Renault sign in with eCO2

Using the expertise gained in Brazil producing the FlexFuel adaptations of the Clio and Megane, Renault is to introduce into the UK for sale the 1.6 litre 16v Megane Hatch E85,at the end of this year.

This is Renault's first UK launch of a bioethanol car and is part of its commitment,called eCO2,to produce environmentally-friendly vehicles for whole of life, including end of life recycling.In the challenges facing manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions, Renault believe biofuels will have a major role.For More about bioethanol (E85)

The New Peugeot Urban Move is a 107+2

Continuing the theme of sub-120 g/km performers, my post today is about a new Peugeot 107 special edition model. Why 107+2? Well, it emits a mere 109 g/km. It is another in the unsung hero class of sub-120s that are expected to be exempt from the London congestion charge if Ken Livingstone's proposals go through for next year.

Although a petrol, this C1 ,with a top speed of 100mph, has a possible combined consumption of 68.8 mpg from its 1.0 litre engine, and clearly demonstates what can be squeezed out of the 'old conventional' ( or non- hybrid) cars. Already a sales winner the 107 Urban is enhanced in the Urban Move model with many extras, including air conditioning and rev counter. This,though, is a small and light 3- and 5-door car, but at £7,995 it represents excellent value.

Peugeot continues to build on success with the 207 SW

The 207 is a best selling car in Europe. In its new estate, it will continue to be highly economical (at 60.1 mpg for the two 1.6 litre HDi diesels,which will be environmentally-friendly with a CO2 emission rating of just 125g/km.)

Although not quite in the sub-120g/km club, this new model will still appeal to customers who are looking for a little more space and lower carbon emissions. This 207 SW will provide more headroom and interior space from the same wheelbase as the 207 five door hatchback, yielding an extra length of 119mm and height of 38mm.

New cars join the sub-120 g/km CO2 Club
Here are three new cars available to buy now, which each produce less than 120g/km of CO2.At this level of carbon emissions all three cars beat the 130 g/km 2012 target set by the European Commission.

• Skoda 1.4litre TDIPD (80bhp) 120 g/km
• Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTI 75 P5 119 g/km
• Mini Cooper D (64.2 m.p.g) 118 g/km

Benefits for this level of carbon emissions, briefly:

• tax disc reduced cost to £35 (£115)
• in 2008 proposal to eliminate London Congestion Charge
• 40% taxpayer to save £237 p.a. in 2008/09

Further details on these cars can be found on Green-Car-Guide.com

New Saab 9-3 range flexes an engine

The new Saab 9-3 range introduces more powerful (and economical) diesel and petrol engines.Importantly, a BioPower flex-fuel engine will continue to be available with this range.
The BioPower option will be capable of delivering 200 hp running on bioethanol E85 fuel.

With styling , said by Saab to have been inspired by their award-winning AeroX concept car (good to see great ideas eventually being turned into reality), the new range has a sporty feel. And, at the heart of the new cars sits the new state-of-the-art all-wheel drive system, the Saab XWD ,or 'cross-wheel drive'. Fully automatic, the system is designed to optimise handling and stability in all driving conditions.

Although I enjoy seeing the eco- friendly concept cars coming through to be 'aired', and ,also the progress of the now several cars in production running on green energy, it is to the improvements in the 'old' engines and technologies we can still turn ,where further and significant gains can still be achieved in reducing carbon emissions in the short term over the next few years, before the commercial introduction of electric, fuel cell, hydrogen driven cars and their like. As an example, the Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon with a 1.9-litre four cylinder diesel is projected as having a fuel consumption of 47.9 mpg.

So,it is the many diesel,petrol and hybrid models currently being produced, that are already achieving or closing-in on the carbon emission targets of 120 g/km, which I shall be looking more closely at over the next few weeks. We're still looking for efficiency and performance in reducing emissions.

You can find more technical and performance detail of the new Saab 9-3 range of cars at Green-Car-Guide.com

New biofuel with the power of petrol?

As well as energy efficient and well designed cars, I am always interested in what is going to power them in the future.So,from Amyris Biotechnologies, we possibly have an emerging alternative to petrol, which it is said will provide more energy than ethanol, although its basic production material is the same as for ethanol production in Brazil :sugar cane.

Assuming the world can produce enough sugar cane without exploiting the poorer countries and 'starving'global food production of essential arable land, can Amyris deliver, or is this just another good idea that will not work, or make any difference to the challenges facing us? John Melo, Amyris's chief executive clearly thinks his nearly petrol product will do the job.He expects his product to be in full production in 2010.

According to The Sunday Times (May 27, 2007),Amyris is a small biotechnology company based on the edge of Silicon Valley,and has many influential financial backers,including the Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation.The biofuel product however was discovered during work to find a cost effective treatment globally for malaria ( the purpose for which the investment had initially been made i.e. to bring "innovations in health and learning to the global community").

So what is this process all about? The clue is the use of microbes. Amyris claims to be "developing a large-scale fermentation process to renewably produce biofuels."

Time will tell if Amyris's work adds to the sum benefit from the many solutions that will eventually be required to meet our fuel requirements and help produce less harmful green house gases.One to watch.

timesonline
Amyris Biotechnologies

(c)Copyright.CFM(Services)Limited and M P Ryan.All rights reserved.

Aston Martin Bio-fuels its way into British Motorsport History

A bio-fuelled Aston martin DBRS9 became the first of its kind to win a major motorsport event in Britain.Driven By Lord Drayson and Jonny Cocker,the DBRS9 based on the DB9 roadcar won the British GT Championship leg at Snetterton, earlier this month.The car now leads the Championship.Lord Drayson said this showed that with a bio-fuel there need be no compromise in performance.The car which has, like the DB9, a six cylinder V12 engine, was built for Lord Drayson by the Prodrive-run Aston Martin Racing Team. Much more detail can obtained from Green-Car-Guide

The problem of how to bring more green cars quickly to the market was highlighted at the Eco-Friendly Vehicle Exhibition 2007. One of those presenting at the Exhibition was David Roberts,Chairman of Prodrive,and new owner of Aston Martin. He believed motorsport to be a solution,providing a showcase for new green technologies.His recent win in the bio-fuelled Aston Martin strongly supported this contention.

H2O OR NOT CO2, THAT IS THE ANSWER(TO CLIMATE CHANGE)?

With apologies to the Bard for a rather poor parody of one his most famous quotations.
On the serious message ,we can now realistically start to look to using hydrogen rather than carbon,for zero emissions motoring.I say start because BMW has developed a series 7 Hydrogen car that drives like an ordinary petrol series 7.Indeed the Hydrogen 7 can operate with either a conventional engine or its hydrogen drive,changing from one to the other at the press of a button. We are some time away from this being a regular production car: although it clearly works okay, there are still technical hurdles (reducing the weight of the fuel tank holding liquid nitrogen for instance), avilability of supplies (one hydrogen 'pump' in UK at present ,for example! More coming on stream soon). It is still one of viable mid-term viable alternatives to the petrol engine.Its energy input sourced by water,and producing only water as an output, has got to be like finding the Holy Grailor, similar.

Tonight at 8 pm ,there is a screening of Tonight With Trevor McDonald on ITV with some coverage and insight into this extraordinary car and its development;also, a look to the future of other green fuels ,and a 'race' across London with green cars ,are expected be featured.

Another One Million Target - This Time Its the Hybrids

Having posted last the one million annual target set by Ford for its highly efficient new range of diesels, Toyota have announced that the Prius will be profitable by 2010 when the number produced of its groundbreaking green cars will reach one million annually.Toyota expect to bring out a new Prius in late 2008 or early 2009.A first will be the introduction of a lithium-ion battery. Though not confirmed ,it is believed in the industry that the battery is ready for production.Toyota is determined with its powertrain to satisfy customer demand for cost savings and to meet green issues.

Further details at Green Car Guide

In US Diesels and Hybrids to slug it out for green and commercial supremacy

UBS/Ricardo research suggests that by 2012 diesel may have overtaken hybrid in the US as the preferred technology for cars of an acceptable price and also meeting the required standards on gas emissions.The research points to a trend leading to diesel(1.5 million units) and hybrid cars (1.2 million units) combined representing 15% of the light vehicle sector of the automotive industry, by 2012.In Europe diesel is already top-dog.

This trend will have supported the decision by Ford to invest £130 million at its Dagenham facility to produce a new line for its low carbon 1.4 and 1.6 litre Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel engines - an annual output of 1,000,000 by 2009 is the target.

Reducing total car emissions will continue to require a mix of products using many different solutions.Diesel is probably not going to meet all the criteria in the long run, and we shall continue to see in these lec posts for some time to come,reports of the many twists and turns of progress, as manufacturers strive to the find acceptable and sustainable alternative fuels and innovotive technologies.

A Ford Fiesta fitted with a new Dagenham 1.6-litre engine produces 116 grammes of CO2 per kilometre.Getting there.

The Iconic Mini Just Got Greener

As promised, here is the retro image from a brochure that I happened to have in my attic for many years (I also have a 'cutting' from the Liverpool Echo showing the Everton players Joe Royle and Alan Ball in 1989 in front of an opposition goalmouth - as now,Everton was a good side then). In the late 60s, it was more your Led Zeppelin and leaded petrol than climate change and reducing carbon emissions, but style and good design have always been attractive, and we are to be blessed with a new range of minis forty years later which are both stylish, cool and with low emissions.

Classic Morris Mini Mark II Moments from the Attic

When emptying my loft recently, I came across a brochure which must have been there since 1968/69.It is a colour folder ,11'X 8"folded,22"X16" unfolded,on The New Morris Mini Mk II,full colour illustrated.Why is this of any interest? Well ,apart from the fact that it is now a very collectible item ( two copies are currently on eBay for sale), it is also a great lead into the latest generation of minis which are soon going to wow customers. These latest minis will clean-up with a revised engine range and technological revisions, when production starts in August 2007. The mini hatch Cooper D (seen above)will have CO2 emissions of 104 g/km and return an incredible 72.4 mpg.

This astonishing performance will be achieved without recourse to alternative fuels or hybrid technology- a low emission car is a low emission car,after all.

If you would like even more details of the revised mini models,these can be found at the Green Car Guide where there is a test drive report.

If you would like to see more about the grand daddy of this iconic family of motor cars, I am posting a picture from the brochure next.

Act Now On CO2 You Can Save Money By Greener Driving


low emission cars is supporting the government initiative Act on CO2 details here

Over at the Green-Car-Guide you can benefit from Free Driving Tips


You can also take a look at the most environmentally friendly cars currently available to the UK motorist to buy. The Guide will help you to understand what is on offer. It's fun,too!

Biofuels V Food : The Great Global Challenge?

There is talk of the inflationary effect of rising food prices in some developed countries notably the US,UK and New Zealand , driven by the diversion of corn products into alternative fuels for our cars. In the US, for example ,food costs have risen by 7% ,in the first quarter of this year.However,the bottom-line is we need low emission cars.

For corn you can read: soya bean,rapeseed,flaxseed , sugar cane and other renewable crops that can be used for producing the alternative fuels to oil products, like petrol and diesel. All these crops need to grow somewhere. Sometimes, but not always, crops for renewable energy can be grown in areas ,or on land ,not previously used extensively for agricultural purposes. However, when the underutilised capacity has gone ,this is when the serious decisions have to be made. Biofuels or food? Corn for food consumption or for the manufacture of alternative fuels.This is economics on the front line. Supply and demand will rule the day.


Deforestation (in Brazil), or the switch from cereals to ethanol production in the US , will probably continue apace as vast areas are cultivated to meet the demands for ethanol production. I shall be looking in more detail into the Biofuels v Food Challenge in future as part of the whole complex debate about the future of propulsion for cars. In the meantime I have found some relevant useful information at WIMS (see its blog post for 21st May)

If we need low emission cars, we must continue to look at all the options for powering them.
This may help to encourage the commercial development of (say) electric or hydrogen cars.
We must also not overlook the major immediate improvements that can (and are being) made to the performance and emission reduction of petrol and diesel driven cars.

In my next post we pick-up on a government initiative to encourage us to drive 'cleaner'.

Some BMWs just got even greener


BMW's launch of the revised models of both the 1 series and the 5 series, reminds me that reducing the level of total emissions from cars significantly rests not on any one solution but a balanced use of many solutions.For example, the conversion of all cars to biofuels is not the total answer to removing the car's contributory threat to climate change. I am interested in the current 'biofuels versus food' debate ,but this is for another day,soon. What BMW demonstrate is that a great deal can still be done to improve the performance of petrol and diesel cars of quality,significantly reducing emissions and increasing fuel consumption.

The 1 series is:

• now available in a 3 door version;and
• the 118d (the lower powered 2 litre diesel engine) can yield over 60mpg
• and CO2 emissions of just 123g/km
• this means emissions cut by upto 21% and fuel consumption by upto 24%

So, BMW believe that more environmental benefits can be teased out adopting its 'Efficient Dynamics ' system to describe the improved energy efficient innovations and rear-drive approach.

If you would like more information on the 1 series (and also the 5 series), for different engine sizes, petrol or diesel etc., you should go to the Green Car Guide site.

Toyota Prius: The car of the Future that delivers Today





Who says so? Well, UK customers in their thousands do. The Prius, the hybrid ,has scooped the 2007 JD Power Award, along with its stablemate the Lexus IS , based on feedback from a customer satisfaction survey report. This survey asked for a response in four principle areas : quality and reliability, service satisfaction, vehicle appeal and value for money.

For more about this achievement ,and the record breaking seventh consecutive gold award won by the Lexus IS please go to ...

A car to look out for this summer is the Lexus LS 600h featuring the latest development of the Lexus Hybrid Drive.
I will bring information to you on this when it is available.

Tackling Climate Change Will Not Cost The Earth

This is the headline message according to BBC reports from the UN climate change conference (a session of the IPCC)currently being held in Bangkok.

So, having been assured by an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in February, that human activity is largely responsible for climate change, we are now being re-assured that the human race has choices in its future activities which can tackle the worst effects of this change.

Holding the concentration of CO2 emissions at an acceptable level can be achieved at a reasonable cost to the world economy. More information...

We have no excuse. Appropriate action now can save our global environment. There are the changes to be made by consumers,generators of energy,the procurers of nuclear weapons, and other identified sector influencers named in the IPCC reports. Technology though is not seen as the full answer.There must also be more incentives for people to restrict their activities to those that produce the least greenhouse gas emissions.

low emission cars have a role to play in the brighter and more certain future.
We all must encourage the motor manufacturers and designers to produce the cars that we can all enjoy to drive and know they will not be hastening climate change.The fuel and engine technologists are also working to significantly reduce harmful gas emissions.The future is looking better.

No Carbon cars

Last week was a particularly busy week for green issues.So,I cannot let time go by without some comment on taking the car out of carbon.Some geezer bid at a charity do £1.1m for a Bugatti Veyron (not very green).He could have bought two Koenigsegg CCXR which run on bioethanol (much better - but £531,000 each- ouch!)This is a green super car in production and on the market.

Going back to cor blimey,the German manufacturer Loremo will be producing in a couple of years a car more in my price bracket- the Loremo LS , powered by biodiesel, is expected to cost just short of £8,000. With an amazing consumption of 165 mpg claimed, the down side for some maybe the acceleration at 60 mph in 20 seconds.A GT model,a little dearer at around £10,000 may do 60mph in 9 seconds. This ultra lightweight car with low-drag design (that is part of the secret to its consumption credentials),looks very good (above)and the wait could be worth it.Green motoring does not look likely to be too boring in the not to distant future. The Toyota FT-HS,Chevy Volt,and the Tesla Roadster, all featured at some time on low emission cars are eagerly awaited- in the next few years,although currently they are looking rather expensive, and the most successful engine and fuel technologies are still being worked on to achieve the winning products in terms of performance,style and affordability.

Bio production powers ahead in Europe

Total European production of bioethanol in Europe was 71% higher in 2006 than 2005,having risen to 1,525 million litres, according to figures released recently by the European Bioethanol Fuel Association (eBio). This makes a total increase of 143% in production of this fuel since the beginning of 2004.

Eleven European countries currently produce ethanol, and more are expected to join them as demand for the fuel increases with the European Commission's 2010 looming target: 5.75% of fuel used for transport is to come from renewable sources.

Today, I decided to remind myself how the ethanol production process worked and found on the ebiosite this informative link

Do you have ideas to communicate greener motoring messages? Want to get them off your chest?


On 7th March, I posted details and link for the LowCVP marketing challenge. This is by way of reminder that marketers,students and industry stakeholders have until closing date of 16th May to submit their completed entry forms for this competition.

This competition was given great impetus from the then recently announced European Commission's important new proposals to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from new cars and vans sold in the EU. A panel of 12 senior advertising and communications industry executives will judge the entries and the winning work will be viewed at the LowCVPs annual conference to be held on 28th June.

Effective communication is, of course, vital in the movement towards significant reduction in carbon emissions. Participants can enter any of the following six categories:

• Low carbon Fuels
• Responsible vehicle use
• Smarter driving
• Responsible low carbon business transport
• Low carbon passenger cars
• Low carbon vans

Further information can be found on the CARS NOT CARBON competition here
and here

Toyota's Lean (and now Green)Production Machine -the Story

Back in January, I featured the Toyota FT-HS hybrid sports car. Just one of many examples where Toyota is leading the world in green technologies, and it is likely to continue to lead. This certainly comes as no surprise to me now, as I come to finish a book about the phenomenal rise of Toyota in world class car manufacture.



The book entitled : "The Machine That Changed The World" reads a little like a recently discovered success story. It was, in fact first published in 1990. So, as I curled up in front of a warm fire , thus fending-off the still lingering chill of an early spring evening, I found myself surprised to be absorbed by a management classic on best manufacturing practice rather than a mystery thriller or 'whodunnit'. The surpise, too, was that the Toyota success story chronicled a long history of achievement, and yet, in 1990 (now 17 years ago),Toyota was only half the size of General Motors. The reissued book still stands the test of time as a testament to monumental success. As the book cover blurb says,"Today, Toyota is passing GM as the world's largest automaker and is the most consistently successful global enterprise of the past fifty years."

Essentially, the authors of the book have traced , in full but fascinating detail, the roots of a production system which maximises the creation of value by human effort. It is easy to draw a first impression that the story is all about a titanic struggle between the US and Japan to create industrial excellence and supremacy. This would not be right, and the authors reject the misconception. It is more about the emergence of a global production environment where lean production has taken-on mass production,and won.

So it was that the Americans,Ford and Sloan , created mass production which was emulated in industries beyond automotive. The Japanese,Toyoda and Ohno, built the lean production system, the techniques of which were and are now used by other industries. In 1990, the authors were looking forward to a better world of lean production. In their Afterword 2007, they quite appropriately for a continuing complex study have modified some of their thinking in the years between first publication and now, but they still uphold the lean production system to be the clear ongoing winner. This a great story. You should get this if you are business owner,manager, or student; or you simply enjoy reading how things work in a climate of excellence around the world.The Machine That Changed the World: The Story of Lean Production-- Toyota's Secret Weapon in the Global Car Wars That Is Now Revolutionizing World Ind

You won't find this green car baby under a gooseberry bush - low emission cars are not new





Continuing the plant related theme for greener motoring ... the Sexy Car Show ,now running at the Eden Project in Cornwall until 15th April, is host to many cars past,current and future which are powered by fuels derived from plants. Although, the drive for greener motoring is a very pressing issue now, cars capable of driving on vegetable oils were around over 80 years ago. The model 'T' Ford, the iconic car from the 1920s ,was able to run on ethanol, or grain alcohol. Ford Motor Company founder, Henry Ford believed that fuel derived from vegetable oils would drive the cars of the future. So, too, did Rudolf Diesel. In 1898, Diesel managed to arrange to have his US patent for 'the internal combustion engine' put into production and the first diesel engines in the US were made. He is reported to have said of vegetable oils that:"such oils would in course of time be as important as petroleum...". What happened?
Everyone, it seems, ran scared of the oil (petroleum, that is) investors. After all, it (petrol) was viewed as relatively cheap and plentiful, and the environmental harm either not known or ignored

Well, Diesel did not see his dream for fuel oils fulfilled, but... For more on the cars and fuels action , you can see reports from the Sexy Car Show here

More gooseberry fool than April fuel?


Biofuels according to Wikipedia ,and others, are derived from biomass- recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts.

So,biofuels can be made from,for example: corn,soya beans,flax seed,rape seed, sugar cane,palm oil, jatropha,straw, timber,manure,rice,sewage, biodegradable waste,microalgae,hemp ...and gooseberries?

Copyright 2006-2007 M P Ryan and CFM(Services)Ltd. All rights reserved

If you go down to the Eden Project today you're sure of a big surprise...
for interest is growing there in BioPower


At Green-Car-Guide they're saying:

"As well as presenting the first public showing of the Saab 9-3 Convertible BioPower in the UK, and a Saab 9-5 Estate BioPower car at the Sexy Green Car Show, Saab will also be exhibiting the world’s first fossil-fuel free hybrid, the Saab 9-3 Convertible BioPower Hybrid Concept Car. This vehicle’s technology was unveiled in Stockholm a year ago, and is the first car in the world to combine pure bioethanol with electric power on demand, which means that it emits zero fossil CO2 emissions, and was the world’s first hybrid soft-top at the time of its unveiling."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

The Sexy Green Car Show will be open to the public at the Eden Project,Cornwall, from March 30th to April 15th 2007. Admission is free with entry to Eden. It will be open from 10am to 6pm with last entry at 4.30pm.

The Tesla Roadster given an Outing in Norwich today

Those of you who stop by regularly will know that Tesla Motors has for many months been featured to the right hand side of this blog page. For details of the Tesla Roadster, an aspirational and wonderful electric sports car, you can access the link there ,or here.

If you were at the Green Wheels Motor Show today ,held at the Forum in Norwich, you would have had the privilege of seeing a Roadster (for one day only) in the flesh, so to speak. Although being built in the UK, the car is currently not going to be licensed for use in the UK. I understand 100 cars have so far been ordered ,and the first of these will be delivered this year to buyers in the US, at a price of about $100,000 each.

This beautiful car ,though part of the future for green motoring, may not be available here for some time to come. Some of what is available, though, here and now in green cars, can be seen in Norwich until 30th March at the Green Wheels Motor Show, part of the Earth From the Air Exhibition.

BlueMotion coming to the greenhouse

As earlier flagged, the Eden Project in Cornwall plays host to manufacturers,designers,fuel technologists,and the like who will
be attending,many as exhibitors, The Sexy Green Car Show (30th March-15 April).
One of the exhibits at the Show will be the new Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion.

Due to go on sale this summer in the UK,the new Polo BlueMotion is said to produce only 102 g/km of CO2. Consumption is at an amazing 72 mpg.How come? Well,some of it is down to hard compound tyres which reduce rolling resistance. It also has lightweight wheels to increase running efficiency. Reduction in emissions and gains in economy are primarily won from the BlueMotion's three-cylinder diesel engine and optimised gear ratios.

You can have your first glimpse of this potential bestseller ,and many other wonderfully innovative cars ,at the Eden Project from March 30th through to April 15th.

Clean Green Cars joins drive for greener motoring

Last week, another website solely dedicated to greener motoring was launched.The stated aim of the new site(www.cleangreencars.co.uk) is:'to provide clear,easily understood advice about choosing and using cars in a more environmentally considerate way.'

Following a week ,in which the issues of climate change were placed firmly (only time will tell how effectively) centre stage by Gordon Brown with the green measures published in his final budget,we must all hope that the momentum will be maintained towards further and massive reduction in carbon emissions .The continuing development of green technologies for the production of motor cars and fuels,with full government and institutional support,is now seen by most commentators as essential to help protect our environment.

low emission car's mantra is :Love cars?It's your planet.Love it,too!


Copyright 2006-2007 M P Ryan and CFM(Services)Ltd. All rights reserved.

Brown's Budget for a Greener Motoring Future

Dufton Kellner, Chartered Accountants, produced a full Budget 2007 Summary today. Covering the environmental measures, the firm summarises the motoring related ones as follows:

"Road Fuel

From 1 October 2007 the effective excise duty rates for road fuels will be increased by 2 pence per litre. Further announcements were made that the next two years' increases will be 2 pence and 1.84 pence per litre.

The government has announced that the current 20 pence per litre duty differential on biofuels will be extended to 2009/10.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)
The government has announced the VED rates for this year and the following two years.

The major change will be increasing the rate for the most polluting band G to £300 in 2007/08 and to £400 in 2008/09. There will be a reduction in the rate of duty on band B cars to £35."

Lesson from No.11: 4X4 = higher road tax

Today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, laid down his equation to reduce car emissions. In addition to a rise of 2p per litre in fuel duty, he changed the road tax band charges. For the most polluting cars (band G) this will mean increases upto £400. There was an incentive to use more cars in band B where road tax will be reduced to £35. A fuller report on these and other tax measures introduced as incentives for 'greener' motoring to follow...

Saab had asked for something akin to its pre-budget "BioPower Budget" wish-list (a Saab BioPower model shown in London traffic , above left) more at...



Copyright 2006-2007 M P Ryan and CFM(Services)Limited.All rights reserved

Green's In At the Geneva Car Show

Did you miss it? The recent Geneva Car Show? If you did ,here is an opportunity to click to a report of the green cars well featured at the show this year. See a large range of CO2 busting cars that are ,or soon will be , available to buy here in the UK, as well as some very exciting concepts which you will have to wait a little longer to own.

In the here and now, you should look at the Daihatsu Charade (currently the Cuore) soon to be for sale in the UK (from next July, I understand). Affordable at c. £7,000, this car has a petrol engine ,but carbon emissions break down through the 100g/km barrier at 99g/km using its Idle Stop System.

Looking a little further ahead, there is the possible next generation of the ground breaking Prius, Toyota's new hybrid concept , the Hybrid X. Designed by Toyota's European Design centre ED2, the futuristic Hybrid X (pictured above) gives a glimpse of the future for the hybrid synergy drive. The new design incorporates large glass areas and controllable ambience in the car - the better to adjust "the four senses of sight,sound,touch and smell", according to Toyota Motor Europe's executive vice-president, Thierry Dombreval.

So go on, have a look at these and some more ...

Welcome to the garden of Eden!

That's what their saying from rural Cornwell.From 30th March to 15th April this year, the Eden Project is inviting the Public, admission free,to a Show dedicated to 'green' motoring.What the Eden Project describes as ‘the planet’s premier eco-car show’ is attracting the giants from the motoring-world eager to showcase the very latest in ‘green’ driving, alongside innovators in car design, transport leaders and fuel manufacturers.Where better to see how exciting new technologies being used in the manufacture of certain new generation cars, and the development of new fuels to drive them ,are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, than the Eden Project home to the largest greenhouse in the world! You are all cordially invited to find out what's going on.More...

Car drivers should go for a smoother ride

This is the government view. It happens to be our view also, and has been for some time.Please see motoring tips.
The idea is that significant carbon emissions can be reduced by more careful and smoother driving.Unnecessary heavy braking and rapid acceleration cause increased fuel consumption and therefore greater carbon emissions.All costing us extra money.


UK Drivers are being urged to watch out for under-inflation

Recently, at the Geneva Car Show,Director-General of the FIA Foundation,David Ward,stressed the importance of motorists regularly checking their car tyre pressures to ensure that they are correct as stipulated in the car manufacturer's handbook. He says that checking your tyres just twice a month could save lives, reduce motoring costs and cut carbon emissions.The rolling resistance of an under-inflated tyre on the road surface is greater than when fully inflated.Therefore the tyre is less efficient and causes greater fuel consumption,as well as heavier tyre wear,and also results in increased cost and compromises safety to the driver and other road users.

A similar safety message was put out this week by Kwik-Fit.David White,customer services director at Kwik-Fit commented: "Motorists might be fooled into thinking that they can check whether a tyre is under-inflated simply by looking at it.But a smaller, yet nonetheless still significant loss of pressure is not always possible to to visually detect.That's why it is so important to regularly check the tyre pressures yourself,or get an expert check them for you."

So could keeping under-inflation of tyres at bay result in such a significant benefit to the environment and to drivers' pockets? Well,Kwik-Fit say they found that one in five cars checked by them had insufficient tyre pressure.From this it is estimated that a staggering five million car drivers were putting themselves and others at risk.This number equates to the combined total of cars registered in Scotland and Wales.A very significant number contributing to pollution.

Is talk of global warming being caused by CO2 emissions just a lot of hot air?

Did you catch the C4 ITV programme "The Great Global Warming Swindle" last night at 9pm.Vivid opening images of a violent environment ,with widespread serious flooding and hurricane winds, were introduced with a message of comfort for us all:It's not your fault.What the self-serving scientists have been telling you is just not true.

This was full in your face stuff.The CO2 emissions argument, as the prime cause of climate change, was robustly dismissed by several scientists with some snappy graphics in support.Natural cycles in the sun's activity were apparently to blame. Somehow, it all just did not all hang together for me. The view was strongly voiced that the current environmentalists ,contending a man-made explanation for climate change, were nothing more than a number of people of little science forming a consensus,creating jobs for themselves,peddling speculation, and in the process suppressing the rightful aspirations of developing countries.

Key immediate problem issues facing the environment are the ever increasing demands globally for energy and the need to find alternatives to fossil fuels,the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to minimise air pollution and physical environmental damage.Seems a worthwhile cause to me.

In the C4 programme ,no debate was countenanced to challenge its conclusions.I was particularly impressed,though, by the comment of one the guest speakers who suggested that we should not be afraid of CO2 because,after all,we are all made of the stuff. Enough said,I thought.

More Low -Down on Low Emissions and a Marketing Challenge

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has launched a ‘greener’ motoring marketing competition targeting the professional marketing and educational sectors.More...@Green-Car-Guide

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership is an action and advisory group, established in 2003 to take a lead in accelerating the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK and to help ensure that UK business can benefit from that shift. More...

The Great Global Warming Debate

An upcoming C4 ITV programme(9pm on Thursday,8th March)would have you believe that the above headline should read:The Great Global Warming Swindle - the title of the piece.It would seem the programme's conclusion will brook no argument : The whole movement to ward-off a cataclysmic change in the earth's climate, by seeking to radically reduce the man-made emissions of CO2, is nothing more than a bullying tactic by a bunch of oddballs fronting a global-warming industry.

Let's wait and hear what the programme's makers have to say. For me ,there is a real possibility of the planet's environment being completely ruined by the human race,though probably not in my lifetime.However, what is more worrying and beyond doubt (I don't have to be a scientist to make a valid point on this) is what is happening as a result of human activities here and now, on earth. In China, there are many suburbs of cities and townships where the daily existence for many is a gasping and painful existence much like some English cities of the 19th century Industrial Revolution; or of Pittsburgh ,in the early 20th century ,with its coal and steel industries which generated the choking smog causing the street lights to be turned on at just turned midday every day. Those city workers that could afford a shirt often changed it twice a day, such was the grime in the air.In the UK,quite recently, the provisions of the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 helped drive away the frequent and appalling city smogs,and so greatly improving air quality. Another example ,is the vastly improving air quality, and therefore quality of life, in Los Angeles, California, where until recently the fug hanging over the city's rush hour traffic was appalling. Man-made pollution is a sufficient scourge to be kept at bay. Unnecessary depletion and waste of natural resources are also to be deplored. We are running out of fossil fuels for energy.What happens next, if we do not have adequate alternative provision?

Climate change resulting from man-made degradation of the earth's environment has to be prevented.And low emission cars supports any steps to reduce carbon emissions.The near quarter of all CO2 emitted in the UK by our motor vehicles is contributing to a desperate situation facing the earth in the long run. Improved air quality and sustainability of energy supplies are in themselves imperatives, and essential for the tolerable future existence of all peoples throughout the world.

Will the C4 programme turn-up real evidence in support of the contention that the 'greening'of motoring,for instance, is a waste of time, and somehow a front for unworthy causes? The recent widely supported Stern report suggests this is unlikely. However,what would be a tragedy is if a theory about the Sun and its changing effect on our climate, should of itself provide an excuse to those political or commercial interests who, for short term gain,or through apathy,will cause a reversal of the trend of continuing to introduce improvements and greater efficiencies in the use of scarce resources,in waste disposal ,and in reducing environmental pollution. Whose vested interests are vying to hold sway now?

More to follow in later posts, after next Thursday.

Oh,and please don't forget the Low Down On Low Emission Vehicles In London,details at the Green-Car-Guide


Copyright 2006-2007 M P Ryan and CFM(Services)Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Environmentally-friendly F1 racing.What on earth is going on?

This does seem a contradiction in terms ,with roaring monsters hurtling round a racing circiut, belching out all those harmful emissions ,and using-up fuel at an alarming rate.Well some things are changing at Honda Racing."We're not saying F1 is 'green',"says John Kingston,Environment Manager, Honda(UK)."But the fans can really make a difference.If just one per cent of the people who watch F1 were to change one light bulb for an energy saving one,this would save 38,000 tonnes of CO2- the same amount of carbon emissions produced by the Honda Racing F1 team over three seasons."

So what on earth are they actually doing to help protect the planet? Well, apart from Honda constantly striving to be innovative in its technolology and its thinking-it is at the forefront of developing a hydrogen fuel cell car-it is actively encouraging fans,sponsors,customers and members of the public to help address global environmental issues.But how...?

Honda are replacing the traditional advertising and sponsorship logos, which for so long have bedecked F1 racing cars. Instead the new Honda RA107 F1 car will have as its complete livery an image of the earth to be built-up of pixels,each pixel to be the name of a member of the public who has pledged to improve the environment by a change in lifestyle and also donate to an environmental charity. This practical and exciting new concept is supported by Honda's existing partners ,who are being joined for the 2007 season by by other leading global brands,including e.g.IBM and Fila.

More...

Premiere Products backs polished performance from Prius

84 year-old company, Premiere Polish Co Limited,is switching its sales fleet of 45 cars to Toyota Prius ,so proving it to be an exception to the old saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Cheltenham based Premiere,trading as Premiere Products, manufactures and distributes chemicals and machines for commercial and industrial cleaning and maintenance. Although it has a well established environmental policy,Premiere see the significant move primarily as a cost saving exercise. Also ,having decided to specify an environmentally-friendly hybrid car, the Prius was the only one with the appropriate loadspace. "As a hybrid vehicle, the Prius is reported to be hugely economical in terms of fuel consumption,"said Assistant Managing Director, Andrew Marquand,shortly after taking delivery of the first of the new silver cars."W'ell also make savings on Road Fund Licences,on congestion charging in London and any other cities where it is imposed, and on taxation based on vehicle emissions for the company and for the individual drivers."

For the sceptics who still believe that the benefits of reducing exhaust emissions to help save the environment are not worth having, Premiere's positive experience suggests that the benefits to pocket and company bottom line are certainly worthwhile.Of course here, at low emission cars, we see the move as beneficial on both counts,thus:saving cash and the planet.

Last word to Andrew Marquand:"There's been quite a lot of excitement among the drivers, because [the Prius] is an innovative car and the whole driving experience is quite different."

Free Low Down on Low Emissions in London

With all the talk of the expansion of the congestion charge area in London and the need for a lot more low emission cars on the roads,why not find out the facts for yourself on the practical solutions, including current availability of environmentally-friendly vehicles and alternatives to petroleum as a fuel.You can go to a FREE half-day seminar to be held at 9.30am on Thursday,22nd March 2007 at Covent Garden.This will also be an excellent opportunity for business representatives to hear about responsible and money saving fleet management initiatives.And ,following lunch, there will be exhibition stands and a range of low emission vehicles to see.
But you should arrive promptly to avoid disappointment.Places at the seminar will be strictly limited.For more information and the email address to make your registration now please go to...

Putting his money where his mouth is on CO2 emissions?

Whatever your view on whether congestion charging is an appropriate step in the fight against road grid-lock and climate change, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone ,seen here driving a Toyota Prius ,is in no doubt.Toyota,too,believe its on a winner.With the migration of the London Congestion Charging Scheme into the west of the City this week, the carmaker has seen exceptional demand for its envoronmentally-friendly hybrid hatchback.Emitting only 104g/km of CO2, the Prius is exempt from the £8 a day congestion charge, thus saving an affected regular car commuter more than £2,000 a year.More...

Further cut in car emissions planned by European Commission


The European Commission has announced its proposals for limiting average new car CO2 emissions to 130 grams per km by 2012. ‘Complementary measures’ - including biofuels, improved tyres and air conditioning systems - will be expected to contribute a further emissions cut of up to 10g/km.But not everyone is completely happy...More...

Another blooming good car from the Lotus Engineering green house


Last time, I recommended you to watch out for a road test report on the Lotus Exige 265E, a bio-fuel, and that you would find it at the
Green Car Guide. Well, we were not disappointed. The full report is now there.

The Exige 265E has been developed out of the Exige S by the same consultancy arm of Lotus cars that has created the Tesla, featured on this blog, and is also working on another electric car.

Do take a look at the Exige 265E. The Lotus engineers have a potentially great car here which, if it goes into production ,will really confound the critics who say that you cannot have an attractive and fast sportscar that is capable of delivering only low CO2 emissions. Using a flex fuel system,so that petrol could be used a very last resort instead of the usual and more climate-friendly ethanol (E85), Lotus Engineering is becoming a leader in alternative fuel technology.

The drive to encourage the widespread use of alternative fuels to petrol is supported in Sweden and Brazil by government financial incentives. That same level of support is needed here in the UK to encourage car manufacturers and fuel suppliers to facilitate the use of low emission cars.

Ah, there's the rub, I can here you say. Where can I buy this E85? Well ,during the Green Car Guide road test the test car was refuelled on the forecourt of the local Morrisons Store!The bioethanol can and will become widely available.

Lotus low on emissions...high on car fan appeal?

I really don't know the answer to this one. But I know a man who does. He has been test driving the Lotus Exige Bio-Fuel. This car looks pretty fantastic . Can't wait to see it? Well, you can see a picture of it today here. Described as the future of green cars according to Lotus Cars, this looks a right racy little number. I want to find out more. Though, like you ,I will have to keep an eye on the Green Car Guide for a full upcoming driving report on this current car in the long pedigree of Lotus sports cars.

Just let's wait to see the environmentally-friendly credentials for ourselves. More soon...

Why driving a low emission company car is less taxing



As the current tax year starts to draw to a close,now is the time to review your current tax position .If you are a company car driver,you may be due to change your company car, and you want to reduce your tax liability in the coming tax year.

Sara Taylor,Director at Dufton Kellner,Chartered Accountants, says:

"If you drive a company car in the UK, the amount of tax you pay depends on two things- its list price when new, and its CO2 emissions.

"For the 2006/7 tax year, the lowest tax band is for cars producing 140g/km or less. You'll pay tax on 15% of the list price for such a car, so if you're a basic rate tax payer with a £10,000 car, your car tax bill will be just £330 per annum. The benefit rate increases at 1% for each 5g/km step up in emissions, up to a maximum of 35% for cars emitting 240g/km or more. So a higher rate tax payer driving an executive car with a list price of £35,000 will pay a whopping £4,900 in tax each year.

"From 2008/9, the level of CO2 emissions qualifying for the lowest 15% benefit rate will be reduced to 135g/km, and a new rate of 10% wil be available for cars emitting 120g/km or below."

You may simply want to drive a new car with lower CO2 emissions than your current model.But you can benefit both your pocket and the environment.

For more on tax matters...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cause Climate Change: And It's Humans Wot Dunnit. Official.

Nothing new, you might say. Well, it is being said by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which has reported its summary conclusions, including the 90% certainty that human activities are responsible for recent global warming, and will be for further increases in temperature predicted during the rest of this century. For more see IPCC report...

The IPCC have long been 'banging-on' about the damage being caused to the environment. But in 2001, they were apparently only 66% sure it was us that were authoring our own destiny.

This is a wake-up call. Greenpeace call it a 'screaming siren'.

So now everyone is taking notice, as Arctic icebergs melt at an unprecedented rate.

But let's do something. Now. Reducing CO2 emissions from cars must be a top priority. It is technologically and economically viable. Go for it ,when you are thinking of changing your car,
consider a more environmentally friendly one. For help with the choices of car currently available in the UK you can go to the Green Car Guide now.

This BMW's for real and available in March 2007

In this post, we have a new 1 series BMW. This is a production car and rated as BMW's most economical yet. Three-door and five door versions will be available in March. Fuel consumption is at a parsimonious 60.1 mpg!

Advanced technological benefits include :

• Brake Energy Regeneration (iGR)
• Automatic Start-Stop
  
• Intelligent Alternator Control (IAC)
• Electric Power Steering
• High-Precvision Direct Injection engines
  

Confused? Well,don't be. Details of this remarkable new technology producing amazing fuel efficiency, and much reduced CO2 emissions, are explained at the Green-Car-Guide .
This lower emission car could be a real money saver on fuel , and also vehicle excise duty for the company car driver.

Cars Are Cleaner But Not Clean Enough, that's Motoring Monitor SMMT's Verdict

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders('SMMT') reveals that in 2006 the average new car CO2 emissions are down from 169.4 g/km in 2005 to 167.2 g/km.

SMMT believes that while clearly progress is being made to market cleaner cars ,many barriers still have to be overcome. These it says include the following:

• Too few filling stations across the country that sell biofuels e.g. E85 bioethanol
• Such fuels when available are no cheaper for drivers to buy
• The three per cent company car tax for new diesel cars
• Also lack of government incentives to encourage the market for new LPG cars

SMMT chief executive, Christopher Macgowan, says that further change is about encouraging consumers to think carefully about their choice of vehicle. It was also about providing incentives where needed and ensuring alternative fuels are widely available and competitively priced. This called for an integrated approach, with government, fuel companies and customers working together in partnership. More...

But things are improving!

If you are looking for your next new car, and wish to benefit the environment by buying a low emission car, you should look to the Green-Car-Guide for information, including details about the improving availability of alternative fuels.

First In Class Award Goes To Mercedes-Benz

DaimlerChrysler has announced that Mercedes-Benz has become the first automotive worldwide brand to hold an Environmental Certificate meeting ISO standard 14062:'Design for Environment.'

The first in class is the Mercedes-Benz C-class. It has been monitored stringently by an independent accredited German technical inspection authority during the whole production process.This testing also included looking at environmental balance ,while in use as a vehicle, dismantling and recycle planning.


The four-cylinder engines in the new C-class yield fuel savings of upto six per cent as compared with the previous model. Emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2 are reduced over the entire life cycle of the car by nine tonnes per vehicle.Over the same period energy requirements correspond to about 3800 litres of petrol less than that required by a car built in 2000. Harmful emissions of nitrogen oxide are reported to be down by as much as 90 per cent below the current valid Euro 4 limits.

The new C-class uses mostly materials which consume the minimum of resources, and already complies with the EU recycling rules ,effective in 2015, which call for a recycling rate of 95 per cent.Many of this lower emission car's components are manufactured from recycled plastics.

Chief Environmental Officer of DaimlerChrysler,Professor Dr Herbert Kohler says"The
Environment Certificate confirms our longstanding commitment to environmentally compatible product development."

Is your car green enough?

The Green-Car-Guide says:

"We are viewing a green car as one that is more energy-efficient than average, and/or the manufacturer has made a special effort to develop innovative new technology. An energy-efficient car will save you money on fuel, and save the world’s limited energy resources, and a car with new technology often needs all the support it can get in terms of sales in order to achieve greater mass production, drive the cost of the technology down, and generate revenue to re-invest to make the technology better.Therefore we look at cars that are conventional petrol or diesel, as well as hybrids that use an electric motor in conjunction with a petrol engine, as well as any other vehicles that may be electric or use biofuels for example. "

For low emission cars that works for me, too.

Will this electric vehicle be in EVeryday use in the UK soon?

With all the excitement of the Detroit Motor Show ,and the fabulous concept cars on show that made us gasp and hope , perhaps it is a good time to reflect on an environmentally-friendly EV which could soon actually become in everyday use here in the UK.

Suburu's R1e EV has won a top environmental award from Japan's Minister of the Environment. This light, efficient electric car has a 50 mile range and a fast-charge lithium-ion battery. On fuel efficiency, the R1e costs half that of a typical hybrid, but if night tariff electricity is used the comparative costs plummet to a mere one-fifth of a hybrid. For more

BlueTec Project to Combat ObNOxious Greenhouse Gas

BlueTec is a joint project between Volkswagen,Audi, and Daimler-Chrysler, and is designed to establish the diesel engine further as the clean,low-consumption alternative in the American car market. And Volkswagen have demonstrated that a normal diesel fitted with a nitrogen oxide reservoir catalytic converter can substantially reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide.


Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is not often mentioned as an unwanted gas emission . Whereas, carbon dioxide is scarcely out of the news. It may seem strong to label NOx ,a colourless trace gas with a pleasantly sweetish odour and taste (as defined in the Britannia Concise Encyclopaedia), an unpleasant greenhouse gas.But when mixed in a cocktail with other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, it may aggravate conditions tending to intensify the phenomenon of global warming leading to climate change. Not so good,then!

The catalytic converter being used in the Jetta with a 2.0 litre common rail diesel engine absorbs the NOx like a sponge. The engine runs more efficiently,too. The system is also regularly cleaned during normal motoring without the driver being aware.

This 'clean' engine when it goes into production during 2008 in the US will meet NOx emission requirements considered to be the most stringent worldwide,with up to 90 % less emissions.

For a fuller report you can go to DaimlerChrysler.com

Who Killed The Electric Car? Who? Who?

Whether or not last year's documentary allegations ,that GM allowed itself to be pressured by its own industry into dropping the development of an earlier electric car, the EV1,were well founded is not now the key question.Is GM back on track with its latest low emission car? That's more the issue now.The signs are good for this concept car, pictured above with GM Product Chief,Bob Lutz (who,by the way,did not kill the electric car!) About the Chevy Volt,he is reported to have said,"You might never burn a drop of gas during the lifetime of the car."


With the (Vauxhall or Chevy) Volt, GM have a sporty car with power and promise.This one won't stall on a hill.It has a one-litre, 3 cylinder, petrol engine on board ,but only to recharge the battery.For upto 40 urban miles on a fully charged battery, the electric motor will deliver the drive unaided.After that the petrol engine kicks-in with its support. GM estimate the fuel consumption at 180 mph.And you do have to plug-in overnight(for six hours) to fully charge the battery.

A 1200 mile range ,on one charge of its lithium ion battery and one fill-up of its 12 gallon tank,go to make this spacious four seater ,based on the successful Vauxhall Astra, a real contender to meet the needs for 21st century greener commuter motoring.What makes it also potentially even kinder to the environment is that its 'electric generator'could be adapted to use
biofuel,a hydrogen fuel cell or diesel. The Volt could be available in the UK in under five years time at about £16,000.

Information on current environmentally-friendly cars can found at the Green-Car-Guide.com site.

Putting the 'Big E' into the engine the Volvo way

As promised,here is a post about the Volvo XC60 concept car.This is the one, I would really like to drive now, though I will have to wait until 2009.But it could be worth it.

Volvo say this is a glimpse into the future for brand Volvo.

A true low emission car ,the XC60 is powered by a six cylinder 3.2 litre bio-ethanol engine.

Impressive sculptured body shapes combine with interior elegance. Innovations include the tailgate which has a 'one-way' effect giving the driver greater visibilty out of the rear of the car. Another feature,is the braking system designed to prevent the motorist in slow moving urban traffic from driving into the vehicle in front.But back to low emissions,Volvo engineers claim the 265 horsepower engine emits upto 80 per cent less CO2 compared with the same engine running only on gasoline. This clearly is one to watch out for in the future.I shall be doing so.The boxy Volvo has certainly gone.

Did you say greener driving won't be much fun? Toyota think it will.



I am again back to the future with a sporty concept car from Toyota.This will be both fast andsocially responsible.Lightweight ,but not in its proposed credentials,the FT-HS hybrid sports car is sleek and has a front-engine,rear-drive, set-up ,and looks for its revolutionary acceleration(0-62mph in the four second range) and optimal performance to an advanced high-output powertrain.The design team's brief was to produce a concept car to become available as a midpriced sports car and one suitable for the 21st Century.

For those who love the technical specifications, a further report is posted by the Green Car Guide.

Tomorrow, I go to the maker of the cars I particularly like,Volvo.I do drive one.
Have done so since they were seen as merely crush resistant, square and tank-like,metal boxes on four wheels.But things do change over time.Just look out for this and ,'er yes ,it is another concept car but one I hope I will eventually get to drive.


car.

Looking Towards A Greener Future with Toyota

A 2006 highlight for me was the unveiling by Toyota of its plans for

enhancing its development of environmental technologies and strengthening its efforts to introduce environmentally friendly vehicles

,as the centre piece of its corporate social responsibilty policy.

Thus ,for the next four years,Toyota management have set as priority issues the preservation of the global environment and traffic safety.By 2010,Toyota aims to double the number of hybrid models available.It hopes to include plug-in hybrids in its portfolio.Also, it plans to improve the efficiency of its conventional engines, adopting variable valve timing-intelligent (VVT-i)technology.Soon, all its petrol engines will be able to run reliably on a mixture with 10 per cent bioethanol.

Toyota aims to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions of 75% of those in 2005.This will beat by a comfortable 10% margin the emission standards set for 2010 by the Japanese Government.

Excellent reports are to be found at
Green Car Congress
and at
Green Car Guide

New Resolutions.Old Problems.

So what's new this year? Or even what's left on the shelf?

The cost of fuel will most likely go-up, or at best stay about the same.

Oil production will continue to decline.Energy shortages will worsen.

Environmental pressures will increase.Old problems.New solutions?

Well, there is hope.

This year as last,car manufactuturers and technologists will strive to
find the solutions.But it seems that time is fast running out if we want to
protect our planet from further harm.When bits of the Polar ice shelf ,one piece
reported recently measuring 60 sq.km.,continue to break away from their normal anchorage at an unprecedented rate, I'm worried.Quite chilling, really.

Well there's hope. It is still worth doing our bit.However insignificant this may seem in the whole scheme of things. One thing we can do is look at the choices when we come to buy a new car.There is a bewildering array of new environmentally-friendly cars available which can save you money ,and make you feel better about the environment.You just need some information to sort it all out.
The Green Car Guide will help as a resource of much free information.
You can start with some Free Money-Saving Tips for motorists.