THE need for a high-tech car workshop able to provide complete care for a vehicle -- that too costing the environment nothing, has long been there. But there was a yawning gap between the necessity and reality; at least until recently.

ACE Automobile Workshop and Service Centre at Gulshan-1 came into being nine years ago when two innovative and futuristic minds put their heads together with a single goal -- to utilise and invest their resources into a business that will be sustain itself and make sure that it does not take toll on environment. The first condition they set for the business was that it had to be environmentally friendly. Last month, on the ninth anniversary of the company, they launched a customer service website (URL: www.acebd.net) that not only provides customers with access to the company facilities but also relays environmental information to those who care to know.

It appears that the workshop is not all about taking care of one's needs in terms of getting their cars in perfect shape, but about maintaining a level of commitment towards Green conservation which is evident in the fact that an entire section of the website has been devoted to dwell on different types of pollution that dog Dhaka City. ACE has a policy which they prefer to call 'Green Policy', which outlines how they are going to contribute to make the city a better place to live in.

Not only the use of biodegradable products and discount-prices on pollution control fuel additives and other air management items, ACE also makes efforts to educate drivers on the transportation laws and the civic responsibilities concerning public safety. Environmental approaches already on board at ACE are reforestation projects (where free distribution of plants occurs), subsidised sale of CFC-free products as air fresheners and cleaning agents, educating people on the impact of air and

sound pollution by automobile and so on.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Chairman Syed Marghub Murshed attended the ceremony marking the launch of the website. ACE authorities also inaugurated CNG conversion facilities on the same day. Ziauddin Khan, managing director of the company, said, "This company was initiated due to our personal fascination towards re-creating an environmentally sound and pollution-free city. We believed in sustaining our own development while not harming the environment."

ACE, along with other active NGOs, has proposed to Dhaka Urban Transport Coordination Board, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry to import pollution control devices. "A tax cut on such items will certainly diversify any import attempt of such items," Ziauddin told The StarTech.

He also spoke about how ACE

has initialised thoughts on import of alternate fuel vehicles (AFVS) in the future automobile market of Bangladesh. He hoped the future of such industry would surely hold adequate facilities and the infrastructure to support such hybrid automobile units. He suggested a cost cut on electricity, like the one where vehicles would be required to be recharge every 24 hours. "Maybe we will import on our own. Maybe we will have private partners."

Another environmentally friendly step already in force is collection of rainwater. ACE uses rainwater in washing the rears and the bottoms of a vehicle and its tyres. However, no major frontal wash or cleaning of the body is done with this water due to possible presence of acidity in it. ACE also plans to build a private water recycling plant to make better use of the water already used in washing. It also envisages a solar panel to generate electricity in times of power outage. There

is a newsletter that focuses on growing awareness among people of the different Green issues, the second issue of which is due in the next month.

A "used car sector" has been linked to help buy and sell cars online. Provision for online appointment and evaluation forms through which customers may choose their own suitable time to avail ACE services are also available. ACE also offers automobile maintenance, safety driving tips, list of services and a 'AAA car and limousine service' on its website. It also provides a list of existing customers, which mainly compose of units of foreign private banks and insurance agencies.

ACE site welcomes any comments or advices on their activities towards a pollution-free Bangladesh. The unconventional views of the company have reasons to stir enthusiastic response from other businesses with similar approach to follow suit.