It’s “Fossil Fool’s Day”: Tackling Automotive Industry Challenges and Options for Clean Renewable Energy and Reduction of Fossil Fuels

Today is April 1st, canonically accepted as April Fool’s Day, but thanks to organizations like Greenpeace who are committed to sustainability, environmentally conscious living, and reducing our carbon footprint as a society, it’s now known as Fossil Fool’s day!

Efforts are being made around the world to transform the automotive industry into something more sustainable and energy efficient.  Companies are pledging to reach carbon neutrality, commit to natural and sustainable production methods, and reach new heights in clean energy technologies.  At Classic, we’re proud to be a part of brands that are striving to create a greener world and protecting the planet for future generations.  Let’s take a look at how our manufacturers are moving forward with these efforts!

Fast Facts About Fossil Fuels Consumption and Clean Energy Options

• Fossil fuels are a finite resource and not a renewable energy
• Nearly 80% of energy in the US comes from coal, natural gas, and oil.
• 63% of electricity in the US comes from fossil fuel burning (2019)
• The US has the 2nd highest economic cost of Fossil fuel air pollution, for an average toll of $600 billion annually.
• During April 2020, daily global fossil CO2 emissions dropped by 17% in comparison to statistics from 2019 due to Covid-19 related lockdowns and isolation.
• When fossil fuels are burned they release CO2 greenhouse gasses, which trap heat in our atmosphere; as a result the average global temperature has increased by 1 degree celsius.
• Natural gas is generally cleaner than coal or oil, but still accounts for 1/5th of the world’s total carbon emissions.
• Solar energy is nearly 200 years old, and in the 1950s NASA was the first organization to adopt solar technology use!
• Iceland is at the forefront of clean, renewable energy with near 100% of the country’s energy produced from renewable resources such as geothermal and hydro energy
• Hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy across the world.

Toyota

Toyota is aiming to make all of the company’s facilities carbon neutral by the year 2035, and to fully eliminate their CO2 emissions at their facilities by the year 2050.  As a result, they’ve invested heavily in renewable energy projects!  In 2021, Toyota added more than 10 acres of solar arrays in the company’s manufacturing plants in the US (AL, MO, WV).  The new distribution center in Ontario uses geothermal energy to heat the building and reduce reliance on natural gas heating; in late 2022, they also started using a solar array.  Toyota is in the top 20 corporate users of on-site solar energy according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.  They’ve also entered a long-term partnership with Clearway Energy Group, purchasing enough electricity from wind farms in the US to power about 8% of the company’s energy usage.  Learn more about the company’s efforts and how much they’ve already invested and energy saved on their environmental ideas and actions plan site.

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