U.S. EPA Honors Nissan with Global Climate Protection Award
29 September 1999
U.S. EPA Honors Nissan with Global Climate Protection Award
- Nissan Receives EPA Award for Leadership in Global Warming,
HFC Reduction and Fuel Economy Improvements -
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. was the only
automaker today to receive the prestigious 1999 Climate Protection Award from
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).
Nissan, whose environmental protection efforts have been recognized
several times by the EPA, received the award for its aggressive steps to
address global warming, to reduce hydrofluorocarbons and to improve fuel
economy in Nissan and Infiniti vehicles.
"As the only automotive manufacturer to be the recipient of our 1999
Climate Protection Award, EPA applauds Nissan for its leadership in
environmental protection," said Dr. Stephen O. Andersen, EPA Director of
Strategic Climate Projects. "The EPA welcomes Nissan's concerted efforts,
from the design and manufacturing through recycling stages, in reducing HFCs,
global warming and improvements in fuel economy."
The EPA presented 10 awards at the 1999 Earth Technologies Forum in
Washington. The awards recognize individuals and companies that demonstrate
their commitment to the environment through exceptional leadership, technical
innovation and personal motivation.
"We're delighted to have been selected by the EPA and an international
panel of judges to receive this award," said Iwao Nakamura, senior vice
president production development and engineering, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
"Nissan has a long history of commitment to preserving the global environment.
We also believe that regarding the automobile, the most efficient and
effective method to contribute to climate protection in the short term is to
reduce the greenhouse gases for conventional vehicles as early as possible.
Receiving this distinguished EPA award is a another positive acknowledgment of
our on-going environmental efforts."
Nissan's most recent and significant environmental accomplishments
include:
-- The first automobile manufacturer in the U.S. to install the equipment
for recovery and recycling of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-12) and
hydrofluorocarbons (HFC-134a) refrigerants at all its U.S. dealerships.
-- Among the first automakers worldwide to eliminate the use of CFCs as a
foaming and cleaning agent in manufacturing processes.
-- Nissan was the only automaker to receive the EPA's "Best of the Best"
award for protecting the stratospheric ozone layer.
-- Nissan is also the first automaker to demonstrate a fuel cell vehicle
with hydrogen supplied by an on-board methanol-reforming system.
-- Nissan is curbing HFC emissions in Japan where there is no government
regulation regarding HFCs.
-- The first automobile manufacturer in the world to introduce a
powertrain system combining direct-injection gasoline (DiG) engine with
a continuously variable transmission (CVT). These vehicles emit far
less pollution yet maintain high power and improved mileage ratings of
50 percent. The DiG-CVT technology was honored with the Energy
Conservation Prize from the director general of Japan's Agency of
Natural Resources and Energy.
-- Development of a gasoline-fueled Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
(SULEV) which is expected to emit about one-fourth of the unburned
hydrocarbon and one-tenth of the oxides of nitrogen as the cleanest
gasoline-powered car now sold in California. Nissan expects that this
fall the California Air Resources Board will certify the technologies
used in the 2000 model year Nissan Sentra with a 1.8-liter engine.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing. Nissan in North America, which includes
employees and facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, generates
more than 90,000 jobs, approximately 20,000 directly and over 71,000 through
approximately 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti retailers across the continent. More
information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and
Infiniti vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissandriven.com or contact the
corporate media line at 310-771-5631.
Note: For Nissan's additional environmental accomplishments, please
reference the following chart.
Visit the Nissan Online News Bureau at http://www.nissannews.com.
NISSAN'S ENVIRONMENTAL MILESTONES
1970s Environmental Management Department established in Japan
Corporate Environmental Management Rules developed
Establishment of an in-house waste treatment system in
Japan
1980s Promotion of the installation of facilities and equipment
for recycling waste into reusable resources
1981 March Presented with Chairman's Award by the Clean Japan Center
recognizing the Tochigi assembly plant's recycling efforts
1989 February CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) Committee formed with worldwide
membership
November CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) Committee formed
with worldwide membership
1990 June Discontinuation of all use of CFC foaming agents
1991 June Commercialization of an ozone-safe air-conditioning system
December Nissan is the sole automaker to be presented with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's Stratospheric Ozone
Protection Award for introduction of vehicles with
ozone-safe air conditioning systems
1992 February Bumper recycling program begun in Europe and Japan
April Discontinuation of all CFCs in washing agents
May Electric Vehicle Committee established with worldwide
membership
1993 February Environmental Management Committee established in Japan
October Nissan presented with Chairman's Award by the Recycling
Promotion Council recognizing Nissan's bumper recycling
programs
December Cedric EV goes on sale in Japan
1994 May Commercialization of lean-burn engines
April Nissan received third Global Environmental Award by the
World Wide Fund for Nature Japan recognizing Nissan's
manufacturing plants' reduction and recycling of waste
into reusable resources
July Commercialization of non-CFC air conditioning retrofit
kits
1995 March Discontinuation of all use of trichloroethane
June Establishment of worldwide Environmental Network Meeting
1996 May Recycling Promotion Department established
1997 February Launch of Prairie Joy EV in Japan
September Only automaker to receive the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's "Best of the Best" award for efforts
to protect the stratospheric ozone layer
1998 January The Nissan Altra EV, the only electric vehicle with
lithium-ion batteries, is introduced
June Commercialization of a direct-injection diesel engine
(NEO Di)
September Commercialization of a direct-injection gasoline engine
mated with HYPER CVT
1999 March Obtain ISO 14001 certification for product planning and
development process
April Hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle demonstration fleet
begins in Japan
May Fuel-cell vehicle demonstration fleet begins in Japan
Fall
(tent.) California Air Resources Board expected to certify
1.8-liter gasoline-fueled 2000 model year Sentra as the
first Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle