We reduce the energy consumption of vehicles with our products and technologies – a significant contribution to the sustainability of individual mobility. This is achieved, on the one hand, by reducing the weight of our products so that less energy is required to power the entire vehicle. On the other hand, however, continuous improvements of our products, for example in the rolling and friction resistance of tires, engines, and transmissions, also play a role. These improvements mean less energy is required to overcome such resistance, in turn resulting in a reduction of CO₂ emissions.

In past years, we have managed, for instance, to reduce the weight of our brake components substantially while at the same time enhancing braking performance. We have lowered the average rolling resistance of our passenger and truck tires by about 10% and 8% respectively since 2002 – without restricting any of the tires’ safety features. Our powertrain components – for instance oil-resistant timing belts for engine management – will help cut CO₂ emissions by 1% to 2% in the future. Our piezo injection valves for conventional gasoline and diesel engines – awarded the 2005 German Innovation Prize – reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 20%. In addition, telematics systems and optimized hose lines help reduce climate-relevant emissions even further.

By 2012, our products for the automotive industry shall help reduce CO₂ emissions from cars by about 15% and from trucks by roughly 5%. Hybrid drives for cars can lower CO₂ emissions by another 10% to 25%, depending on the hybrid type and application conditions.

Continental's products also contribute to climate protection in non-automotive applications: For example, our conveyor belts with optimized rolling resistance (Energy Optimized Conveyor Belts or EOBs) significantly reduce the energy required for open-cast coal mining.