Sustainability Channel

PIRELLI LAUNCHES THE FIRST TYRE SCRAPPING PROGRAMME

Motorists who replace old tyres with new eco-compatible products will receive a fuel contribution up to 60 euros, fostering road safety and environmental protection.

The initiative, totally financed by Pirelli, was presented today in Rome by Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera and Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori, at an event attended by Altero Matteoli, Minister for Infrastructure and Transportation, Adolfo Urso, Undersecretary for Economic Development and International Trade, Mario Valducci, Chairman of the Transportation, Post and Telecommunications Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, and Andrea Mondello, Chairman of Unioncamere.

This is an incentive programme is completely new for the sector and will take place from the end of May until the end of July and is being carried out in collaboration with ENI for members of the You&Agip programme. For the replacement of worn tyres below the legal limit (1.6 mm of remaining tread), Pirelli will recognise a contribution of up to 60 euros for the purchase of fuel, depending on the type of eco-compatible tyres that will be acquired.

Protagonists of this innovative incentives programme are the Cinturatos, the family of Pirelli ‘green’ tyres which, after the P4 and P6 launched last year for cars in the medium segments, is now widened with the new P7, unveiled at the same event at the Tempio di Adriano.

The first high performance ecological tyre destined for the high sector of the market ensures a reduction in carbon monoxide emissions of up to 4 grams per kilometre drive, and reduces acoustic emissions by 30%, while guaranteeing optimum performance in both the wet and dry.
In the meantime, research activity at Pirelli Labs to further reduce environmental impact has isolated in the rice husk – waste from the preparation of rice and not for food use – a natural component which will enter into the structure of tyres from the end of the year, reducing synthetics among their production components, therefore, to the advantage of minimising impact on the environment.

With the scrapping incentives and the Cinturato P7 together, Pirelli is aiming to re-launch demand in moments of difficult circumstances such as these, stimulating the adoption of products of low environmental impact and favouring greater road safety.

PIRELLI FIT "iCHANGE", THE FIRST ZERO EMISSION SUPERCAR

Pirelli tyres for the first sportscar in history that can reach 220 km per hour without consuming a drop of fuel derived from petrol oil.

The car is “iChange“, named for its ability to change shape and adapt to the number of passengers in only three seconds, but its most revolutionary aspect is that it’s the first zero emission supercar, totally powered by a lithium ion battery that propels a 150 kilowatt electric engine.

iChange, trumpeted as one of the stars of the Geneva International Motor Show 2009, arises from collaboration between Swiss company Rinspeed and Pirelli, whose technology focuses more and more on ecological products.

This focus has been recognized, bringing Pirelli Tyre the award for best tyre manufacturer 2008 at the Tire Technology Expo, the most important expo-conference worldwide dedicated to the tyre industry, which organizes each year the ‘Tire Technology Awards for Innovation and Excellence‘. The jury, made up of international experts, gave Pirelli Tyre the title of  ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ thanks to the Group’s 2008 research and development activity in the field of innovative materials and environmental sustainability, and thanks to Pirelli’s partnerships with research institutes such as the Silvio Tronchetti Provera Foundation and China’s Shandong University.

PIRELLI IN PARLIAMENT ON SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT

A Parliamentary audience yesterday for Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera with the Transport Commission of the Camera dei Deputati, presided over by the Honourable Mario Valducci. The audience was part of a cycle of consultations by the representatives of the automotive sector of the Camera on the subjects of safety and the environment.

After an in-depth appraisal on the provisions of the Government for the support of the sector, the Chairman of Pirelli insisted on the need for a renewal of the tyre park in Italy in conformity with the European Union directive EU 201/43 CE: tyres of new generation, environmentally compatible and much more suited to the preservation of safety (roadholding and braking distances), eliminating tyres which are non-homologated, of greater pollution capability and unsafe.

In the view of Chairman Tronchetti Provera, it is fundamental that the competent authorities also control the roads for worn tyres: according to recent surveys by Inail and Assogomma, about four million vehicles are currently circulating on Italian roads with smooth, illegal and dangerous tyres. It is, naturally, necessary that there should be adequate sanctions.

In his audience, the Pirelli Chairman also insisted on the subject of anti-particulate filters to drastically reduce harmful emissions. The commission took note of the data and indications provided with lively interest, and assured the Chairman that there would be close examination of the subject and subsequent audiences.