Why Green Vehicle Localization is Necessary in the Race to Green the Car Industry

Green vehicle localization will be key to reducing global carbon emissions and greening the car industry. Governments worldwide are setting targets to reduce carbon emissions substantially by 2050 and greening the car industry will require collective global localization and translation efforts. Responding to public pressure and scientific research, the UK, China, and Japan, as well as other global economies are establishing plans to urgently reduce fossil fuel production as part of the global ‘green recovery’ movement. ‘Green recoveries’ are seen as one solution to combatting the effects of climate change but also as a strategy to stimulate post-COVID economic activity. In line with government policies, car manufacturing companies are also embarking on plans to green their industry and supply chains worldwide, testing global communications.

It is estimated that 80-90% of an automobile’s environmental impact is due to fuel consumption, energy production as well as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, all of which are intensifying the impact of global warming. Furthermore, in the US, transportation is the largest producer of greenhouse gases according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). From shipping fuel to the lingering carbon monoxide pollution, car companies are investing in new technologies to mitigate their carbon footprint.

Recently, global sales for electric vehicles (EVs) have risen by 43% in 2020 due to continuing innovation and price falls in battery technology. With the help of government grants and tax subsidies, electric vehicles are tipping below petrol and diesel car model prices worldwide. Carmakers, governments, and stakeholders are investing large amounts of money to fuel battery research and increase the number of carbon neutral electric cars on the road. With competition rapidly escalating, car manufacturing companies including General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford Motor have all committed to prioritizing their carbon reduction targets in the coming decades in the race to dominate the EV market.

Despite these advancements and company pivots, however, it will take more than electrifying cars to ‘green’ the automotive industry and their vehicle lines. Electric cars do not generate carbon emissions after production, yet the automotive manufacturing process does, as steel, rubber, glass, plastics, and paints are some of the most difficult waste materials to dispose of. Additionally, when a car has run its course, plastics and other toxic materials linger at junkyards as only three-quarters of today’s average car is recyclable. One study, by the University of Birmingham, is focusing on reclaiming rare earth metals, also known as rare earth elements (REE), and recycling magnets made from neodymium, boron and iron which are found in EVs and other green technologies. Another study found that recycling these magnets could reduce global reliance on stainless-steel and create opportunities for circular economies and supply chains. As new steel and other raw material technologies, in combination with synchronized waste management systems, become readily available worldwide, ensuring high quality localization will be key to entering new markets.

The car supply chain is another element of the car industry that requires greening. One car maker is committed to cutting carbon emissions in its supplier network by 20% and hopes to revolutionize operations by purchasing green aluminum smelted by solar energy. Sourcing sustainable supplies is becoming increasingly essential within the car manufacturing industry that will require global cooperation across diverse borders and cultures.

As part of our automotive industry translation offerings, CSOFT offers high quality green vehicle translations specifically for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. From localizing hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) to battery management systems (BMS) as well as thermal management systems (TMS), CSOFT’s network of 10,000+ in-country linguists and engineers have the expertise to localize all technologies related to greening the car industry. CSOFT’s own commitment to ensuring environmental responsibility and sustainable business practices, as well as our ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certifications, and our operations compliant with ISO 17100, CSOFT can deliver translations for the electric vehicle (EV) market in over 250+ languages. Learn more here.