A new material design could reduce pollution where the rubber meets the road. Strategically adding weak points to microscopic chains called polymers actually makes the chains harder to tear, scientists report in the June 23 Science. Because polymers are used in car tires, the findings could help reduce plastic pollution as tires wear down over time.
As tires scrape against the road, they drop tiny particles of rubber and plastic polymers that can pollute waterways and contaminate the air. Globally, tires shed about 6 million metric tons of this debris into the environment each year. Stronger polymers that break apart less easily could limit the pollution.
Chemist Stephen Craig of Duke University and colleagues made their tough material by adding easily breakable molecules called cross-linkers to the polymers. The polymers act like a tangle of spaghetti noodles with the cross-linkers holding them all together, helping them retain their shape. Individual cross-linkers broke easily when the team stretched the polymer strands, but ripping the bulk material required more force than expected. The secret to the increased toughness lies in the path the tear takes. The tear propagates through the cross-linkers, following the path of least resistance. But making it through the long polymer strands means breaking many cross-linkers, which requires more force overall. Craig hopes the findings will help extend the lifetimes of car tires.
Nowadays, soy is grown on a large scale around the globe. Since gaining popularity, soy has become one of the world’s most lucrative agricultural sectors. It’s extremely popular with vegans and health-conscious individuals, and as a result, its cultivation has increased.
As demand soars, soybean sustainability is an increasing priority for soy growers. As custodians of the land, farmers are adopting sustainable soy farming techniques such as reduced till, crop rotation, water and fertilizer management, cover crops, and precision farming technologies. These methods assist farmers in increasing their efficiency, crop production, and soy sustainability.
Implementing soy sustainability is one approach to making the world better and environmentally friendly. In this article, we look at seven reasons soy is environmentally friendly.
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is a characteristic shared by all legumes. It is the mechanism through which certain plants transform atmospheric nitrogen gas into nitrogen that the plant can use to thrive.
Soybeans are nitrogen-fixing plants. Most synthetic fertilizers used in crop cultivation include nitrogen, which promotes healthy growth and large harvests. Sustainable soysourced online from the U.S. Soy decreases the need for artificial fertilizers, which are frequently produced using fossil fuels and have significant adverse environmental effects such as water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, soy nitrogen fixation properties favorably impact both the economic and environmental aspects of production. It improves soil structure and fertility and boosts crop rotation output.
Soil erosion is a continuous process that happens when wind or water detaches and moves soil particles, resulting in soil degradation.
Soybeans form a denser and larger crop canopy cover, which helps to reduce soil sedimentation and erosion. The canopy’s ability to reduce the impact of pouring rainfall helps prevent soil detachment. Moreover, soy residue can create miniature dams that slow runoff and generate water pools that absorb rainfall energy, lowering soil particle detachment and transport.
Lastly, soy is an efficient cover crop when sown at the correct time. Cover crops are produced to protect soil integrity and avoid runoff from irrigation. Because arable soil is a limited resource, it is critical to prevent losing it to erosion and to maintain it as much as possible for as long as necessary.
Farmers play an important role in lowering our carbon footprint by improving efficiency and soil management methods. According to studies, a reduction in soybean tillage, or soil disturbance, is a major factor for this improvement.
Tillage oxygenates the soil, accelerating the conversion of the soil carbon compound to CO2. And Without any plants growing, this carbon dioxide is discharged into the air. Reduced tillage helps the earth better balance its carbon release with its growing crops.
By employing these better farming techniques, the soy sector utilizes less gas-powered agricultural machinery, makes more economical use of every acre of cultivated land, and minimizes its CO2 emissions.
4. Biodegradability
We reside in a world of disposable plastic items, from cups to plastic utensils, containers, and bags. Yet, almost all disposable plastic products pose a serious environmental hazard since they do not biodegrade.
To combat this problem, the use of soy-based plastics is one of the solutions. Soy’s availability, abundance, thermoplastic properties, and biodegradability have all made it highly desirable for widespread use in the plastics industry.
Soy-based plastics are a practical and exciting ecologically friendly material for one-time or short-term plastic items, such as food containers, instead of the currently used nonbiodegradable plastics.
5. Biofuel
Businesses, governments, and organizations constantly advocate using biodiesels, such as soybean oil, as a replacement or blend for conventional petroleum-based diesel oil in automobiles, planes, and equipment. This is because biodiesel is a more environmentally friendly alternative to fuels obtained from fossil fuels.
Compared to fossil fuels, biodiesel generates lower emissions of particles, sulfur dioxide, and air toxins when burnt. Even biofuel-petroleum mixtures produce fewer emissions than fossil fuels alone.
As the need for fuel rises, so does the demand for soy or other plant-based biofuels, allowing farmers to lead biofuel innovation and contribute to providing green choices for consumers nationwide.
Water is becoming an increasingly important resource as the world becomes hotter and more water evaporates. How we use our water as a community and as individuals is an important aspect of conservation efforts. Thus, it is logical that our agricultural methods should prioritize sustainability regarding water utilization.
Sustainable soy production efficiently uses water depending on the soil and weather. Producing a ton of soybeans requires between 1,300 and 2,300 tons of water. This is about the same as sunflower and less than rapeseed plants which are some of the most efficient water users.
7. Land Usage
Land is a resource with limited availability. Therefore, the more it is needed, the higher the deforestation. How well the land is treated in terms of maintaining the nutrients and health in the soil and the sorts of pesticides used are all important for agricultural utility and efficiency.
Soy crops provide more usable kilograms of plant-based protein per hectare of farmland than rice and other legumes. In other words, cultivating soy requires less land to generate more proteins than cultivating other plant-based alternatives for the plant-based protein drink and powder sectors. Furthermore, soy produces far more protein per acre than dairy cows.
Wrapping Up
A growing population, climate changes, and heightened consumer awareness create new challenges and a larger need for sustainable food and energy. Environmentally sustainable consumer products like soy pave the path to substantial sustainability progress.
NASHVILLE, TN August 31st 2022 – Nashville based GoNitroTire, pioneers in providing Nitrogen Tire Inflation Products and Services in North America. The company is now manufacturing new & improved Nitorgen Aerosol top-off products.
With tire distributors and automotive dealerships throughout North America using Nitrogen for their ustomers, TireXtender and UltraTireXtender provide reasonably priced and convenient aerosol top-off products for automotive and cycling enthusiasts.
“These terrific products are a natural progression of GoNitroTire’s core mission of providing sustainable roducts that improve tire performance and safety”, said Kenneth Lawton, C.E.O. & Founder of GoNitroTire.
COSTCO, is one example in the network of Nitrogen tire services throughout all of their North American locations. “Nitrogen tire inflation provides consistent tire pressure, a longer safer ride, with better gas mileage; while extednding the wear of the tire” FORD MOTOR STUDY 2006 “Benefits of Nitrogen Tire Inflation.”
With so many sectors of large industry using Nitrogen as their default choice for tire inflation – including all airlines, NASCAR since 1991, law enforcement and municipal fleets in many municipalities across the U.S. and the mining industry. GoNitroTire’s Mission has been to provide innovative tire solutions to onsumers and commercial fleets to improve safety and provide sustainable technology to better tire wear. All of which provide sound environmental results by reducing landfill and improving Carbon reduction…
Green Facts:
OVER 300 MILLION TIRES are disposed of annually, in land fills and bodies of water in the United States alone. The use of Nitrogen in tires can reduce this by up to 30%
AIR – LEAKS THROUGH A TIRE WALL 3 to 4 times faster then Nitrogen inflated tires. Causing poor gas mileage and increased carbon emmissions. Rubber Manufacturers Association www.RMA.org
U.S. CONSUMERS use over 400 million gallons of fuel per day. Nitrogen Tires reduces fuel consumption
Related Links
Consult these websites for more information on Nitrogen benefits in tires:
Vehicle breakdowns are never fun, especially during a winter storm. For businesses, fleet breakdowns can mean unhappy customers, late deliveries, and lost revenue. This can be detrimental for businesses that rely on vehicle fleets for service, such as HVAC or delivery services. You can help protect your fleet this winter by filling your tires with nitrogen.
The Science Behind Putting Nitrogen in Tires
Car tires are typically filled up with compressed air. Air is about 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, with additional small amounts of other gases. Nitrogen leaks out of tires slower than air because the molecules are larger, making it harder for them to escape. Nitrogen is also more stable in flocculating temperatures. It doesn’t shrink and swell like oxygen does because of its water content. This is especially important in colder climates, like New England.
1. Better Pressure Retention
One main benefit of filling your tires with nitrogen is less tire leakage, which results in tires preserving a high air pressure for longer, leading to less maintenance and longer tire life. Like compressed air, nitrogen can withstand cold temperatures, making it a viable option for driving in the winter.
2. Greater Fuel Efficiency
Since nitrogen takes six times longer than oxygen to leak out of tires, nitrogen-filled tires stay full for significantly longer. Driving on full tires leads to better gas mileage and decreases tire damage.
3. Improved Handling
Driving on ice or slippery roads in the winter can be dangerous. It’s important for drivers to be as safe as possible, which includes keeping their tire pressure full. This makes for a more controlled driving experience and decreases the chance of a flat tires, especially in the wintertime.
4. Prevent Rims from Corroding
Like moisture on a window, air compresses and produces condensation inside tires. Excess water can corrode the rims of the tire. This can be hard to detect since the car’s rims corrode from the inside. Additionally, if a gas station doesn’t maintain their air compressors, water can collect inside the hose. Water can enter the tire, which increases the risk of corrosion.
5. Extended Tire Life
Nitrogen is more stable than air, which results in extended tire pressure and tire life. Since nitrogen is also dryer than air, there is less chance of tire corrosion. Also, nitrogen leaks out of tires at a slower rate, increasing tire longevity. Extending your tire life will save you money and reduce maintenance.
6. Sustainability
The longer a tire’s life, the less often it will need to be replaced; this reduces the amount of new tires manufacturers need to produce, as well as the consumption of raw materials.
FAQs About Nitrogen Tires in the Winter
Q: Is it safe to fill my tires with nitrogen?
A: Yes, filling tires with nitrogen is safe. In fact, nitrogen isn’t flammable, so tires won’t explode in a crash.
Q: Is nitrogen only good to use in the winter?
No, nitrogen tires can be used at any time. Many drivers, including racecar drivers use nitrogen tires year-round.
Q: Do I need special nitrogen tires?
No, you can fill any commercial tire with nitrogen.
Author Bio: Joseph Christmas is the Marketing Coordinator for Commercial Sales at Merchants Auto. He joined the team in March 2021 equipped with many years of experience in both marketing and the automotive industry. Joe’s pure passion and knowledge of cars have been tailored to this industry.
New Englanders have a lot to be proud of, including four seasons that offer breathtaking beauty and recreation. With these changing seasons comes the need to prepare for all types of weather, and your car is no exception.
Whether you have brand new or pre-owned vehicles, sedans or SUVs, work trucks or electric vehicles, proper maintenance is important — no matter the season. Here are some important tips to keep in mind.
Benefits of Proper Tire Maintenance
As AAA explains, tires affect braking, safety, and how your vehicle handles — all of which are crucial. You want to regularly make sure you have the right air pressure and tread depth, as well as proper alignment. Not only will this routine maintenance keep you and your passengers safe, but you’ll also save money on gas! According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can improve your gas mileage up to 3% by keeping your tires properly inflated.
Tire Preparation for Winter
Many New Englanders opt for winter tires (or “snow tires”) in the colder months, but do you actually need them? In most cases, yes. As MotorTrend explains, “once temperatures approach and go past freezing, accompanied by snow and ice, all-season tires lose their capabilities — regardless of whether you have all-wheel drive.” Winter tires have certain rubber compounds and tread designs that allow for better gripping of the road in adverse weather.
Another set of tires might seem like an unnecessary expense but having two sets means your all-season tires will see less mileage per year, ultimately increasing their longevity.
Whether you opt for winter tires or stick to all-season ones, it’s important to make sure there is enough tread and proper air pressure. To check the tread, you can conduct a quick “penny test” by inserting a penny into the tire treads. If you can see Lincoln’s head, your tires are due for a rotation or replacement.
Tire Preparation for Spring
Spring weather in New England is hit or miss. You could see bright sunny skies one day and heavy rain the next, which means proper tire preparation and maintenance is crucial. If you have winter tires, it’s best to swap them out for your all-season ones once the snowy, icy weather is behind you. (Unfortunately for New Englanders, that could mean late spring!)
Check your all-season tires for tire pressure and signs of wear, including cracks. The spring is also a good time for a tire rotation and alignment since potholes and bumps in the road left over from winter can knock things off kilter.
Tire Preparation for Summer
Yes, you do need to prepare for tires for the hot, humid days of summer! Plus, it’s also the perfect time to replace tire pads and check the rotors.
Make sure your tread is even and that you have the correct tire pressure; sometimes, tires overinflate during the summer months due to air expanding in the warm temperatures.
Tire Preparation for Fall
Again, it’s time to check tread and tire pressure! Fall in New England often means warmer days and cooler nights, so there’s a good chance your tire pressure light may go on during the first sign of cold weather.
Additional Maintenance Tips for the Changing Seasons
Tires are certainly important, but here are some other points to keep in mind:
Get regular oil changes and have skilled professionals check your breaks and battery
Check your fluid levels and wiper blades
Ensure your heat and AC work before you need them
It also never hurts to research reputable auto body collision shops so you have one handy in the unfortunate event of an accident. And though it’s not specifically maintenance related, we also recommend contacting your auto insurance company to see if you’re eligible for any new discounts. You can do this at any time – not just when your policy is up for renewal. Many providers offer safety-related and good driving discounts, so it’s always worth a quick phone call or email.
And that’s it! New Englanders have a lot going for them— great restaurants and breweries, easy access to both mountains and the ocean, some pretty great sports teams, and four seasons that offer a lot in terms of recreation and beauty. Make sure you take full advantage of it all by keep your car and tires in top shape, no matter the time of year.
Important Than Ever Fleet electrification is now at a point we might call “technological and economic maturity.” As it relates to electric vehicles (EVs), they’re becoming increasingly affordable, cost effective, capable, and able to perform nearly all the functions of ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles.
Full vehicle electrification means zero tail pipe emissions, and this fundamental transformation of powertrain technology can (and will) yield a similarly transformational moment for the planet, as vehicle exhaust emissions are greatly reduced, and air quality improves.
While it’s not yet possible to replace every ICE vehicle in the world with an EV, one area ripe for change is fleets. Whether it’s a multinational delivery company, or your local county government, organizations all over North America are seeing the long-term benefits of adopting EVs into their fleets.
ICE Cars and Truck = Bad Air One of the biggest vehicle segments of polluters in the world is ICE fleets. Every day, millions of ICE vehicles take to the roads and highways of the world to deliver the goods and services that support our modern societies. For any company with a fleet, transitioning away from emissions-heavy vehicles to zero emissions and trucks offer a huge, proportional decline in greenhouse gas emissions. For these companies, the fastest path to meeting corporate environmental goals is integrating EVs into their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategies.
ESG is Key ESG is often referred to as sustainability in a business context, but it’s also directly related to a company’s business model; that is, how its products and services contribute to sustainable development. It’s also about a company’s growth and risk management (how it manages its own operations to minimize negative impact).
As organizations adopt and embrace the global ESG push, EVs will play a key role. The speed, simplicity, and effectiveness of adopting EVs can be illustrated in the following examples. Imagine a mid-sized bakery that delivers bread in a city. The bakery might have several ICE delivery vans that bring baked goods and breads to restaurants and various customers, but it also wants to align with ESG goals it has set for itself. In the short term, the bakery might not have the ability to quickly reinvent a more sustainable way to make bread or the time to source sustainably farmed raw materials. But switching to an EV-based fleet (which can be done relatively quickly) not only has an immediate benefit for their town’s air, but also almost instantly provides the bakery with a big checkmark in the ESG column, and gives them more time to evaluate better, more sustainable ways to produce their goods. Similarly, a giant international plastics company might not have the advanced engineering technologies to make plastics from renewable raw materials. But what it can do is offset its (rather large) emission footprint by adopting the hundreds if not thousands of EVs it will use to deliver product across the globe.
In almost every case, converting to EVs allows a company to say with conviction that “we are truly doing something big for sustainability,” without disrupting every component of their day-to-day operations.
Change is… Easy The EV revolution is here, and this technology is only getting more powerful, efficient, and affordable. The sooner that you, the local bakery, and the large multi-national plastics maker begin to leverage this technology, the sooner you can start saving money, make your business more sustainable, and position yourself as an industry leader. Converting even a small percentage of ICE vehicles on the road today to a zero-emission powertrain can result in truly remarkable results for both your business and the planet. A trusted EV expert like Merchants Fleet can help you navigate the EV adoption journey by implementing AdoptEV, our proprietary five-step EV implementation framework to both strategically and logistically prepare your organization for the electrification of your fleet and a sustainable tomorrow.
Author/Author Bio: Hari Nayar serves as the Director of Electrification & Sustainability at Merchants Fleet. A leading fleet electrification expert, Nayar focuses on providing fleet clients with the tools and insights they need to make a seamless and cost-effective entry into the electric vehicle market.
Benefits of Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure with Nitrogen
Tires are designed for a specific pressure, and fuel economy improves by over 3% when that pressure is conserved. However, the US Department of Energy estimates that incorrectly inflated tires waste 3.56 million gallons of gas each year. When tires are filled with nitrogen, they lose pressure four times slower than air-filled tires. Conserving the pressure of tires improves fuel economy, and charge is used more efficiently in the case of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles bring several environmental benefits by themselves, even before adding nitrogen-filled tires. They can run with renewable energy sources, something that is not possible with gas cars. A common argument against EVs is that they provide no benefit when fossil fuels still dominate the power grid. However, this is not the case:
Even if a power grid still runs 100% on fossil fuels, electric vehicles reduce emissions in urban areas, concentrating them at power plants.
Power stations burn fossil fuels more efficiently than gas cars, and they are subject to more stringent regulations.
If a power grid is decarbonized in the future, electric vehicles transition to renewable sources seamlessly – they run with electricity regardless of how it is generated. On the other hand, gas cars cannot switch to clean energy, unless they are modified to become electric.
The benefits of electric vehicles are enhanced with nitrogen-filled tires, thanks to the increase in energy efficiency. However, there are still several barriers to overcome before EVs can become mainstream.
How the Building Sector Can Incentive the Use of EVs
One of the main limitations for electric vehicles is the lack of charging infrastructure. However, building owners can change this by adding parking spaces with EV chargers. This way, owners of electric vehicles can get charge in places other than their homes. If these units have fast charging capabilities, they can fill up an EV during an errand such as going to the supermarket. In addition, building owners who are seeking a LEED certification can earn points by having charging stations.
Since nitrogen-filled tires increase energy efficiency in an EV, each charge lasts slightly longer. The frequency of charging cycles is reduced, and EV batteries have a longer service life as a result. This is a significant benefit, since batteries are among the most expensive components in EVs.
Using Federal Tax Credits to Incentive EVs
The government can also incentive the use of electric vehicles with legislation. Perhaps the best example is the federal tax credit for EVs, which ranges from $2,500 to $7,500 per vehicle. The benefit applies separately for vehicles from each manufacturer, and it starts to phase out when 200,000 EVs of the same brand have been sold.
The full list of eligible vehicles for the tax credit has been published by the US Department of Energy and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Note that the benefit not only covers EVs, but also plug-in electric hybrids.
Synergy Between Nitrogen-Filled Tires and Electric Vehicles
Nitrogen inflation and electric vehicles provide environmental benefits separately, and synergy is achieved when both concepts are combined. While nitrogen-filled tires reduce the energy consumption of vehicles, the use of EVs can help decarbonize transportation by switching to clean energy sources.
Nitrogen also reduces waste, since the gas is free of two corrosive agents found in the air: oxygen and water vapor. Tires not only lose pressure at a slower rate, but they also last longer. The noncorrosive nature of nitrogen is especially beneficial for metallic components of tires, such as rims. At the same time, EV batteries can have a longer service life with less frequent charging cycles.
Credit:
Michael Tobias PE, LEED, AP, CEM
Founder of Chicago Engineers, New York, NY
Mandates Integration of Energy Efficient Green Technology
To Achieve Net Zero Energy Standards
