Improving Fuel Efficiency Where the Rubber Meets the Road
In the next decades the pressure for CO2 reductions will keep growing, especially as the world populations grow rapidly. It is estimated that the annual world CO2 emissions level should be at approximately 20 gigatons to help support long term sustainable growth. In 2009, that number stood at 28 gigatons, meaning that world carbon productivity needs to improve by 10 times in the coming decades.1 With as much as 23 percent of total CO2 emissions coming from road transportation2, the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks will be critical to reaching this goal.
In addition to drivetrain improvements, advancements in low rolling resistance tires (LRRTs) will significantly contribute to improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions. Tires can account for 20 to 30 percent of total fuel consumption.3 And, there is an estimated 10 percent difference in fuel consumption between the worst-performing tires and tires with the latest in material and manufacturing technologies. For each automobile equipped with LRRTs, that can translate to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 4g/km, improved fuel efficiency of 0.2L/100km, and reduction of fuel consumption up to 3 percent or 23 to 46 L/yr.4 In the United Sates alone, LRRTs help reduce CO2 emissions by 12 to 24 million metric tons per year.4
Styron has leveraged its strong understanding of Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber (S-SBR) to develop the latest generation Sprintan™ S-SBR 4602. This functionalized SSBR, along with other tire construction improvements, helps achieve an optimum performance balance of improved wet grip, high abrasion resistance, low road noise, light weight and low rolling resistance. A leading tire manufacturer is currently using Sprintan™ S-SBR 4602 to achieve higher tread wear mileage, lower rolling resistence, and improved fuel economy. In essence, this greater fuel efficiency means drivers can save approximately 2,600 miles (4,184 km) worth of gas over the life of a set of four tires.5
Regulation of CO2 emissions reduction in the transportation industry (including the tire industry) will not only become more global, but also more stringent. Styron, through its Synthetic Rubber products, will continue to provide innovative solutions that seriously address this very important and far-reaching trend in the transportation industry – all to support global sustainable growth and help reduce our transportation footprint.
Learn more about Styron synthetic rubber for high performance tires.
1ICIS Chemical Business, June 2, 2010
2American Chemistry Council report on plastics used in headlamp lenses
