Monday 29 October 2007


Hammers plate knocks Arsenal off the Top

Although unlikely on face value and current form,this was a headline story I couldn't resist following.

Apparently last Friday, West Ham shot to the top of the premier league of personalised registration numbers today when the licence plate WE57 HAM went for a record-breaking £57,000 at auction.

A fierce bidding war erupted at the DVLA Personalised Registrations sale in Bishop’s Stortford as dozens of die-hard fans of the club battled it out for the ultimate Hammers status symbol.

And that sent the price rocketing and forced the winning bidder, who bid anonymously over the internet, to smash the previous record for a football-related registration – the £36,000 paid for AR53 NAL in 2004.

Damian Lawson, Marketing Manager for DVLA Personalised Registrations, was delighted by the huge sum fetched by the star lot.

He said: ‘The atmosphere in the auction room was electric – it was like a cup final. The fans bidding showed the same passion they do on the terraces and we could only watch as the price kept on rising and rising. We knew there was going to be a lot of interest and we thought there was a good chance the plate could knock AR53 NAL off the top of the table but we couldn’t believe just how much it went for.’

Though not in the normal line of low emission car posts,I thought some of you out there might find this story sad,or amusing,or great,...or whatever.

-

Sunday 28 October 2007


The Next Generation No or Low Carbon Hondas



Honda has confirmed plans to bring its most exciting ‘green’ cars into production. In addition to the production version of the FCX hydrogen fuel cell car to be unveiled next month at the LA Motor Show and scheduled to go on sale in the US and Japan in 2008,Honda will launch a compact lightweight sports coupe based on the CR-Z concept (above) and powered by a hybrid powertrain at adate date yet to be announced .

The recent announcement by Honda’s President and CEO, Takeo Fukui,marks the beginning of the next generation of environmentally-friendlier vehicles ,sporting designs likely to appeal to a wide audience.

“Hybrids have always been seen as niche products, and hybrid car design has mostly been based around practicality and versatility,” says John Kingston, Environment Manager at Honda (UK). “The CR-Z Concept looks stunning, and shows that green cars can be sexy and exciting – but also minimise environmental impact."

Honda will be looking to sell over 1/4 million hybrids a year by 2009

The CR-Z Concept follows in the tyre prints of the Honda Remix Concept (seen at the LA Show last year), and the Small Hybrid Sports Concept (first out at Geneva in March) all of which explore the potential of a compact sportscar that’s exciting to drive, but has minimal impact on the environment.

For more exciting pictures from the Honda display stand at the Tokyo Motor Show, featuring the CR-Z,FCX concept,and the PUYO concept, click here for Paul Harmer's website.

Tuesday 23 October 2007


New Smart fortwo adds up, or does it?


Believe it or not, it is seven years ago that the first Smart cars hit our streets. This diminutive and energy miser has developed and new models are, or are about, to become available (although how many for UK supply is in question). Three models - Coupe (pictured),Cabrio and Brabus- are featured in an extensive road test report at the green car guide. A diesel version of one model ,with particulate filter ,has a consumption performance of 85.7 mph ,and 88g/km of CO2 emissions ,making it a clear no nonsense sub-100g/km club member.

Here's an opportunity to examine the latest Smart cars up close and personal.Click here.

Sunday 14 October 2007






Green for the Earth from Subaru


Here's a little beauty expected to be shown at the upcoming 40th Tokyo Motor Show later this month, the G4e concept.Although a compact in dimensions,this new environmentally-friendly electric car with a triangular body shape will be a true five-seater.Fitted with the next generation batteries,its light weight and all round high-performance are designed by Suburu, owned by Fuji Heavy Industries, to give it a range of 200 kilometres. Auto Express magazine this week reports that the new powerpacks for this car are not lithium-ion but vanadium batteries developed by Suburu.They are said to provide the longer range, and to be more stable and last longer than the current generation of batteries.

Be back soon with more exciting new concepts (Toyota are offering the 1/X,the RiN,the Hi-CT,and the i-REAL) for green motoring from the Tokyo expo.

Friday 12 October 2007






Lower emissions with higher performance,today

At the high end,car manufacturers are also making great technological strides to combine luxury with high efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.One such leading brand is Lexus,currently running a high cost advertising campaign for the world's first all wheel drive luxury performance hybrid saloon.

The flagship model is the new hybrid powered LS 600h.This went on sale at the start of the month with demand extending order leadtimes into next spring.Packed full of preventative,active and passive features,and equipped with an advanced powertrain, it is probably the most sophisticated car in its class.This is real luxury motoring.

So what performance can we expect for a little over £80k. The LS 600h 5.0 litre petrol engine with V8 powertrain and high-output motor gives a high performing 0 to 62 mph in 6.3 seconds,higher than its diesel market segment competitors, but with similar combined cycle consumption at 30.4 mph and CO2 emissions of 219g/km.

There are two model variations.One with longer wheel base, the other with the extra length and what is called the Rear Seat Relaxation Package. For a few grand over the standard model price,these extras must be good.Other Lexus luxury hybrid models currently being sold are the RX400h SUV,and the GS 450h.For more information you should visit the Lexus website.

So though not low emission in absolute unit terms, this generation of luxury cars, to be owned by a relatively low number of people, is to significantly reduce the carbon footprint for its class. We are returning to more of the lower emission and more affordable cars available to the UK motorist here at low emission cars in the next few days

Thursday 11 October 2007





Is it a baby Octopus?Electric Nissan Pivo 2 Concept



Nissan is hoping it won't be a white elephant.The electric powered Pivo 2 concept will be shown by Nissan at the forthcoming Tokyo Motor Show.

Green Car Guide writes:

'Powered by advanced compact Lithium-ion batteries and featuring a unique 360 degree rotating cabin – meaning no reverse gear is required – the first Pivo became a cult hit at shows from Beijing to Geneva.

Where the first Pivo, with its fully rotating cabin design, made reversing obsolete, the Pivo 2 takes that easy mobility concept to a new level. Each of the four wheels are powered by Nissan’s advanced electric in-wheel 3D motor and can turn through 90 degrees to allow Pivo 2 to drive sideways as well as forward.

In addition to features such as ‘by-wire’ technologies for braking and steering, the car even features a ‘Robotic Agent’. With conversations possible in Japanese and English, Nissan says that the Robotic Agent has been created to work with Pivo 2 “to make every journey less stressful”. It provides an interface for communication with Pivo 2 on everything from basic vehicle functions to the nearest available parking.

Pivo 2 will be on display at the Nissan Ginza Gallery in Tokyo, for an exclusive public sneak preview ahead of the Motor Show.

Let’s hope we see Nissan’s electric technology in cars we can buy soon.'

Tuesday 2 October 2007


Chatsworth Rally Shows off low emission engines

As flagged in low emission cars (17th August 2007),Chatsworth played host to famous world rally stars including Russell Brookes and 1967 Monte Carlo Rally winner Rauno Aaltonen, who made demonstration drives in the new Oaktec Honda Civic Hybrid.

Also making an appearance at the extremely well attended show was the new Bowler ‘Nemesis’, a new specially designed off-road racer running on bioethanol disguised as a Range Rover Sport.

Green Car Guide reports :

‘The two day event included three competitive Special Stage rallies for both Historic and modern rally cars, a pageant of "Rallying History" - featuring many of the world's greatest rally cars, precision and stunt-driving displays - including TV star, Russ Swift, and "Stage Sessions" for owners of competition and modified road cars, giving them the opportunity of driving the special stages under non-competitive "track day” conditions.

Two World and 12 British Rally Champions were among the line-up of star names, including Gwyndaf Evans (1996 British Rally Champion), who set some of the fastest stage times, although he didn’t take the wheel of the Oaktec car.’

The Oaktec team are already looking to building the world’s first bio-fuel/hybrid Super Touring Car to race in the British Touring Car Championship.

More...

Monday 1 October 2007


Mini Classic turns into a Champion of the Green

Now this is a really exciting opportunity! You could own a real Mini from the 60s, or later, converted to electric power by vehicle specialists, to your own specifications.

Minis are still all the fashion on our roads,although the first of these iconic cars was produced well over 40 years ago. The original body style designed by Sir Alec Assigonis was produced,with modifications from time to time,until 2000.It became the most popular British car. And now ,the Mini is a best seller again ,having been resurrected by BMW.The new BMW Mini is continuing to evolve into a very efficient ,stylish and low consumption car according to recent report here low emission cars (11th September 2007).

However,enough of the new cars,how about a retro original Mini powered by electric.Here we have the best of everything. A true star from the past combined with the essential drive to reduce CO2 emissions ,and contribute to maintaining a sustainable environment for our children and later generations by helping to slow the rate of global climate change. Yes,I am a fervent believer that we can help ourselves, and moving to low emission cars is a necessary action to take. It does not have to take the fun out of cars and driving. Owning a marvellous Mini from the past converted to be driven under electric battery power is testament to this, and you can go to the future vehicles website for details if you click here for future vehicles

Want an electric car with the looks and real feel of a classic conventional car,and the power to zoom up hills and travel over 50, with no worries? See the future vehicles website.