Solar panels to power facilities, selling excess renewable energy, and zero-landfill/100 percent recycling policies…. These are just a few measures some major automakers are willing to implement to improve the sustainability of their production facilities. According to the parent article here, Honda is developing a test track that will contain 70,000 solar panels to power facilities for its car development, and sell the excess renewable energy. And earlier this year, Volkswagon opened a solar park on 33 acres adjacent to its LEED PLatinum manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Smaller companies such as Tesla Motors and Elio motors have occupied older factories rather than building entirely new facilities. Talk about recycling! Furthermore, Toyota had the most clean energy patents in a year – 207 patents in 2012. Honda continues to lead in overall clean energy patents granted since 2002, but had only 87 registered patents in 2012. Read more about this exciting step towards sustainability in the parent article here.
Earthgarage – Greener Car. Fatter Wallet.