Sunday 30 September 2007

Green speed soon to spur A1GP World Cup of Motorsport?

As a concept, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport differentiates itself from other global motor racing organizations. The body responsible for running A1GP recently announced a further major initiative to move as quickly as possible to bio-ethanol engined-cars using 30% ethanol fuel. This is designed to drive ,with other measures, a reduction in carbon emissions, and use carbon-offsetting for unavoidable emissions.

With a global audience now covering 150 countries, A1GP is fully aware of its responsibility as a sport with a significant carbon footprint, and is intent on reducing its environmental impact.
Sourced from sugar beet in Europe and specifically produced for the A1GP series, the E30 bio-fuel produces less harmful particulate matter than conventional fuels and will reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. By implementing E30, A1GP are expecting to reduce CO2 emissions per car by 21% in a racing season based on a well to wheel basis calculation. There are however some technical issues yet to be resolved . Although extensive tests under road conditions have been successfully conducted ,there are present concerns about whether the required performance can yet be sustained over very long periods.

A1GP’s chief executive officer, Pete da Silva said: ‘It is highly regrettable that we have not been able to start A1GP’s third season [from 30th September 2007] running on our planned bio-fuel mix. We have undertaken 4,600 kilometres of testing which has already successfully demonstrated that an international race series can remain exciting and competitive while also taking account of its environmental impact. However, we must ensure that the long term impact of our fuel change does not impact on our on-track action.

‘The launch of our THINK Greener Racing policy at Silverstone last month was warmly accepted by the industry and key environmental leaders and remains at the centre of our business strategy moving forward.’

I wish them all success, and will bring any further news about this very important environmental initiative.

Launched in 2004, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is an entirely new concept where driver is pitted against driver ,and country is against country ,for the first time in history. In addition to the traditional motorsport fan base, A1GP attracts a new audience passionate about their country and heritage. A1GP brings together 22 nations in 11 races in 10 countries to compete as equals without financial or technological advantage. A1GP is keen to allow fans to interact with teams and drivers as part of its inclusive approach. Because A1GP is a single make series it is possible to implement change and technological advances more quickly and holistically.

Thursday 27 September 2007



Here's a sporty Citroën with membership of the sub-120 emissions club

Citroën’s 110hp C2 1.6HDi VTS is a diesel supermini,the first sports model to feature the VTS insignia. Available now at an introductory discounted price, on a cash back basis from certain dealers ,at just under £11,000.If you are quick you may also swing a year's free insurance to boot ,if aged 25 and over.

So what can you expect?

How about:

  • 64 mpg
  • 5 speed manual gear box
  • 62 mph in 9.4 seconds
  • air conditioning
  • four airbags
  • an alarm and ABS with EBD as standard
  • 16" alloy wheels
  • Band B for Vehicle Excise Duty
  • 80% more torque than the petrol version of the model
Sounds like a good deal to me.

For more details on this car, and other cars in the sub-120 g/km CO2 club, click here
for the Green Car Guide

Monday 24 September 2007


You can join the low emission future today in style

Recently, I have been covering a lot of what maybe available to the UK car buyer within the next two or three years.So its great now to be looking at a low emission car which you can actually buy NOW! A star of the recent Frankfurt Show, and referred to briefly earlier this month on lec (you know, low emission cars),the Elettrica is launched on the London streets.The Green Car Guide describes this ultra compact electric car as:

"a combination of Italian styling and design, Japanese engineering and British electronics, and is the first production electric car in the UK with the option of a lithium power supply, which is claimed to provide almost twice the range of other small electric cars.

The lithium battery version is said to offer a 70 mile range and a top speed of 45 miles per hour. There is also a lead battery version offering a 40 mile range and a top speed of 40mph.

The batteries can be charged for a few minutes or a few hours with no risk of damage. The lithium battery version can be fully charged in 5-6 hours, the lead battery version in 8 hours, and electricity should cost no more than 50p to drive 70 miles.

Drivers will be exempt from the congestion charge, will enjoy free parking in Westminster, the City and many other parts of London, and the Elettrica is also exempt from road tax.

Lithium batteries have a much longer life than lead batteries, are lighter, and do not represent an environmental hazard on disposal. The car has no tailpipe emissions, and should be charged with renewable energy to be truly green.

The car has an aluminium safety cage, disc brakes, front and rear impact bars, and has undergone front and side crash-testing - well beyond the EU requirements for this type of vehicle.

The Elettrica costs £9,950 inc VAT for the lead-battery powered version and £12,750 inc VAT for the lithium powered version. Prices also include registration and delivery to any London address.

The car is available from Future Vehicles, the exclusive distributor for customers based in London and within the M25."

You can go to the Future Vehicles website if you click here

Friday 21 September 2007


This 'tiny'could be the city car of the future

The other ultra-compact car I promised you from the frankfurt show is another concept(no prizes for guessing the colour of this green car!): the Volkswagen up! Measuring just 3.45m it is only a staggering 47cm longer than the other contender for car of the show, the Toyota iQ, covered in yesterday's post. This two- or three-cylinder rear engined highly efficient car should yield 70 mpg and will help to meet the growing European demand (up 20% on last year according to Toyota) for small cars.VW are hopeful that, when the up! goes into production in 2009, it will claim in due course the same iconic status as the Beetle or the Golf.

With cabin space seating four adults, the up! concept has a touch sensitive screen which will enable the driver to access through hand movements certain information on the weather,in-car entertainment and vehicle controls.A second head-up screen will provide critical information on the cars's systems together with instant read-outs of CO2 levels being emiited. VW are looking for this car to be around for a long time.

So with Fiat also unveiling a radical two-cylinder 900cc engine which will only emit an amazing 69g of CO2 emissions, the leading carmakers are taking very seriously the
challenge to meet regulations and a market which consider level of CO2 emissions to be as important as fuel consumption.So the big sellers of the future will be small.

We will continue to watch these imminent products or similar.Over the next week or so, it will be back to production cars and some news on motorsport.

Thursday 20 September 2007


Think white and small for this green concept

At the eco-obsessed Frankfurt show,white was the colour for most of the exciting concept cars exhibited.Arguably one of the cars of the show was the Toyota iQ concept.
Yes,this ultra-compact was white! Designed by Toyota's European design studio as an efficient urban driving machine with style, and space for three adults and a child, the iQ at a mere 2.98m in length will thrive on the challenge of tight road spaces.This car will offer a lifestyle statement for the eco-conscious ,with both functionality and low CO2 emissions.This is certainly one to watch for the future.

Tomorrow,I'll show you the other concept contender for car of the show...and yes the colour is white!

Tuesday 18 September 2007


Going electric rather than gas at the Frankfurt car show

So another show ends.Was there anything new? Well,of course there was,but most of it had been previewed.The main story could be said to be electric,or more precisely,the development of electric battery technology.This will govern the future for low emission electric cars.

The Frankfurt Motor Show played host to many manufacturers who were trialling or promoting electric cars demonstrating ,in this era of ever rising oil prices and the need to combat the rate of global climate change, their commitment to invest in environmentally-friendly vehicles.Of course the stick is the possibility of the European Commission regulating an even lower CO2 emissions target than 120g/km.

The steepling price of oil at $80+ a barrel makes the electric car ,with its currently expensive battery, a more commercial proposition for the carmaker.

Taking a current production car upgrade,the Toyota Prius uses new nickel-metal hydride batteries.Such is progress,incoming are the much vaunted lithium-ion batteries producing almost twice the power.But they are still mainly at concept because of cost (and some teething problems - batteries have overheated causing fires).There is the Elettrica which is making its first appearance in the UK. More costly than the G-Wiz,this Italian built car will deliver 70 miles of motoring on a charge at a top speed of 45 mph.

Also on show were the Chevrolet Volt and Volvo Recharge reported previously in these pages, and the Nissan Mixim,another concept, but described by the Sunday Times as "powered by compact lithium-ion batteries ,and is all-wheel drive as it has one electric motor per axle.It may only have been driven to the stand at low speed ..., but Nissan predicts it could have a top speed of 112mph, a range of 90-125 miles between recharges, and a charging time as short as 20-40 minutes." Nissan expect to have electric cars using technology like that on the Mixim by 2010.

BMW weighed in with the Concept X6, with ActiveHybrid,which has been driven on electric power alone,or with combustion engine, or a combination of both.Another exciting prospect for the future was the appearance (see picture above)of the C-Cactus by Citroen.So named because it does not drink much,this car can produce a 97 mpg performance.Using half the number of parts of a conventional car,the C-Cactus also uses a significant number of recycled or recyclable materials.Michelin tyres on 21" wheels contribute to reduced road friction to boost fuel efficiency.

A great show. Much promise for more and stylish green production cars in the near future.

Tuesday 11 September 2007


So just how many people can you get into a Mini at a stretch?


Old joke it maybe. The answer is a few more than you could in 1967.

BMW have worked on the Mini,a successful retro revival,and with the market call for a low emission car with room have come-up with a stretched version with inspiration from the 1960s Morris Mini Traveller,Austin Mini Countryman and Mini Clubman Estate. There are three engine variants for this latest Mini Clubman. Of these ,the Cooper D emits just 109 g/km of CO2 ,and delivers a combined fuel consumtion of 68.9 mph.There are many recent improvements which combine to produce this more acceptable sub 120g/km car, including Brake Energy Regeneration,Auto Start-Stop and Gear Shift Point indicator.

This car is based on a concept brought to the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, and as a car in commercial production available to buy in the UK from 10th November 2007,it will be a star at this year's show. The Cooper D will retail at around £15K. The arrival of the Mini Clubman will help further sales growth which for the Mini range is up nearly 14% year on year for 2007 according to Andy Hearn, MINI UK General Manager.

New plug-in hybrid concept to be unveiled by Volvo at Frankfurt

A specially designed Volvo C30, The Recharge Concept, is expected to wow visitors to the Frankfurt Motor Show.

On August 5th I covered the the emergence of a number of flexifuels from Volvo including the C30. The recharge C30 is claimed to be 66 percent lower in CO2 emissions than the best hybrids available today ,and will be good for the equivalent of 124 mpg for a full charge over a 93 mile drive.

Essentially, the C30 has an electric motor at each wheel ,a lithium-polymer battery in the boot and a 1.6-litre flexifuel engine providing power to a generator which takes over if the battery is exhausted. Magnus Jonsson, Volvo's Vice President of Research & Development comments that with the Volvo Recharge Concept " a person driving less than 60 miles per day will rarely need to visit a filling station."

So is this a stodgy performing car compromised by its green features? Not a bit of it!
The concept retains the sporty look and drive of the C30 ,with acceleration of 0-62 mph in 9 seconds and a top speed speed of 100 mph. Just plug-in for three hours and go (a one hour charge will take you 30 miles).Lower running costs and lower emissions combine in this groundbreaking car.

The principal feature is the combustion engine as backup which only kicks-in to power the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of the battery becomes unable to provide the energy for normal driving performance.Apparently the APU is so powerful it can supply a whole house with an electricity supply.It could act as an emergency standby generator.

As with many groundbreaking low emission cars tyres are an important component.And for the C30 Recharge Concept Michelin's specially designed high energy efficient tyres have been employed.

Energy generated in braking is given to the battery, in this truly all-wheel drive car - each wheel is controlled individually.

Flexifuels are designed to operate on E85 ethanol a renewable fuel emitting up to 80% less ~CO2 emissions than petrol - if ethanol is not available then petrol can be used in the same tank.

More exciting news to follow from the Frankfurt Motor Show being held this week.

Conventional combustion engined cars are under some pressure, now!

Friday 7 September 2007


Peugeot 308 Hybrid The Next Generation

Today's post continues my earlier report (August 30th-Peugeot Putting On the Environmental Style).With the unveiling at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show of the
new 308 hybrid HDi, Peugeot signals its strategy and ambition for 2010-2015.The carmaker is determined to consolidate its leadership in the manufacture of environmentally fiendly cars by 2010.By 2015,it plans to be the most competitive carmaker in Europe.

In this way,Peugeot,like Toyota see the green route is the way to the top.Peugeot is determined to reverse its unsatisfactory profit margins and to improve quality and service.

Back to the 308,the demonstrator model to be unleashed at the Frankfurt Motor Show has impressive green credentials.A diesel,rather than a petrol engine,hybrid power train is used to squeeze out a combined cycle consumption of 83 mpg with emissions of only 90g/km of CO2.

The new 308 to be launched in 2010,has a 110 bhp 1.6 HDi DPFS diesel engine coupled with a 22 bhp electric motor . Its performance is 38% better than an equivalent 308 diesel HDi model. Now that is an improvement!

The engine is also designed to operate in Zero Emission Mode (ZEV) on urban roads.
This will meet a future Euro V directive.On open roads and motorways, diesel will power the car;at low speeds and when starting ,the electric motor alone will operate.

Another aspect I like with the new 308 is the use of Michelin's Energy Saver tyres to reduce rolling resistance.The promoting and continuing development of performance enhancing tyre technology is one of the crucial elements in the satisfactory achievement of low consumption driving.

Roll on the Frankfurt Motor Show!This runs from the 13th -23rd of this month.
I hope to bring you some news and pictures from this showcase event for new concepts and production cars.

Wednesday 5 September 2007


Global carmakers serve-up a mixed bag of greens

Today ,the Financial Times reports that last year European carmakers stalled in their bid to cut CO2 emissions.A Brussels based environmental campaign group claims that new vehicle emissions in the European fleets fell by only 0.2.per cent.This is the lowest recorded annual rate of reduction.Emissions fell to 160 g/km, a country mile from a target of 140 g/km set for the end of next year. The European Commission has announced that it will legislate for emissions not to exceed 120g/km by 2012. A worrying trend is that in Spain and Austria carbon dioxide emissions increased last year.

Now,if financial success is the driver for pursuing the green route ,Toyota have made a very strong case. In the years since 2000, its hybrid sales in Europe have topped an accumulative 100,000 units.Toyota and Lexus currently have four different hybrid vehicles(with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive and the Lexus Hybrid Drive) in their offerings for the European market. The mass-produced Toyota Prius, for example, is the best selling sub-120 g/km car.So what about profitability ,with all this massive commitment to low emission cars? It is reported at the end of the its last financial year, Toyota made record profits of $14billion.In the same period ,General Motors and Chrysler in total made losses of about the same amount.

This is truly a mixed bag of greens.But I would back Toyota's charge up the green route to become sustainable number one in carmaking. Already dominating the green car market Toyota (the Sunday Times reports) will be showing its latest petrol-electric car, the Hybrid X, at the Bangkok Motor Show this month.More on this exciting development soon.


Copyright (c) 2007 CFM (Services) Limited.All rights reserved

Monday 3 September 2007


If this Green Project breaks down you can always Eat the Car!

First-up this month is a 'veggie' development with a difference.Not for the Eco 1, the glitzy and big spending showground that is the Frankfurt Motor Show to be held next week. But this cereal story will probably run and run.The Eco 1 car is truly environmentally friendly, in the low emission class.

It can be said to be truly home-grown.Apart from the chassis, which has to have the strength of steel ( a recyclable material) most other parts of this 150 mph racing car are sourced from nature's crops:fuel from wheat and barley,tyres from potatoes,plastic body parts from plants,brakepads from crushed cashew nutshells.So we have a car made virtually of edible or recyclable material and using energy from biofuels.

This car pictured above is 95 percent biogradable, and the pioneering work to produce it could provide many of the solutions in the future development of both greener racing and mass production motor cars.

If you want to see more details of the Eco1 ,built at the Warwick Manufacturing Group, a department of Warwick University ,you can go to the WMG site. Already WMG,a centre of engineering excellence, is seriously talking to people who may be interested in helping develop the exciting technology for these low-emission cars.

Given WMG's progress to date with this cutting edge project,I feel I can now probably safely say that I will not have to eat my car!