Environmental Policy Bentley and CO2

At the 2008 Geneva “Auto Salon”, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, announced a far-reaching environment programme to reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy accross the Bentley range.

To find out more about Bentley's strategy to address the environment and fuel scarcity click here to download a pdf.

Following years of engineering studies and intensive product development, exploring alternative environmental technologies in depth, our solution is focused on three complementary steps:

Improved efficiency
The first part of the strategy, efficiency, will cut CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by 15 per cent by 2012. Efficiency improvements will be achieved first through the application of innovative technology to our 8 and 12 cylinder engines, including enhanced engine management, and new, improved transmissions and drivelines, as well as through weight reduction.

New Powertrain
By 2012, a new powertrain will be introduced delivering a 40 per cent reduction in fuel consumption, while maintaining current levels of performance.

Renewable fuel
In parallel, “FlexFuel” engines capable of running on a mix of bio-fuel and gasoline will be introduced progressively throughout the entire Bentley range, so that by 2012 all Bentleys will be compatible with renewable fuels, with the initial rollout beginning next year. On a Well-to-Wheel* basis, bio-fuels can deliver a consistent net CO2 reduction of up to 90%. By preparing our engines at an early stage for these fuels, we believe we will help accelerate their adoption, as the supply and market for them develop. Click here to read more about Renewable Fuels.

These measures should ensure that the entire Bentley range will see a significant decrease in CO2 emissions, based on a “Well-to-Wheel” measure. Importantly, both the efficiency and renewable fuels technology preserve Bentley’s signature high performance.  

* Well-to-Wheel: the widely accepted measure of energy efficiency has been defined by European Commission advisers as “the integration of all steps required to produce and distribute a fuel (starting from the primary energy resource) and use it in a vehicle”. Source: European Commission Institute for Environment and Sustainability WELL-to-WHEELS Report Version 2c, March 20