Automaker

US automaker Ford has said its long-term goal is to stop using freshwater in its manufacturing.

It has made considerable progress towards ensuring that the only freshwater used at its facilities is for human consumption, it said.

Two decades ago the company set out to reduce its water usage per vehicle by 72 per cent, and said that by 2013 it had saved more than 10 billion gallons.

Ford’s Global technology and business centre in Chennai in south India, opened in 2019, got a Platinum green building rating at launch, the highest possible certification for sustainable buildings.

The certificate not only factors in water conservation but also sustainable design, architecture, and building material resources, energy conservation including use of renewable energy resources, indoor environment quality, and innovation and development.

At Ford’s Chennai vehicle assembly and engine plant, freshwater consumption per vehicle is down to 1.17cu.m from 7.3 m3 a decade ago.

Having identified an alternate source of grey water to treat for use in non-production activities, the smart water efficiency processes see it recycle almost 100 per cent of industrial wastewater for use in manufacturing.

While there are no regulations or restrictions on water use at Ford’s Vietnam plant, which draws from the Thai Binh River, a membrane bio reactor-based sewage treatment plant is being installed there, which, when it becomes fully operational in June, will help recycle water.

“Some of our Ford production plants around the globe are in what could be considered water-stressed areas, which means it is our responsibility to act consciously to protect one of our most vital resources,” Caro Hosier, director of sustainability, environment and safety engineering for Ford international markets group, said.” — VNS

In the first phase of the service, the buses will only run in the Vinhomes Ocean Park urban area in Gia Lam District. The company’s is waiting for the completion of procedures to connect with the city’s public transport network, said VinBus deputy director Nguyen Van Thanh.

The buses are manufactured and assembled by automaker VinFast at its factory in Hai Phong City, around 120 kilometers from Hanoi.

Each bus is equipped with an automated system able to control driving behavior and give warnings about unsafe situations. The system includes an on-board public address facility, free WiFi, USB charging ports, security cameras and other features.

With a battery capacity of 281 kWh, the bus can travel between 220 and 260 kilometers on a single charge, carrying 68 passengers at a time.

VinBus plans to make 200-300 vehicles a year in the coming years and run them on 15 bus routes in the three popular tourist destinations of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc City.

The bus service is part of the company’s aim of developing a modern public transportation system that reduces air and noise pollution in Vietnam’s major cities.

In the first phase of the service, the buses will only run in the Vinhomes Ocean Park urban area in Gia Lam District. The company’s is waiting for the completion of procedures to connect with the city’s public transport network, said VinBus deputy director Nguyen Van Thanh.

The buses are manufactured and assembled by automaker VinFast at its factory in Hai Phong City, around 120 kilometers from Hanoi.

Each bus is equipped with an automated system able to control driving behavior and give warnings about unsafe situations. The system includes an on-board public address facility, free WiFi, USB charging ports, security cameras and other features.

With a battery capacity of 281 kWh, the bus can travel between 220 and 260 kilometers on a single charge, carrying 68 passengers at a time.

VinBus plans to make 200-300 vehicles a year in the coming years and run them on 15 bus routes in the three popular tourist destinations of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc City.

The bus service is part of the company’s aim of developing a modern public transportation system that reduces air and noise pollution in Vietnam’s major cities.

The world’s largest contract manufacturer made a buyout bid to the subsidiary of Vietnam’s largest conglomerate, Vingroup, Reuters quoted two sources as saying.

But VinFast prefers a partnership since it is keen to brand itself as an eco-friendly automaker and wants to retain its electric vehicle business, one of the sources said.

In January, VinFast introduced three self-driving cars that are expected to hit the market later this year.

It tested autonomous vehicles in California in the U.S., one of the first foreign markets the company is eyeing.

Earlier this month it signed a memorandum of understanding with Taiwan’s ProLogium Technology Co. Ltd. for the production of batteries for electric cars.

VinFast plans to set up over 2,000 charging stations across the country this year to expand its electric vehicle ecosystem.

Vietnam’s first indigenous car manufacturer sold around 30,000 gasoline vehicles last year and expects sales of more than 45,000 this year.