Environmental care is one of Volvo Cars’ core values and influences all operations. The environmental work is based on the whole life cycle of the car and takes into account the environmental impact it has, from design to scrapping and recycling. Volvo Cars’ basic principle is that every new product developed must have less impact on the environment than the product it replaces.
Volvo’s environmental management work has resulted in the development of more effective and less polluting drivelines. Personal environment is also important to Volvo – the air inside a Volvo is, for example, cleaner than the air outside thanks to the climate control system.
Your Volvo complies with stringent international environmental standards. All Volvo’s manufacturing units must be ISO 14001 certified, and this supports a systematic approach to the operation’s environmental issues, which leads to continuous improvement with reduced environmental impact. Holding the ISO certificate also means that environmental laws and regulations in force are complied with. Volvo also requires that its partners must also meet these requirements.
Since a large part of a car’s total environmental impact stems from its use, the emphasis of Volvo Cars’ environmental work is on reducing fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutants. Volvo cars have competitive fuel consumption in each of their respective classes. Lower fuel consumption generally results in lower emission of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.
An energy-efficient and economical car can contribute to reduced environmental impact and also involve reduced costs for the owner of the car. As the driver, it is easy to reduce fuel consumption and thereby save money and contribute to a better environment – here is some advice:
- Plan for an effective average speed. Speeds above approx. 80 km/h (approx. 50 mph) and below 50 km/h (approx. 30 mph) lead to increased energy consumption.
- Follow the Service and Warranty Booklet’srecommended intervals for service and maintenance of the car.
- Avoid letting the engine idle – switch off the engine when stationary for longer periods. Pay attention to local regulations.
- Plan the journey – a lot of unnecessary stops and uneven speed contribute to increased fuel consumption.
- Use preconditioning (Option/accessory) before starting in cold conditions – it improves starting capacity and reduces wear in cold weather. The engine reaches normal operating temperature more quickly, which decreases consumption and reduces emissions.
Also remember to always dispose of environmentally hazardous waste, such as batteries and oil, in an environmentally safe manner. Consult a workshop in the event of uncertainty about how this type of waste should be discarded – an authorised Volvo workshop is recommended.
Your Volvo is manufactured following the concept “Clean inside and out” – a concept that encompasses a clean interior environment as well as highly efficient emission control. In many cases the exhaust emissions are well below the applicable standards.
An air filter helps prevent dust and pollen entering the passenger compartment via the air intake. The Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) (Option/accessory) ensures that the incoming air is cleaner than the air in the traffic outside. The system cleans the air in the passenger compartment from contaminants such as particles, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and ground-level ozone. If the outside air is contaminated then the air intake is closed and the air is recirculated. Such a situation may arise in heavy traffic, queues and tunnels for example. IAQS is a part of the CleanZone Interior Package (CZIP),(Option/accessory) which also includes a function that allows the fan to start when the car is unlocked with the key.
The material used in the interior of a Volvo is carefully selected and has been tested in order to be pleasant and comfortable. Some of the details are hand-made, such as the seams of the steering wheel that are sewn by hand. The interior is monitored in order not to emit strong odours or substances that cause discomfort in the event of e.g. high heat and bright light.
Regular maintenance creates the conditions for a long service life and low fuel consumption for your car. In this way you also contribute to a cleaner environment. When Volvo’s workshops are entrusted with the service and maintenance of your car it becomes part of Volvo’s system. Volvo makes clear demands regarding the way in which workshop premises shall be designed in order to prevent spills and discharges into the environment. The workshop staff have the knowledge and the tools required to guarantee good environmental care.
Since Volvo works from a life cycle perspective, it is also important that the car is recycled in an environmentally sound manner. Almost all of the car can be recycled. The last owner of the car is therefore requested to contact a retailer for referral to a certified/approved recycling facility.
Sensus – online connectivity and entertainment
Sensus covers all solutions in the car that are connected with entertainment, online connectivity, navigation (Option/accessory) and the user interface between driver and car. It is Sensus that makes communication possible between you, the car and the outside world.
The different displays in the car provide information at the right time. The information is shown in different locations based on how it should be prioritised by the driver.
Different types of information are shown in different displays depending on how the information should be prioritized.
The head-up display shows selected information that the driver should deal with as soon as possible. Such information may, for example, include traffic warnings, speed information and navigation information. Road Sign Information and incoming phone calls are also shown in the head-up display. The display is operated via the right-hand steering wheel keypad and via the centre display.
The driver display shows information on speed and e.g. incoming calls or song tracks being played. The display is operated via the two steering wheel keypads.
Many of the main functions of the car are controlled from the centre display, a touch screen which reacts to touch. The number of physical buttons and controls in the car is therefore minimal. The screen can even be operated while wearing gloves.
From here, for example, you can control the climate control system, the entertainment system and seat position.(Option/accessory) The information that is shown in the centre display can be acted on by the driver or someone else in the car when the opportunity arises.
The voice control system can be used without the driver needing to take his/her hands off the steering wheel. The system can understand natural speech. Use voice control to, for example, play back a song, call someone, increase the temperature or read out a text message.