuel used in the vehicle is compatible with existing diesel engines and can be used either as a pure product or as a blend. The clear fuel is also more cost-effective than other alternative gases, according to a study by the California Energy Commission.
The SynFuel is produced synthetically from natural gas through a chemical reaction, is crystal-clear and free of sulphur and aromatics. It does not generate any sulphur dioxide emissions; the amount of soot produced is reduced by 35 percent and carbon monoxide emissions by no less than 93 percent. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are cut by up to nine percent, while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions go down by around five percent. The fact that this fuel can be used for all modern diesel-engined cars, like the Audi A8s, without any retrofitting is a big plus.
Audi showed off the fuel's suitability for passenger cars when it provided a SynFuel powered A8 fleet to chauffeur dignitaries at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting last January in Davos, Switzerland. The company had previously put the fuel to the test on the track at the 2006, 24-hour race at Le Mans. The race-winning Audi R10, with a TDI engine, was filled with a special diesel fuel which consisted largely of SynFuel. This was the first time a diesel-powered racing car had won this significant motor-racing event. Shell officials also discussed bio-fuels made from leftover food particles.
Clinton Climate Initiative Senior Director Goran Carstedt says one of the purposes of the summit is to help businesses, including those in the automotive sector, reduce greenhouse gases.
Toyota North America President Jim Press said that with the number of drivers on the road increasing, the auto industry must seek alternative solutions that also promote sustainable growth.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a plan that would implement congestion pricing, so motorists traveling into the most heavily trafficked areas of the city would have to pay a fee.
A similar plan is already employed in London where Mayor Ken Livingstone says his city is helping to cut down on its fuel emissions by enforcing stricter regulations on bus lanes and inner city driving.
Sydney Mayor Clover Moore echoed the need for alternatives transportation policies, saying her city also suffers from traffic congestion and the resultant negative environmental effects. In addition to discussing city regulations and mass transportation, the initiative also noted the importance of individual choices, such as using alternative vehicles.
The Summit is being held in New York City from May 14 – 17.
For More Information: www.c40cities.org
For more info on GTL: www.shell.com/gtl
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