Thursday 31 July 2008




Low emissions and impressive economy from new i-VTEC engines

Available this Autumn, the all-new Jazz from Honda provides a stylish new option to help combat the rising fuel price blues.

Building on the success of the current Jazz ,Honda says its engineers' have taken the innovative design and versatility of the current car to the next stage'. This they have done with a slightly larger body style yielding better visibility, and more interior space offering greater flexibility of use. More economical petrol engines offer a lively alternative to comparable diesel cars.

The 90PS 1.2 -litre engine, the manufacturer says, achieves 55.4 mpg on the combined cycle,with CO2 emissions of just 120 g/km (VED Band B). The 100PS 1.4-litre engine is also improved with a performance at 54.3 mpg ,and CO2 emissions of 123 g/km.

In these times of rising fuel prices and financial instability you may be planning your next car purchase, perhaps looking to downsize. With the Jazz's new spaciousness,you may feel you will not have to compromise too much. Worth a good look.
For more details you can go to the Green Car Guide from here

Friday 25 July 2008




Electric Cars are Go at the British Motor Show

Visitors to the British Motor Show are being treated to a stunning collection of the very best in motoring including some incredible electric cars. These cars include two two seater sports cars - the Electric Lightening GT (by a UK company ) and the Tesla Roadster (by a US company and familiar to these pages see to right). There is also representing the electrics the Ze-o,the first family size ,five seater MPV , from leading electrical vehicle retailer, the NICE company (see earlier post this month); as well as models from G-Wiz and the new brand Quiet Cars.

The Electric Lightening (shown above),which has a built in battery charging system ,can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds,and with power of 700+bhp can do 130 mph. Here is a top-end exciting car that defies the often held belief that electric means compromise on performance.

For a gallery of pictures of other green cars at the British Motor Show click here for the Green Car Guide website

Wednesday 23 July 2008




'Green' are the eye-catching cars starring at the British Motor Show

I promised you a comprehensive look at the many stunning green cars previewed at the British Motor Show which opens tomorrow. Do go now to the Green Car Guide website for first hand information and superb images of many of the low emission cars on show which are either currently available to buy, or are soon to be available to buy, in the UK; there are a few exciting concepts,too,if you like to see what's new and developing.

Shown at the top is the green award-winning Ford Focus ECOnetic which emits a low CO2 rate at 114g/kg (depending on model e.g. the Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Style has 119g/kg of CO2 and averages 62.7 mpg) giving it tax and running cost benefits.

So if cars excite you, or you are looking for your next car to buy, you should follow your interest and start your research here at the Green Car Guide

Tuesday 22 July 2008



Where the UK's largest collection of 'greener' vehicles,low and no emission cars, and 'green' car technologies will be this week

The British Motor Show opens later this week. It's star-studded cast of motors from all around the World will include the largest collection of green cars ever assembled in the UK claims Paul Everitt,Chief Executive of The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Apart from showcasing a stunning array of low and no emission cars, the show should go a long way to informing the public about the new green technologies, and clearing a number of misconceptions held by many which, according to research released last week by the organisers of the British Motor Show, sponsored by Zurich Connect include:

Electric Cars

* Over half (58%) do not realise electric vehicles don't have exhaust pipes

Biofuels

A quarter of people (25%) think biofuel produces no CO2 at all

Hybrids

* Almost a third (30%) believe hybrid vehicles run on biofuels alone

There are things for all to learn from the Show.

Do come back to us here over the next few days for illuminating reports on the exciting low emission cars available, or soon to be available, in the UK market at the British Motor Show

Monday 21 July 2008


Co2nfused about Vehicle Excise Duty?

If you are confused about the upcoming new and increased rates of excise vehicle duty, you are not alone. Here is a table of the proposed new rates of VED courtesy of the Green Car Guide


Thursday 17 July 2008





The family Ze-O all-electric no emissions car that's NICE

At the British Motor Show next week will be unveiled the Ze-O, an all-electric MPV from NICE Car Company.This is a family car that will be here in the UK, in the Autumn,and available to the rest of Europe in 2009.

Julian Wilford,co-founder of NICE Car Company feels the Ze-O is a practical, and "genuinely spacious and affordable [electric] car", of the type customers are looking for now. "We expect to be very busy at the motor show,"he said earlier this week.

So what do we know of the Ze-O. Well it is:

* manufactured in China
* styled in Europe
* will cost c.#14k
* capable of a top speed of 55mph (optional longer-range lithium ion batteries will be available soon)
* emissions free and has a range of upto 65 miles in the city
* claimed to cost a fraction of the cost of conventional petrol or diesel cars (exempt from road tax,no congestion charge, and boasts a few pence a mile to run)

The Ze-O is one the several all-electric, and soon to be actually available to buy cars, being exhibited at the British Motor Show when it opens on 22nd July at Excel in London.

More details will emerge at the show.

Wednesday 16 July 2008



Tesla Motors boosts the high performance zero emissions all-electric road car

Many of you who have been following the low emission cars site since the early days may remember that we have been carrying the Tesla Motors banner, which provides a free link to the web site of that groundbreaking company that is producing the Tesla Roadster. The Roadster is now in production in the US (but is a while off as a production car for these shores).

During the time the Tesla banner has been' flying' so to speak here, there have been successes and setbacks for the project designed to deliver a full performance,and all-electric car.But the clear indications on the ground, in California, are that the technology and viability of the Roadster have been proved. So I am glad that we are now seeing the fruits of the endeavour which only a short while ago some commentators doubted they would see to market.

The red Roadster of the first Tesla banner has now made way (right column) for another colour (as above) 'on the road' version.

In the race to produce low emission cars, many manufacturers have opted for lower performance and/or smaller cars. Tesla Motors have always believed that you can have both super car performance - 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 3.9 seconds- and the fastest top gear acceleration of any production car tested by Car&Driver Magazine in 2007. With this extra efficiency come zero emissions.

You may say that this is of small impact - the supply and market will be small, and at the moment contained in the US- but the feasibility of producing the large volume stylish performance all-electric road car, the manufacturers claim is clear.

Hence to back up their belief, it has recently been announced that a sedan version of the Roadster will be built in California and will be produced towards the end of 2010. The company has always said it wanted to build affordable battery-electric cars, and is targeting the mid-range family use market. The Tesla accomplishment should encourage the other manufacturers who are producing or developing all-electric cars.

The Tesla Roadster is scheduled to be at the British Motor Show, as will be many electric cars from other companies,both production models and concepts.

Next up soon will be the Ze-O from the NICE car company.

Copyright (c) 2008 CFM(Services)Limited. All rights reserved.

Saturday 12 July 2008


Into water not CO2 that's hydrogen power for you

In a week when Gorden Brown called for all cars sold in 2020 to be either electric or hybrid and emitting 100 g/km of CO2 or less, a British company, ITM, announce a breakthrough in its development of a prototype home refueling station for the hydrogen car. This breakthrough reported by the BBC news maybe the very long term solution for a thirsty oil guzzling world fast running out of supply. For a report click on Red Herring.

Though, in addition to continuing concern from some university academics about the sustainability of the energy used to produce the hydrogen as a fuel-it requires electricity to generate it- there is the 'chicken and egg' twist. There is no refueling infrastructure to support a large number of hydrogen cars,and too few cars to encourage the investment in such an infrastructure. Assuming the technology is sound-the wonder material converting water into hydrogen (and oxygen) is a newly developed polymer-and the sustainability aspect is dealt with (use of renewable energy: from, wind,wave,solar etc.) then the market will develop the necessary refueling stations,and the car manufacturers are already working hard to produce the cars. Take Honda,for instance.

On November 16,last year, low emission cars reported-Honda home-in on a solution to the shortage of hydrogen- that Honda was trialling the Home Energy Staion 1v using natural gas to generate hydrogen for a hydrogen fuel-cell car and to provide power for domestic heat and light. ITM,too have seen that its refueling prototype can be a domestic appliance for driver convenience, although it does seem that the range of 25 mile per refuel is a practical limiting factor at present... something about the need to incorporate fuel-cell technology to extend range ,some scientists say.

The jury may still be out on the ITM project to provide the revolution the oil-strapped economies need, there clearly are going to be hydrogen cars in the mix in the near future. Honda is one manufacturer investing heavily in hydrogen power. Its FCX Clarity
hydrogen fuel cell car (lec archive:November ,2007) is currently being leased on a limited trial basis to drivers in the US. It seems clear there will be other exciting developments announced in this area of zero emission motoring in the coming months.

Meanwhile,if you are thinking of changing your car now for a low emission car that is currently available you should go for helpful information by clicking on at the Green Car Guide site.

Thursday 10 July 2008


Vehicle Excise Duty increases:more than 9m car owners will be worse-off, admits HM Treasury


Vehicle Excise Duty and CO2 emissions together are currently very much in the news. The above startling statistic has been admitted by the Treasury in a parliamentary answer. It has emerged that only 4.1 million motorists representing just 18% of the 21.9 million cars that will be on our roads by 2010/11 will be better-off. The Government believe over 9 million motorists will be worse off contrary to earlier official statements made at the time of the March budget.

From April 2010,the maximum VED will be £455 ( increased from £210) for the highest CO2 emitting vehicles registered between March 2001 and March 23,2006. Later registrations will also attract a higher duty.

Although the appliance of heavy VED rates to pre-2006 car registrations smacks of retrospective taxation (not good), the inescapable fact is that the Government is committed to tackling climate change(which is good) and sees raising money in this way the answer (debatable).The heavier polluting cars are, therefore,going to be subject to ever increasing taxes over the next few years. However painful,and many families are going to be seriously affected in the short run,it will eventually pay financially to keep abreast of emerging new car technology and new production models of the more environmentally-friendly cars.

In emphasising its commitment to more fuel-efficient cars and in turn reducing running costs, the Government has launched a consultation on the compulsory CO2 emission targets proposed by the European Commission.
The Government would like to see a longer term target of achieving 100g/km of CO2 by 2020.

Friday 4 July 2008



The high iQ to deliver top class fuel economy and low emissions

The Toyota iQ is an ultra-compact which can carry up to three adults plus a child in comfort. Emphatically proving that small does not mean basic, the iQ is a completely new proposition for urban motoring that is stylish, sophisticated, technically advanced and kinder to the environment.

Further details released by Toyota reveal that, at less than three metres long, the iQ is wider and has a longer cabin than a Toyota Yaris. It achieves a breakthrough in small car packaging to deliver unprecedented interior space, thanks to a series of interlinked engineering innovations.

Furthermore, a newly developed differential allows for a more compact engine compartment and for the front wheels to be pushed out to the very corners of the car. An ingenious steering gear design enables the engine and differential to be repositioned, giving the car a shorter front overhang.

Overall length is reduced thanks to a flat under-floor fuel tank and rear-angled shock absorbers, while a significantly smaller heater/air conditioning unit takes up less cabin room, allowing the front passenger seat to be moved closer to the base of the windscreen. The result is an extra 100mm of cabin length compared to Yaris and shoulder room similar to that offered by a Toyota Auris.

Passenger space is further helped by an asymmetric dashboard design and slim, sculpted front seats that optimise leg room for those sitting in the rear. The 3+1 seating configuration provides comfortable space for three adults – plus a seat for a child or luggage space behind the driver.

iQ has a thoroughly contemporary and forward-looking design inside and out, the interior styled on a “techno-organic” theme with geometric precision and high quality materials. The dashboard is a stand-out feature, with its floating V-shaped centre console.

Production of iQ is due to start later this year with UK sales scheduled for spring 2009. Two petrol and one diesel engine will be available, which, together with the car’s light weight and aerodynamic shape, will deliver exceptional fuel economy and low emissions. Details of the powertrains and equipment specifications will be announced later.

The upcoming British International Motor Show from 22nd July at Excel will unveil several super efficient green cars in competition including the eco-friendly ECOnetic version of the Ford Fiesta,VW's Polo Bluemotion, and that other supermini the SEAT Ibiza ECOmotive with a sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.
More details coming up soon. Meanwhile, click here to look at the exciting site for the British Motor Show

Tuesday 1 July 2008



High performance car tyres that will give you 20% less rolling resistance and more miles

When it come to high performance motoring that maximises the use of fuel and therefore significantly helps to reduce CO2 emissions,Michelin can show a long time collaboration with Peugeot to combine innovative and performance enhancing developments in engineering,designing and tyre technology. The result is that Peugeot have shod its latest 308 with the new Michelin Energy Saver tyres.



According to Michelin, its technological solution generates fuel savings of nearly 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined cycle driving, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions of nearly 4 grams per kilometre. This represents around a one tonne reduction of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere over the entire life of the vehicle. By comparison, that same amount would take 40 trees, one year to absorb.The tyre manufacturer's technological solution generates fuel savings of nearly 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined cycle driving, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions of nearly 4 grams per kilometre. This represents around a one tonne reduction of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere over the entire life of the vehicle. By comparison, that same amount would take 40 trees, one year to absorb.Michelin

The Peugeot 308 HDi 110 (at top) has a published fuel economy of 60.1mpg (combined), CO2 emissions of 129g/km and Peugeot’s latest Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS) technology. Its Michelin all-new Energy Saver tyre,originally exclusive to Peugeot reduces tyre rolling resistance by 20% and correspondingly improves overall fuel economy and environmental efficiency. It is worth repeating that CO2 output can be reduced by up to 4g/km with these tyres, reaching a total reduction of potentially 1 tonne throughout the vehicle’s life. Michelin have now put these tyres into the replacement market and are available for a wide range of vehicles. Michelin claim lower fuel consumption,more safety, and outstanding longevity for their tyres. Details on these at Michelin