Our Vision
Our main priority has always been to provide the Australian public with the best possible service in the transportation industry at the lowest cost. This was made possible through our unwavering commitment to continual technological improvement. Given the obvious damage global warming is having on our planet, we have now equally committed to the environment in the same way we have committed to our loyal customers. As temperatures continue to rise across the globe, and weather becomes more extreme, we have overhauled our environmental policies to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible.
The Fleet
Our Policies
We are serious about tackling global warming, and to do our bit for humanity, we are now reducing our carbon emissions across various aspects of our business. A major component of this was an overhaul of our internal policies—here are the key changes that we have made.
In The Office
- Recycling everything possible, including paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, batteries, electronics, and more
- Turning off lights and electrical equipment at the end of the day
- Efficient cooling and heating for our offices
- Ensuring everyone is environmentally aware, including management
- Regularly reviewing our environmental practices to meet our goals
- Using environmentally friendly cleaning products
On The Road
- Assessing the environmental impact of new policies, products, or vehicles
- Using newer, more efficient car models
- Replacing older cars with energy efficient models
- Using low-emission fuels where possible
- Taking faster, more efficient routes
- Encouraging fuel-efficient driving behaviour
- Encouraging ridesharing where possible
- Encouraging our drivers, contractors, and their supervisors to be environmentally conscious
in all their activities, and giving them the latest information to do so - Where possible, exceeding environmental regulations for limousines
- Recycling everything possible, including paper, plastic, cardboard, and waste petrol products
- Using environmentally friendly cleaning products to clean our vehicles
Green Cars
We’ve added a number of hybrid vehicles to our fleet over the past few years, and will continue doing so. Hybrids combine the power of petrol engines with the efficiency of electric motors, and while Australia’s infrastructure remains petrol-oriented, these vehicles are a critical stepping stone to going full electric. As of 2016, over 11 million hybrids vehicles have been sold worldwide.
There are two types of hybrid vehicles available to consumers: mild hybrids, and plug-in hybrids.
Mild hybrids seamlessly combine the power of petrol engines with the efficiency of electric motors. These cars charge the battery while you drive, so the vehicle is always ready to be used without the need to plug them in. While driving, the vehicle automatically switches to electric mode, and also uses regenerative braking to recover energy from the braking system, which is used to charge the battery. These technologies help to further reduce fuel consumption and drastically cut CO2 emissions. At faster speeds, the petrol engine takes over to provide the power needed for high-speed driving. The hybrid’s petrol engine and electric motor work together to create a powerful, fuel-efficient system.
The plug-in hybrid is similar to the mild hybrid, but the vehicle is recharged by plugging into a wall outlet or charging station, and generally have larger batteries that can power the car for longer periods of time without the use of the petrol engine.
Both types of hybrid vehicles are excellent at reducing CO2 emissions. Manufacturers of hybrid vehicles include Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Ford, Lexus, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, and Volvo, and we can expect to see more car manufacturers releasing them going forward.
Electric Cars
Electric vehicles run entirely on electricity, and are charged by plugging into a wall outlet, or at a charging station. By eliminating the need for petrol, electric vehicles drastically reduce CO2 emissions, making them an obvious choice for Car Australia.
Electric vehicles used to be impractical due to inefficient batteries, which needed to be charged regularly to keep the car running. But with more people becoming environmentally conscious, electric vehicles are expected to increase from 2% of global share in 2016 (roughly half a million vehicles), to 22% by 2030. As a result, major car companies have invested heavily in battery technology (with Tesla leading the way), and some vehicles now have a tested range of up to 600km. With electric vehicles no longer limited to short distances, car manufacturers are starting to release new electric vehicles, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar, Mercedes, Mini, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, and of course, Tesla.
Most electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which have a higher energy density, longer lifespan, and higher power density than traditional batteries, making the vehicles much more appealing for consumers. Battery charging stations are sparse across the country though, forcing many electric vehicle owners to charge their cars at home. The Australian Government has identified this as a major barrier for people wanting to buy an electric vehicle, and as a result, they have a high priority initiative in place to increase the number of charging stations across the country, due to be completed within the next five years.
Mercedes BlueEFFICIENCY
Many of our Mercedes vehicles carry the BlueEFFICIENCY trademark—the official Mercedes label for their environmentally friendly models.
Every vehicle that carries the BlueEFFICIENCY label has a significant reduction in fuel consumption, and does so with the following technology:
- An oxidation catalytic converter that reduces CO2 and hydrocarbon emissions
- An alternator that gathers and uses energy from the braking system
- A battery sensor that checks voltage and temperature levels
Book a green car with Car Australia
If you want to do your bit for our planet, book the Australian chauffeur service that is fully committed to reducing our carbon footprint by booking one of our green vehicles. Just let us know during the booking process, and we’ll do our best to provide an environmentally friendly vehicle that produces minimal CO2.