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- Environment ｜ Clean Products
Compared with other car manufacturers, SUBARU is unique manufacturer in terms of offering carefully selected models and producing cars that embody driving safety and fun by combining a horizontally-opposed engine, symmetrical AWD, and integrated safety performance.
In today's environmental era, we hope to provide customers with a range of products that they truly want by making the best use of our uniqueness. Our primary focus is to improve fuel efficiency, followed by innovation and then final good is to offer cars that meet customer's needs.
In Japan we will release a series of products with fuel economy higher than the FY2015 Fuel Economy Standards for all the classes by starting with the new IMPREZA, which is equipped with a new-generation BOXER engine (entirely remodeled for the first time in 21 years), a new, lighter and more energy-efficient Lineartronic CVT, and also with a lighter and low-resistant body.
(From rear left) Hideyuki Arai, Yoshio Yamanaka
(From frontleft) Masaya Kudo, Toshiro Sekine (PGM),
and Yoshiyuki Shimizu
Environmental PGM Group SUBARU Engineering Division
Gasoline-powered mini trucks met the Standards in all weight categories in FY2002. All models met the Standards in FY2003 and thereafter.
The number of automobiles which meet the 2010 Fuel Economy Standard for Eco-car Tax Break System has accounted for 81.3% of the total, an increase of 9.8 points compared with FY2011.
We will make further efforts to release vehicles with higher fuel economy to meet the fuel economy standard and CO2 emissions standards that are becoming stricter and stricter across the globe.
■ Compliance with the 2010 Fuel Economy Standards
For the first time in 21 years, we developed a new-generation engine to replace the EJ engine long mounted on SUBARU vehicles. The FB engine developed to meet an increase in the needs for higher environmental performance provides higher fuel efficiency and practical output performance focusing on medium- to low-speed torque, in addition to having the inherent merits of a horizontally opposed engine. This engine will be the mainstream next-generation engine for SUBARU vehicles.
As for the lineup of the engine, three types are available, including 2.5-liter, 2.0-liter and new 1.6-liter engine replacing the conventional 1.5-liter engine. Except for the engine block, almost the same components are adopted for the three types to achieve both high fuel economy and output performance. The new 1.6-liter engine, with the displacement increased by 100 cc compared with a conventional 1.5-liter engine, has higher output performance across the speed range, optimizing linear responses to acceleration to improve both comfort in driving and fuel economy.
FB engine
New Lineartronic CVT
We developed a light, compact and highly environment-friendly CVT. This transmission, by being used in combination with the new-generation BOXER engine, provides far better environmental performance and engine performance. In particular, the chain-type CVT adopted for the new Lineartronic system provides both a wide transmission range and high transmission efficiency for higher fuel economy. At the same time, the CVT enables smooth transmission as its feature and allows the vehicle to make linear responses according to the driver's intention.
We are proactively improving the fuel economy of its vehicles for users. Specifically, we are improving the engine and transmission characteristics, reducing air resistance and the rolling resistance of tires, and decreasing the engine load through optimal air conditioning with a view to increasing fuel economy without compromising comfort in driving and the in-vehicle environment.
For the new IMPREZA, we added a cover to prevent hot air inside the engine room from flowing into the air conditioner inlet, while also devising a better method to introduce external air to the engine room to save energy used for air conditioning.
Moreover we have devised a means to keep the in-vehicle space comfortable even while the engine is being stopped by the idle stop function. To maintain the air conditioning performance level even while the engine is being stopped especially in summer, the air conditioner is controlled in a more exquisite manner. For example, we have added a temperature sensor to inside the air conditioning system to keep the temperature and amount of air supplied from the system at a comfortable level. We have thus made it possible to prolong the idle stop duration to increase fuel economy while keeping the in-vehicle space comfortable.
We will continue to improve the actual fuel economy of our vehicles giving due consideration to the environment.
■ Temperatures of the air supplied
by the air conditioning system during idle stop
Kenichi Yamamoto
Deputy General Manager
Total Vehicle Performance Integration Dept.
SUBARU Engineering Division
We introduced Eco Driving Assist Devices—the Eco Gauge and Shift-Up Indicator (for MT vehicles)—to the LEGACY in 2006, for better manmachine communications. Since then, the number of models featuring these devices has gradually increased.
The new IMPREZA is now equipped with a more readable Eco Gauge (all vehicles) and Shift-Up Indicator (except North American models), as well as an idle stop system, the first among SUBARU cars.
We will continue to develop Eco Driving Assist Devices that enable drivers naturally to drive in an environment-friendly manner through easy-toread devices.
We developed a unique SUBARU idle-stop system to increase fuel economy without compromising comfort in driving from drivers' viewpoint.
While a driver of a car equipped with an idle-stop system using a general starter can restart the vehicle only after the engine completely stops, a driver of a car equipped with an idle stop system using a tandem solenoid starter can restart the vehicle even before the engine completely stops. We have therefore adopted the latter starter for our idle stop system, which allows drivers to restart their cars immediately after coming to a stop at a traffic signal or in congestion.
The Eco Gauge needle indicates fuel efficient driving. Drivers can expect to improve fuel economy by about 5% (inhouse testing) by consciously controlling the accelerator to keep the needle in the "+" or "green" direction.
When an optimal engine rpm is reached, the indicator starts blinking, prompting the driver to shift up.
Basic Concept of Low Exhaust Emissions
Substances such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are emitted from automobiles, are one of the causes of air pollution in metropolitan areas where there is intensive motor traffic. In order to improve the state of the air, SUBARU is gradually launching low emission vehicles (certified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) that meet standards stricter than the regulations.
We are launching low emission vehicles that meet strict global regulations to the market.
With further technical developments, we are working to expand low emission models which outperform the 2005 emission standards by 75% reduction.
All SUBARU vehicles equipped with NA engines are certified by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to have achieved a 75% reduction from the regulatory values specified in the 2005 emissions standards, and such vehicles accounted for 94% of the total production quantity of SUBARU gasoline-powered passenger cars, with the percentage of models certified by the Ministry to be lowemissions vehicles reaching nearly 100% of the total.
We will continue to make efforts to release even more lowemission vehicles.
■ Percentage of Low-Emission Gasoline-
Powered Passenger Cars
Year-on-Year Reduction of NOx Emissions by the Release of Low-Emission Vehicles
High concentrations of NOx are worried to harm human health, cause acid rain, and give various other adverse impacts to the environment. NOx emissions from SUBARU vehicles have been changing over years due to the release of a series of low-emission gas-powered vehicles, including those meeting the government's certification, as shown in the following graph. Fuji Heavy Industries will continue to release low-emission gas-powered vehicles into the market.
■ Average NOx Emissions of SUBARU Vehicles*1
The current mode means the JCO8 mode for new models and the combined mode of the 10. 15 mode and the JCO8 mode for existing models.
■ Trends in Shipments of Cars Certified as Low Emission in FY2012
(Shipments of cars certified to have high fuel economy with low economy and low emission*2 )
We are also committed to effectively reducing vehicle noise from such prime sources as tires, engines and intake and exhaust systems.
For the new IMPREZA released in December 2011, we have adopted the BOXER engine and new-generation Lineartronic CVT to achieve both high fuel economy and comfortable acceleration with the optimal engine speed, while also reducing the noise level on urban roads.
Management of Chemical Substances (Operation
of the IMDS)
Since the enforcement of the REACH regulations*3, a range of chemical substances has been regulated in various countries across the world, and also the automobile industry is required to disclose information and foster management regarding the use of chemical substances in automobiles.
FHI is enhancing its supply chain management by using the IMDS*4 to identify the names and amounts of chemical substances used in several ten thousands of parts that comprise its automobiles.
Through these measures we are discontinuing the use of substances of concern (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, etc.), replacing regulated substances with alternatives and fostering the disclosure of REACH-related information.
*4 The International Material Data System (IMDS) is a system managed by the Japanese, American and European automobile companies.
Use of Clean Energy
Fossil fuels, which are mainstream fuels for automobiles, are limited resources and now the diversification of automobile fuels is required, including the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels to replace conventional fuels.
For all SUBARU gasoline-powered vehicles sold across the world, FHI has completed the measures to meet the requirements for E10 fuel (E3 fuel in Japan) for gasoline-powered vehicles and the requirements (on the functions and reliability) for B7 fuel for diesel-powered vehicles.
We will continue to implement measures to foster the diversification of automobile fuels toward the creation of a sustainable motorized society.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) quantitatively evaluates the environmental impact across the entire life cycle of a vehicle. We are working to reduce the environmental impact throughout the life cycle of our cars.
According to the LCA carried out on the new IMPREZA, which was fully redesigned in FY2012, overall CO2 emissions for the car have been reduced by 14% compared to the previous model.
Yoshitada Michiie
Environment and Safety Policy Planning Dept.
SUBARU Engineering Division
