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Honda has fully deployed its fleet of Auto-Max® railcars,
achieving a significant reduction in the fuel consumption
and CO2 emissions associated with its
automobile distribution activities in the United States.
The 400-car fleet of more space-efficient Auto-Max railcars
is the only such automaker-operated fleet in use in the United
States.
Including the Auto-Max fleet shipments, American Honda currently
transports about 82 percent of its Honda and Acura automobiles
across the country by rail, achieving the highest rail-shipping
rate of any automaker. Each multi-level Auto-Max railcar holds
up to 22 vehicles and can hold both trucks and cars to reduce
unused space.
The result is less fuel usage per vehicle shipped and no
compromise to quality. An average bi-level railcar can transport
only 10 trucks - generally of a single vehicle type.
Honda's Auto-Max railcars have a 50-year estimated lifespan
versus standard railcars - which, typically, require a major
overhaul after just 20 years of service. Honda participated
with The
Greenbrier Companies in designing Auto-Max, which
is exclusively manufactured by Greenbrier.
"Honda is adopting a holistic approach to minimising
its greenhouse gas emissions - addressing not only the production
and on-road use of our products, but also new, more fuel-efficient
strategies for how we transport our products to dealers"
- said Dennis Manns, assistant vice president, Sales & Logistics
Planning for American Honda Motor Co. "Rail is the most
environmentally responsible method available to move our products
and our Auto-Max railcar fleet can make a good system even
more fuel-efficient."
To further support Honda's strategy to increase product distribution
by rail, Honda, this year, invested approximately $7 million
to redesign the rail infrastructure at its automobile plants
in Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio. The redesign added rail
capacity, enabling American Honda to ship more units via
rail.
Furthermore, inbound and outbound trains at the plant can
now operate at a faster pace, pull easier on upgraded tracks
and require less railcar switching in the yard - reducing
fuel consumption, CO2 and other air
pollutants emissions that are produced while engines are left
idling.
According to CSX, which serves Honda's rail operations in
Ohio, the infrastructure improvement contributes an annual
savings of 2,436 gallons of fuel and 54,432 pounds of CO2
per year.
Honda is globally committed to minimising air emissions from
its products and factories and is working to achieve its goals
by reducing CO2 emissions by improving
the energy-efficiency of Honda manufacturing plants and by
improving the fuel efficiency of its automobile, powersports
and power equipment products.
Honda's legacy of environmental leadership includes a long
list of industry firsts - including the world's first low-emission
vehicles, America's first gasoline-electric hybrid car and
the world's first US EPA-certified hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
In 2007, Honda was named the 'Greenest Automaker' by
the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth consecutive
time.
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