Demand for Green Cars Beginning to Accelerate

Posted on April 20, 2012 by admin

According to research carried out by SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) CO2 emission level figures on new cars are getting greener. The average CO2 emissions for a new car went down by 4.2% last year and have reduced by 23% in the last decade.

However, the average new car figure of 138g of CO2 per one kilometre is still higher than the 2015 European legislative target of 130g/km. SMMT figures showed that last year only half of new cars had emissions below the 130g/km figure. They also found that 66,000 vehicles were exempt from having to pay vehicle excise duty because they were below 100g/km. An increasing number of drivers are looking to compare cheap car insurance for a greener car than they had previously driven.

SMMT Chief Executive Paul Everitt said: “The UK motor industry can be proud of the progress it has made in reducing CO2 emissions and improving fuel efficiency. The industry recognises its responsibilities and the industrial opportunities from the transition to ultra-low carbon vehicles. Future environmental and economic success will be determined by sustained investment in new technology, research and development, infrastructure and consumer incentives. We are seeing steady improvement in conventional technologies and the emergence of a range of alternative technologies, creating one of the most innovative periods for the global automotive industry.”

Executive cars (10%) and specialist sports cars (8.0%) showed the biggest fall in emission levels in 2011 compared with 2010, while executive cars (35%) also made the biggest emissions improvements in the last decade. With stricter emissions legislation in place and increasing consumer demand to reduce the costs of motoring, the great majority of motor manufacturers are striving to reduce carbon emissions and improve vehicle efficiency. Many car manufactures are giving plenty of useful information to help make the right choice, such as eco labels that show its CO2 figure and estimated annual running costs.

Economics Driving Consumers to Car Showrooms

Posted on April 19, 2012 by admin

Motorists in the UK are increasingly looking to purchase car insurance on vehicles with low carbon emissions and economic usage of fuel.

That is the outcome of a report from the industry leading Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The report shows that new cars with their technological advances are becoming more popular with consumers, and it is down to the modern day cost of motoring. According to SMMT almost half of all new cars sold last year had emissions of less than 130 grams per kilometre; just four years ago only 10% of cars could boast of being so clean. The figure of 130 is key to the industry as European Union regulations demand that all cars emit no more than 130 g/km by 2015. At the moment the average new car in the UK emits 138g/kg but designers are now confident that the target will be met.

It is not clean emissions though that is foremost in motorists’ minds when they buy a new car, it is economics. The new breed of cars can easily give drivers over 50 miles to the gallon and with fuel prices obstinately staying at record levels it is this factor that is driving prospective buyers to the car showrooms. John Madslien from the BBC summed it up by saying: “New or nearly new cars are now so frugal that, with the currently high petrol and diesel prices, switching from old, thirsty models often pays for itself. Both fleet and private car buyers realise this, so demand for fuel efficient cars has soared. Given the close link between reduced fuel consumption and emission reductions, the result has been a big step towards an envisaged future of low carbon motoring.”

Interestingly enough the report shows that zero emission cars are still having very little bearing on the race to cut emissions, as only just over 1% of new cars are carbon free.

Leading motoring magazine goes carbon neutral

Posted on December 29, 2011 by admin

The onus on the motoring industry to be more sensitive than others towards carbon emissions has been illustrated once again this week, with the announcement that one of the UK’s leading motor magazines is planning to go carbon neutral.

What Car? magazine is well known throughout the UK and its road tests on new models has influenced many motorists on deciding exactly which vehicle they go out and get a motor insurance quote for. The magazine announced yesterday that it is teaming up with Carbon Neutral Investments (CNI) to ensure their carbon emissions are offset in the future.

What Car? Editor Chas Hallett described the decision as important to the motoring industry, explaining: “What Car? Has led the motoring media industry for many years, and this new move to carbon neutrality by offsetting all our road tests will keep us one step ahead in 2012.”

The magazine will offset its emissions by supporting a hydro power project in the Maharashtra region of India and says its commitment to carbon neutrality will bring big social and economic advantages to the people in the Maharashtra region.

CNI Chairman James Brown, who has already managed to make one of the leading Formula 1 team’s carbon neutral, confirmed the statement saying: “The majority of emissions from What Car? come from road testing, so it is a logical step for us to start off-setting the emissions from these activities. With some 13 magazine issues per year each containing around 20 road tests there is a lot of work to do but we and What Car? are committed to continued leadership of the industry with our new carbon neutral offering.”

Zero emission grant set to start in January

Posted on December 20, 2010 by admin

At long last the much vaunted Government grant for plug-in vehicles has been given the go-ahead. The deal which will start on January 1^st 2011 was first proposed by the last Labour Government and although the Coalition Government never actually scrapped it they have been very slow in actually confirming they would honour the deal.

The grant has now been confirmed and producers of cars such as the new zero emission Nissan Leaf will be expecting the grant to encourage a lot more motorists to get a motor insurance quote on the new car. There are another eight cars that will qualify for the grant and these are; The Tata Vista, the Citroen C-ZERO, which will be launched later in the year, with the Vauxhall Ampera, Chevrolet Volt and the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid due in 2012. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Peugeot i0n and Smart Fortwo electric drive will be available straight away.

Paul Everitt, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said “The transition to ultra-low carbon vehicles is a great opportunity for the UK motor industry. The Plug-In Car Grant and infrastructure investment through the Plugged-In Places scheme is helping to create a coordinated and comprehensive approach to creating vital consumer demand.

“The motor industry is making great progress in delivering practical, low carbon vehicles and we will see further progress of new and conventional technologies in the years ahead.”

The grant will certainly be welcomed by garage forecourt owners around the UK who will be hoping the appeal of an alternative type of vehicle will boost visitors and sales to their showrooms in which was otherwise promising to be a slow start to the year. Motorists will be able to get a grant of up to £5,000 on the purchase of a plug-in vehicle.