Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a scientific method used to quantify a vehicle’s environmental impacts from cradle to grave.
It factors in raw material extraction and component production, as well as vehicle assembly, transport, use, maintenance and recycling. It is the international, multi-criterion tool used by Renault Group. One of its main uses is to calculate the global warming potential associated with greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent (CO2 eq.) per vehicle. Note that Renault Group calculates the actual consumption of its vehicles over 200,000 km. Renault Group and Ampere also support the proposal made by the French automotive industry to measure the impact of the entire vehicle life cycle.
Renault Megane E-Tech electric, for example, the emits 24 tonnes of CO2 eq during its life cycle. That is practically half that of an equivalent model running on fossil fuels (50 tonnes of CO2 eq. in the case of a Captur with a petrol engine), showing that all-electric mobility is more virtuous in terms of CO2 eq. emissions. The goal for the Emblème project is just 5 tonnes of CO2 eq. from cradle to grave, i.e. a reduction of almost 90%!
Conserving resources and selecting raw materials
Raw materials extraction and parts manufacturing accounted for 15% of the carbon footprint of Renault Group ICE vehicles in 2020. Involving suppliers in efforts to reduce their environmental footprint is one of the Group’s strategic priorities for achieving its decarbonisation goals. Initiated by Ampere for Renault Group, Renault Emblème is the result of a collaborative project to drive the automotive ecosystem forward. It gives practical form to the most advanced perspectives for minimising the commitment of resources.
A 70% reduction in the carbon footprint
In the automotive sector, six materials and components account for 90% of the carbon footprint of purchasing: steel, aluminium, polymers, electronic components, glass and tyres. The collaboration of industrial partners such as ArcelorMittal, CEA (Commissariat à l’énergie atomique), Dicastal, Forvia, Forvia / Hella, HYVIA, Michelin, OPmobility, Plug, ST Microelectronics, Valeo and Verkor, in the eco-design of Renault Emblème made it possible to optimise the choice and diversity of materials, right from the start of the project.
Every detail of the vehicle’s composition was set out in stringent specification. This made it possible to achieve a 70% reduction in the carbon footprint for all materials: steel, aluminium, plastics, tyres, glass, electronics, screens and recyclables. Renault Emblème is designed to include at least 50% of recycled materials and is over 90% recyclable. For the exterior, the materials used (steel, aluminium and plastics) are all fully recyclable at end of life.
A low carbon battery
Ampere is seeking to develop low-carbon, sustainable batteries. Changes have been made across the value chain to conserve resources and reduce carbon emissions. Building on the strategic partnerships already in place, the battery of Renault Emblème explores all the areas identified.
A sustainable nickel supply, based on a strategic partnership with Terrafame to secure low-carbon nickel sulphate and guarantee traceability throughout the supply chain. Through this agreement, Renault Group has secured a significant supply of nickel sulphate, representing an annual capacity of around 15 GWh.
A sustainable lithium supply, based on a 5-year strategic partnership with Vulcan Energy as part of the Zero Carbon Lithium Project. The purpose is to secure between 6,000 and 17,000 tonnes of lithium per year for electric batteries
Closed-loop recycling of strategic materials (cobalt, nickel, lithium) to produce new batteries. Eighty percent of recycled strategic materials will be used to make new batteries by 2030.
Innovation in materials
The interiors of modern cars include a wide variety of materials, such as carpets, plastics, felt and foam. This diversity meets aesthetic and technical criteria (sound insulation, comfort, perceived quality…) but is complex to produce and recycle. The ideal solution is to use just one type of a material. Scenic Vision led the way in this respect, using only recycled and recyclable polyester for the foam, upholstery and seat seams. The colour and materials designers of Renault Emblème sought to go even further. Polyester is used not only in woven form for the seats, but has also been thermoformed as a floor covering. It is even found in the coloured scraps of the upholstery, contributing to the welcoming interior ambience.
All the colors of the 100% recycled and recyclable woven polyester that covers a large part of Renault Emblème’s interior are obtained by weaving just 4 threads of different colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). This process, known as “additive synthesis”, eliminates the need for dyes, emits less CO2 e and produces up to 62 shades of color.
The foam in the seat backs is biocircular, i.e. made from biological waste.
The dashboard of Renault Emblème is upholstered in linen made in Normandy (France). This natural material acts as a carbon sink (it stores CO2) and has been chosen for its aesthetic and structural qualities. Stiffened, it does not require a shell. At the same time, TFT (tailored fibre textile) technology provides a made-to-measure cut generating no waste.
Clear objectives for the future
The target of Renault Group is to increase the recycled content of its vehicles to 33% by weight by 2030 and to achieve a 30% reduction in the CO2 emissions associated with procurement per vehicle by 2030. Concerning the production process, the targets for recycled materials are 55% for steel, 60% for glass and 82% for flat aluminium by 2035.
In the following links, you can read the other articles about the presentation of Renault Embléme.
Ampere demonstrates technologies for decarbonization with Renault Emblème
Renault Embleme and the methodology based on the vehicle lifecycle analysis
The Renault Emblème, a family friendly realiable high-tech voiture à vivre
Hyper versatility driving the Renault Emblème
Source: Renault Group
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