The The public launch of the "Ecomatic" concept in the showroom of Toyota dealer Garage Vitesse met with large public interest...

To bring the idea of “green” mobility successfully to the larger public, one also needs “grassroots” initiatives from local car dealers. Recently we attended a remarkable press presentation at a local Toyota/Subaru dealer, Garage Vitesse in the Flemish town Sint Niklaas.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Jo Vermeiren explains his "Ecomatic" concept...

Dealership Manager Jo Vermeiren unfolded here his “ecomatic” concept,  where he sees the car dealer as the essential provider of green mobility to the discerning consumer, providing mobility solutions spanning from electric bicycles over hybrids to fully fledged electric cars.  “Intermediate” energy solutions like LNG, CNG are also included in this concept.

According to  Jo Vermeiren, the car dealer has a key role to play, finding the perfect answer for the consumer between the myriad of possibilities of “green” mobility presented to him.

Professor Joeri Van Mierlo explained the "ecoscore" method...

On this conference, Jo Vermeiren had invited some very interesting speakers, one of which was VUB (Free University of Brussels) professor Joeri Van Mierlo. This speaker gave a very clear and systematic overview of the present status of development in “green” mobility, stressing the dramatic progress in battery power, doubling from lead to nickel based, and even more so when progressing to lithium-based batteries.

He also presented the very interesting measurement method, called “ecoscore”, where the environmental performance of a car is scored not only on the basis of the amount of greenhouse gasses produced, (CO2, N2O, CH4) but takes also into account the emissions which have a direct impact on air quality, important for human health (HC, CO, PM, NOx, SO2) and ecosystems (NOx, SO2).  The impact on noise is put in the score, for 10 %. Air quality accounts for 40 %, and the impact on global warming (greenhouse gasses) for 50 %.  

Based on this Ecoscore, it may surprise quite a few of us that petrol engined cars score invariably better than diesel powered vehicles. Cars with LPG engines score markedly better still, and come close to hybrid vehicles and cars running on natural gas. As can be expected, electric cars achieve the highest score.   

Willy Tomboy gave comments about Toyota's environmental aims...

The Toyota environmental strategy…

Willy Tomboy, responsible environmental affairs at Toyota Motor Europe explained at length Toyota’s “Holistic” strategy for durable mobility. Toyota focuses on developing and building the ultimate “eco-car” using always its hybrid technology as a centre piece in combination with power drawn from either Gasoline/Diesel, Gaseous fuels, Biofuels, Synthetic fuels, Hydrogen and Electricity. 

The company wants to establish its leadership position not only using Hybrid Synergy Drive, but also adopts its present ‘Toyota Optimal Drive’ concept in non-hybrid vehicles. The electrical vehicle is seen for the time being a realistic option only for compact commuter vehicles. Indeed, issues like cruising range, cost, charging time and last but not least a dedicated charging infrastructure need to be addressed. But hybrid technology is already used on fuel-cell vehicles, like the Fine-X prototype. The recent IQ has shown that Toyota is (very) serious about size and weight reduction of its vehicles.

But Toyota’s strategy is ‘holistic’ in this sense that it also works at the “greening” of its European Car Retailers, and sustainable car plants. The energy use for the production of a vehicle has been reduced by 44 % since 2001. Last but not least the consumer has to change. Therefore Willy Tomboy concluded with some explanations and tips on “eco-driving”.

A touch of glamour never hurts the idea…

A touch of elegance: Ann Van Elsen embodies the "Ecomatic" idea with style...

The ambassador for this first “durable mobility cell” within a car dealership is Ann Van Elsen, and she not only proved to be an excellent anchor presentator at the conference, but drives also herself a Toyota Prius with the engine adapted for LPG use, a conversion which is done by the car dealership in its “ecomatic” cell…

We will certainly hear and see more of their activities, look for our reports!

Hans Knol ten Bensel.