The expanding low CO2 range of cars from Citroen

Going it green its way,Citroen majored on a range of low CO2 cars at affordable prices, at the Green-Car-Guide Live! Motor Show held earlier this month. The company believes the way forward is to concentrate on reducing the environmental impact of its cars using affordable (more conventional - my words- Ed) technology within the budget of the average motorist. For Citroen this is more effective than a "few very expensive and headline grabbing hybrid cars." [at low emission cars we will encourage all options for lower CO2 and other harmful emissions-Ed]

At the recent Green-Car-Guide Motor Show, Citroen exhibited the following cars:

- C1 Rythm 1.0i 3 door city car with newly reduced C02 emissions to 108 g/km
- C2 VTS 1.6 HDi 110hp the newly launched green diesel hot hatch supermini (or "The Urban Sportscar " as it has been dubbed by Citroen) with 119 g/km CO2 emissions
- C4 VTR + 1.6 HDi 110hp DPFS EGS Diesel family car with 120 g/km of CO2 emissions (also a Coupe version)

In the above, DPFS stands for Diesel Particulate Filter System, EGS stands for Electronic Gearbox System, both systems have been designed to help squeeze that little bit more out of every litre of fuel.

As to affordability, you can be looking to put a C2 on the road from £8,625. But look around before you buy.

Looking forward, there will be no less than 5 UK show debuts on the Citroën stand (S11) at this year’s prestigious British International Motorshow running from the 23rd July to the 3rd August at the ExCel centre in London’s Docklands. These first appearances include, the C-Cactus - an electric concept car never before seen in the UK, but reviewed here last year on 18th September when it appeared at the Frankfurt car Show. More about this and many of the other amazing cars to be exhibited in the build-up to the British International Motor Show. Watch this space!




Copyright(c) 2006-2008 CFM(Services)Limited. All rights reserved.

Mazda 2 show stopper with the green car capacity to amaze

Covered here last month, the Mazda 2 was one of the show stoppers at the Live!2008 Green Motor Show held in Liverpool on 12th June, so it is worth repeating the deal for those who may have missed the details. So here we go again on a great little car.

The three-door version of the Mazda2 TS 1.3 petrol starts at just £7,999, giving you a lightweight, economical car for low cost.

Low Co2 that's the Mazda 2

Already 2008 World Car of the Year, the new Mazda 2 stable adds a 3-door version to the 5-door. Economy and performance are driven by the use of lightweight high-tensile steels and new technology.


Weighing in at 100kg lighter than the previous model, the all-new Mazda 2 comes as a1.3-litre petrol engine,or a 1.4 diesel,and from July you will be able to buy a 1.5 103 ps petrol powered version. The 3-door and 5-door are the same size,and have a generous spec worth checking out, including front airbags(both sides),remote central locking,multipurpose glovebox,alarm and immobiliser, and so on.

With a high 5-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, the Mazda 2s can deliver a fuel economy of up to 65.7 mpg, and CO2 emissions from 114g/km. This is a quality ,low cost, good ,performing car. You can go for a 'Sport' 3-door from £11,399,or the TS from under £8k-there are models priced in between. Oh,I nearly forgot to mention the road tax (VED) rate at a probable £35 per annum-Band B (101-120g/km). Check it out.

For some great video coverage in a montage of Live!2008, the largest UK Green Motor Show this year go to the website of the Green-Car-Guide by clicking here.

Next-up here soon some fine cars with green credentials from the Citroen family of cars.

Green-Car-Guide Live!2008 Motor Show Report

Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008, sponsored by Masternaut Three X, took place on Thursday 12th June 2008 at the new award-winning Arena & Convention Centre in Liverpool, and was the UK’s largest Green Motor Show. On display was a range of the latest energy-efficient vehicles that can help motorists and fleet operators save money on running costs.

The low carbon vehicles exhibited ranged from city cars through to executive cars and commercial vehicles. Vehicle technology included petrol, diesel, biofuel, hybrid and electric, and there were also a number of ‘show stoppers’ including from the world of motorsport.

For details of all the vehicles that were displayed at the Show go to Green-Car-Guide. There are some super pics there also.

One of my picks of the show, the little green gem, the Mazda 2, coming here very soon.

Toyota Yaris is a Top Green Car for 2008

The supermini Toyota Yaris was a star for me at the Liverpool Live!2008 Green Motor Show. The Environmetal Transport Association (ETA) think the car is the tops,also. It has just declared in time for Green Transport Week (14th -22nd June) the Yaris to be its Car of the Year for 2008 ahead of the Honda Civic Hybrid (2nd) and Toyota Prius (3rd), with the Renault Modus coming in at 4th place.

The other placings were: Citroen C1 (5th),Toyota Aygo (6th),Peugeot 107 (7th),Renault Clio (8th),Toyota Auris (9th),and the Suzuki Swift in 10th place.

The ETA reviewed over 1,300 vehicles in its hunt for the winning car, concentrating on power,emissions,fuel efficiency and noise levels. Several of the top ten cars chosen are ranked amongst the greenest cars available in the UK.

The Toyota Yaris is available in three and five door versions. The 1.4-litre D-4D 90 has a frugal economy of 62.8 mpg in the combined cycle. With CO2 emissions of just 119 g/km there are further running cost benefits including a Vehicle Excise Duty of £35 per annum. What a great deal! More details at Toyota UK site

             3-in-1 post following the Live!2008 Green Motor Show



First up of a mini-series of posts,following the highly successful first Green Motor Show to be held at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, covering three of the green products featured. One,the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion proudly showed-off its green credentials. With its BlueMotion badging, it joins the Polo (also at the show) and Passat in introducing the greatly efficient management system, with software and gear ratios making for idling speeds and engine running that goes to achieving a competitive fuel economy of 62.8 mpg and CO2 emissions of just 119 g/km (and therefore a VED of £ 35 per annum). More details at Volkswagen UK

Two,represented at the show was Green Motion,the eco-friendly vehicle hire operation. Founded in 2005 by Richard Lowden,Green Motion is a stand out operation working tirelessly to meet the increasing demand for environmentally-friendlt and fuel-efficient vehicles for hire. It is most appropriate that last week, Green Motion took delivery of the first of its Golf Blue Motion (to join its sister car the Polo Blue Motion already in the fleet)extending the range of vehicles available to customers. More detail at the Green Motion site

Richard Lowden is shown above (centre) with Nick Berry (left) and Max Jacobs (right),owner of Green Motion's Oxford location where the first Golf was received. Before leaving Green Motion, we have ,three,I want to mention the partnership it has with the charity Trees4Good.When you hire a vehicle from Green Motion, Trees4Good will plant a tree.In this way the work of helping to provide sustainable future income for local people living in the now decimated rain forests of Brazil and Borneo can progress.

More car news coming-up, as promised, very soon.

At Green-Car-Guide Live!2008, the UK's largest Green Motor Show:petrol,diesel,biofuel,hybrid,LPG,electric vehicle technology,you name it it was there...

This was a great show, held this week in Liverpool at the new and very impressive Echo Arena and Convention Centre. There were many of the very latest green vehicles available to be seen like Seat's Ibiza Ecomotive shown above outside the Convention Centre,the sleek and very expensive executive style Lexus flagship LS600h petrol-electric,the Mazda 2 ' a right little belter',the Subaru Legacy Outback, and the Smart Fortwo, to list but a few.

Also,there were the green 'service' companies represented, including the rental company Green Motion,and the hire car company WhizzGo.

At the cutting-edge of technology,we also had amazing commercial vehicles,trucks and vans like theMOdec electric van,the Gas Dual Fuel HGV and the Volkswagen Caddy EcoFuel Van, which will all probably play a major role on our roads in the fight to reduce CO emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels.I must also mention Mammoth Racing and Oaktec (Honda Civic Hybrid Rally car) representing motor sport and the exciting developments taking place in low emission car racing.

There was much, much more, and I will be covering every other day over the next week or two, at least one vehicle from the line-up at the Green-Car-Guide Motor Show.So do keep looking-in here regularly and you won't miss anything.

How to hang-on to your carbon emissions to produce more fuel for your car

If you could have a system that collects your waste to produce more power with little impact on the environment, you would probably go for it,right? Well,this could be for real for you and many motorists, soon.

You have the opportunity of seeing, for the very first time anywhere, new technology that can capture the CO2 emissions from your car and enable you to convert them into a bio-oil which you can then use as motor fuel (and/or to power your home).

This process can be done in a home unit and uses algae to react with the carbon emissions collected to produce the bio-oil.

This amazing technology by Origo Industries is just one of the many exhibits - there will be 40 low carbon vehicles on display-to be seen next week in Liverpool, on Thursday 12th June, at the UK's largest Green Motor Show,Green-Car-Guide Live!2008, sponsored by Masternaut Three X.

You will have to pre-register for free admission at www.Green-Car-Guide.com

low emission cars come to the aid in a time of high fuel prices

With petrol and diesel prices at an all-time high, and predicted to continue increasing, there’s now only one type of vehicle that companies and private motorists should consider buying – a green one. A report from Green Car Guide continues:

Seeing the latest range of green vehicles all under one roof is virtually impossible – until now. Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008, sponsored by Masternaut Three X, is set to be the UK’s largest Green Motor Show and will display a range of the latest energy-efficient vehicles that can help motorists and fleet operators save money on running costs.

Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008 will take place on Thursday 12th June 2008 at the new award-winning Arena & Convention Centre in Liverpool. The event is aimed at businesses and other organisations with vehicle fleets, and entrance is free, although admission will only be possible by pre-registration at www.Green-Car-Guide.com.

The low carbon vehicles exhibited will range from city cars through to executive cars and commercial vehicles. Vehicle technology will include petrol, diesel, biofuel, hybrid and electric, and there will also be a number of ‘show stoppers’.

For the first time ever, there will be a revolutionary new technology on display that captures the CO2 from a vehicle. The CO2 is then used to make biofuel from algae which then powers the vehicle.

Here’s a preview of the vehicles on display.

Oaktec
Honda Civic hybrid rally car
A high profile demonstration of how hybrid systems can prove successful in motorsport

Mammoth Racing
Range Rover off–road rally car
This class-winning rally car runs on engine oil made from plants

Jenkins Motorsport
100% Biodiesel Racing Truck, prepared by Fleetsolve
Showing that sustainable biodiesel can win races

New Holland
100% Biodiesel Tractor
New Holland’s tractors can now run on 100% sustainable biodiesel

Smart
Fortwo ED
The electric Smart is currently undergoing user trials in advance of wider availability

Modec
Electric Van
The Modec zero-emission vehicle can carry 2 tonnes over 100 miles up to 50
mph... all on one overnight charge

Smiths
Eddison Electric ‘Transit’ Van
A Transit van with a fully-electric powertrain

Clean Air Power
Gas Dual Fuel HGV
This truck uses gas to significantly cut fuel bills, a key issue in the haulage industry

Allied Vehicles
Peugeot E7 Electric Taxi
A zero emission taxi cab

Allied Vehicles
Tepee
Electric Peugeot Expert van

Volkswagen
Caddy EcoFuel Van
Can operate on natural gas or biomethane from landfill - in other words it runs on waste!

Mega
Electric Van
A small urban delivery vehicle with minimal running costs

Lexus
GS450h petrol-electric hybrid
A super-saloon combining performance of 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, combined mpg of 35.8 and just 185g/km of CO2

Lexus
RX400h petrol-electric hybrid
The UK’s only hybrid 4x4, with 268bhp, 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds, combined mpg of 34.9 and CO2 of 192g/km

Lexus
LS600h petrol-electric hybrid
A luxury saloon with sector-leading fuel efficiency

Toyota
Prius petrol-electric hybrid
One of the most popular green cars, a family saloon delivering more than 65mpg

Toyota
Aygo
A city car capable of more than 60mpg from its petrol engine

Toyota
Yaris
With more space than an Aygo, but still with high miles per gallon (combined 52.3), low emissions of 127g/km and low running costs.

BMW
118d
Managing 62.8mpg and emitting just 119g/km CO2, meaning £35 per year in road tax

BMW
318d
The 318d saloon is a great driver’s car yet it averages over 60 mpg thanks to EfficientDynamics

BMW
520d
The 520d is capable over more than 55mpg – excellent economy for an executive car

MINI
Cooper D
The Cooper D drives like a go-kart on heat yet returns an incredible 72.4mpg

Citroen
C1 1.0i
Over 60mpg from a nippy city runabout and newly reduced 108g/km emissions

Citroen
C2 VTS 1.6HDi
110hp performance and just 119g/km emissions combined in a fun ‘hot hatch’ package

Citroen
C4 1.6HDi Coupe
Low emissions in a stylish coupe model

Citroen
C4 1.6HDi VTR+ saloon
Space, performance, economy and just 120g/km emissions from a family car

Volkswagen
Polo BlueMotion
One of the two lowest emitting conventional cars in the UK: just 99g/km CO2, and an incredible 74.3mpg!

Volkswagen
Golf BlueMotion
VW’s BlueMotion technology has been applied to the Golf resulting in 62.8mpg

Honda
Civic petrol-electric hybrid
The road going version of the rally car on display at the show – more than 60mpg from a petrol family saloon

Mercedes-Benz
C200
The new C-Class has been critically acclaimed – it combines quality and low emissions

Smart
Fortwo
The iconic city car – trendy and economical, giving more than 60mpg

SEAT
Ibiza Ecomotive
An incredible 74.3mpg equates to just 99g/km CO2 which means free road tax

Saab
9-5 Vector Sport BioPower
Running on E85 (85% bioethanol) made from plants, the fuel is from a renewable resource

Subaru
Legacy Outback Diesel
The brand new boxer diesel engine in the Legacy makes the Outback the most economical 4x4 by far, with 48.7mpg and just 153g/km CO2

Mazda
2
A lightweight supermini, so more economical, and more fun to drive

Fiat
500
A modern day design icon based on the original classic – and also cheap to run

There will also be stands for:

Origo Industries
Showing a Toyota Avensis with carbon capture technology

GreenMotion Vehicle Rental
Specialising in low emission vehicles

Kuwait Petroleum
Lubrication oils that aid efficiency

WhizzGo Car Club
Why not get rid of your car completely and just use one when you need it?

Masternaut Three X
Make vehicle fleets more efficient by using Masternaut’s clever tracking technology

Green-Car-Guide.com
The UK’s original green car news site

Merseytravel’s ECOtravel Bureau
Merseyside’s leading independent source of clean vehicle and fuel information

Cenex
Cenex assists UK industry to build competitive advantage from the global shift to a low carbon economy

Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
The NWDA leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for the region’s climate change action plan.

Seminars
The event will also include a seminar programme covering the following subjects:
• The Northwest Climate Change Action Plan: The challenges for transport in the region
• Overview of green vehicles that can help you reduce your carbon footprint
• Biofuels: Are they a genuine sustainable solution?
• Development of new low carbon vehicle technologies in the UK
• Real time monitoring and improving of CO2 emissions

Technical Workshops
In addition there will be a series of technical workshops run by Cenex showcasing UK supply chain capability, particularly in the commercial vehicle sector.
Cenex workshops will include:
• Mechanical Hybrid – From Formula 1 to road cars
• Electrical Vehicle Technology
• Gas Vehicle Technology
• Innovation in Assessing Transport Emissions
• Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme
• Hybrid Buses
• Connaught Hybrid Retrofit System
• Low Carbon Automotive Business Opportunities In the North West

GreenerFleet™, a range of solutions that allow real-time monitoring and reduction of vehicle emissions, will be showcased by the show’s main sponsor, Masternaut Three X. These solutions include a live carbon calculator and mobile resource management systems that increase efficiency, lower costs and improve sustainability.

Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008 is organised by Green-Car-Guide.com, in association with Merseytravel’s ECOtravel Bureau, and sponsored by Masternaut Three X GreenerFleet, Cenex and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

For more information about the event, and to register, visit Green-Car-Guide

Countdown to Green Car Guide Live!2008:Set to be the UK's largest Green Motor Show

In less than a fortnight, what is set to be the UK's largest Green Car Show will open its doors for one day only on Thursday,12th June 2008, at the award winning Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool.

Whether or not you are concerned with the impact of pollution on the environment and the need to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, you may be excited by a large array of new cars and other vehicles on show, or at the very least interested in efficient motoring saving you money in fuel costs and taxes.

These are three very good reasons - environmental protection,love of cars and the latest in technology,and personal money savings-apart from a great day out in a great city, to visit this show on the 12th June.

At the show will be low carbon vehicles ranging from city cars through to executive cars and commercial vehicles. Vehicle technology will include petrol,diesel,biofuel,hybrid and electric. Of immense interest will be the display of a revolutionary technology that captures CO2 from a vehicle. The CO2 is then used to make biofuel... But how? All will be revealed at the show.

If you,like me can't wait to get to Liverpool, you will need to register for free admission online before you arrive for the event. You can do this by clicking here for the Green car Guide website and for further information.

Low Co2 that's the Mazda 2

Already 2008 World Car of the Year, the new Mazda 2 stable adds a 3-door version to the 5-door. Economy and performance are driven by the use of lightweight high-tensile steels and new technology.


Weighing in at 100kg lighter than the previous model, the all-new Mazda 2 comes as a1.3-litre petrol engine,or a 1.4 diesel,and from July you will be able to buy a 1.5 103 ps petrol powered version. The 3-door and 5-door are the same size,and have a generous spec worth checking out, including front airbags(both sides),remote central locking,multipurpose glovebox,alarm and immobiliser, and so on.

With a high 5-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, the Mazda 2s can deliver a fuel economy of up to 65.7 mpg, and CO2 emissions from 114g/km. This is a quality ,low cost, good ,performing car. You can go for a 'Sport' 3-door from £11,399,or the TS from under £8k-there are models priced in between. Oh,I nearly forgot to mention the road tax (VED) rate at a probable £35 per annum-Band B (101-120g/km). Check it out.


Copyright (c) 2006-2008. CFM(Services)Limited. All rights reserved.

Audi A3 now with lower emissions

Audi is claiming that it has reduced CO2 emissions across the range,through improvements boosting efficiency in its petrol and diesel engines. Upto 15% reductions have been achieved in new and improved existing engines to be on the market from July this year.

Models such as the 1.8 TFSI S tronic will deliver a reduction taking total CO2 emissions from 179g/km down to 153g/km.

Over the last few weeks, much emphasis has been placed here, and in other forums, on the sub-120 g/km cars. These often are seen to benefit the planet most, and they can be tax efficient,too. Sometimes the claims of manufacturers have been challenged - laboratory performance may not equate with actual road performance. Though this maybe true, the fact is that cars are becoming more fuel efficient and less polluting. So,here and now, we should applaud the continuing efforts to drive-up efficiency and drive-down levels of pollution. There is no 'silver bullet', unless cars were to be banned overnight.

For more details on the Audi A3, there is a full report for you at the Green-Car-Guide here.

The Nissan Pivo a car with no CO2 emissions and no reverse

For a short period, 24th May to 1st June, there is a an opportunity to see the amazing futuristic Nissan Pivo, a concept car touring with a new exhibition called the The Science of Survival, at the Science Museum in London.

Generating none of the emissions of most current road vehicles, the Pivo has also dispensed with the need for a reverse gear. When it needs to reverse it relies on a 360-degree swivel of the whole of the driving cabin. Blind spots are eliminated with the use of screens which show the exterior around the vehicle. Looking not unlike a cartoon creation for a Walt Disney film, the Pivo provides further all round visibility through large doors ,windscreens and windows. But this is serious technology from Nissan for the future, adopting lithium-ion battery power.

The Science of Survival is a new, hands-on, family exhibition, which uses the latest environmental research to challenge visitors to create their own sustainable city of 2050. The exhibition highlights possible ways of changing and adapting how we live to ensure that we will be able to survive in 2050. The Science of Survival runs at the Science Museum, London until 2 November 2008, before touring internationally.

The Pivo is a great example of latest thinking in environmental inventions and devices to help ensure we survive in 2050.

Make a great half-term visit . A rare opportunity.

Tomorrow, something closer to now, and available to buy today.

Chevrolet Matiz 0.8: It's a muscle car,Jim,but not as we know it...

With apologies to Star Trekkers (and, to lover's of the 'Chevvy' Corvette), today's report is largely from the Green-Car-Guide :

Chevrolet, a maker of American muscle cars in years gone by, has now gone into the business of cars that are very un-musclular.

The latest Matiz 0.8S is yet another car that will be clogging up the streets of London when the new congestion charge swings into force in October, as it will enter the capital for free with its emissions of just 119g?km of CO2 (subject to a £10 registration fee), which translates into a combined fuel consumption figure of 54.3 mpg. 

Yes,this is the sane emissions figure as a 118d -along with an ever increasing range of other models. The difference is that the Matiz is petrol rather than diesel,so if you have an aversion to diesel but want to drive in London, then this could be the car for you.

Of course, it has benefits for motorists outside the capaital, with Band B road tax classification meaning a Matiz buyer will pay just £35 a year at current rates of tax this year.

The Matiz has a Group 1A insurance and a fixed price servicing package costing £199 for three years/30,000 miles, or £399 for three years/60,000 miles.

All models include central locking, immobiliser ,power steering, tinted glass, a Blaupunkt RDS radio/CD player and body coloured bumpers as standard.

And, it costs just £6,245. So you could buy one of these and a classic Chevrolet Corvette for the same cost as an average new family saloon.

 The place to be in June. See the cars that  will save you money on

• petrol and diesel
• road tax
• company car tax
• running your own fleet
• and reduce your CO2 emissions

For Green-Car-Guide Live!2008 Click Here

It could be a NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine) car time in London with new Mayor Boris Johnson's support

At least that's what the people over at the Nice Electric Car Company are now hoping it will be.

As the owners of the Mega City, they are concerned that the new Mayor will as promised reform the congestion charge in London, but are expecting their  zero emission car to continue to enjoy no charge status and  free parking making it an irresistable proposition for Londoners keen to look for ways to contain their ever increasing motoring costs.

With petrol and diesel costing more than £5 a gallon , meaning for the owner of a medium-sized car doing 35 mpg a cost per mile of about 14p, the NICE people say owners of their own cars pay about 1.5p per mile, or one tenth of that cost - and with zero CO2 emissions, no annual road tax.

The NICE Company will be at the Excel British Motor Show from 23rd July to 3rd August this year to exhibit once again its current models for greener motoring , and to reveal its plans for electric models in many different market segments by the end of the year.

Don't forget you can still register for free admittance to Live!2008 to be held in Liverpool, for one day only,at the Echo Arena on 12th June. For details you can click here for the Green Car Guide

 

Road Tax (VED) benefits of lower emissions will shape price of used cars in future

Thinking ahead when buying your next car could help keep your motoring affordable.In the last Budget Chancellor Alistair Darling laid the latest Treasury delayed action fuse , by announcing new rules for Vehicle Excise Duty to explode into effect next year. You are now looking at more CO2 emission-sensitive rates allocated to 13 Bands, from the current seven, classified from A-M. Starting with Band A for the sub-100g/km emitting cars (at no charge, as before ) through to Band M for the highest polluters above 255 g/km attracting a hefty £440 cost per annum. Where your car falls in the CO2 ranges will therefore determine what you pay, and as your car is one of the heftiest capital cost items for your budget planning well ahead will pay-off.

The seven current Bands for petrol and diesel cars- g/km CO2 range and tax rate-are:

A 100 or less £0
B 101-120 £35
C 121-150 £120
D 151-165 £145
E 166-185 £170
F 186-225 £210
G Over 225 £400

You can expect car guides to be quoting tax bands and rates in future. At low emission cars,we will also be adding the current tax band when quoting a CO2 rating for any particular car featured here. The publishers of the Black Book,CAP, say they have intoduced CO2 figures in the Black Book because they believe VED rates will become as influential on consumer choice as fuel economy and insurance costs. You can look up CAP on their website here.

PS We are not going to able to take our eye of this one! The Treasury suddenly announced (on the 29 April 2008) that it was abolishing an existing VED exemption on higher road tax rates for vehicles emitting more than 225g of CO2 per kilometre registered between March 2001 and March 2006. Clearly, there could be other 'tweaks'- we will never advocate a change merely to raise extra tax in such a stealthy manner from people who made their vehicle choices years ago, when the low emission options did not exist. You will need to watch out over the coming months. We will try to help you achieve affordable and greener motoring.

Mazda to be awarded for outstanding innovative in-depth study to achieve cleaner diesel engine exhaust emissions

In May,the Mazda Motor Corporation will be given the prestigious 'Outstanding Technical Paper  Award 2008' by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan for its research into the combustion process of catalysts in particulate filters to cut down still further the amount of 

emissions,particularly soot, released into the atmosphere.

Mazda will soon be applying its analytical methods to improve car performance, and reduce CO2 emissions.

For current Mazda models you should go to the Mazda website. You can also find a review of the Mazda 6 which went on sale in the UK in January at the Green Car Guide. Though a much improved model on performance,there is probably still more to be done in the 'green' sense.

Lowest Average CO2 emissions that's Fiat

According to a recent analysis by JATO Dynamics, automotive specialists, Fiat has the lowest average average CO2 emissions among the 10 best-selling car manufacturers in Europe for vehicles sold in 2007.

The top brands ranked as follows:

Fiat  137.3 g/km

Peugeot 141.9 g/km

Citroen 142.2 g/km

Renault 146.4 g/km

Toyota  148.8 g/km

Ford   149.1 g/km

Opel/Vauxhall  152.9 g/km

Volkswagen   161.7 g/km

BMW 176.7 g/km

Mercedes-Benz 188.4 g/km

This survey shows that manufacturers are committed to finding innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions.

By 2009, Fiat expects all its engines will meet European standards for emissions. It is reported that the Fiat 500 (shown above) and the Fiat Bravo are already Euro 5-ready

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion achieves 740 miles on one tank of diesel

The Volkswagen Polo represents what can be achieved in the struggle to reduce carbon emissions. It has a 1.4-litre diesel engine but, by a series of small adjustments ,VW have produced a high fuel performance (74.3 mpg) and low, 99 g/km, CO2 emissions. Aerodynamics,engine and gear 'tweaks', low resistance tyres and special light weight wheels,help to coax the Polo Blue Motion to achieve the parsimonious fuel consumption.

This Polo is a classic example of what can been done in small steps to develop an efficient and environmentally-friendly car. The Norwich Council is so taken with it, its ordered 50 of them. 

For free details of other green cars, go to the Green Car Guide website by clicking here.

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO)

From 15th April, the RTFO comes into operation. So what does it mean?

Green Car Guide reports :

"The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) requires 2.5% of all road fuels sold to come from biofuels ,rising to 5% by 2010. It's claimed that this will save 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2010 and is part of a package of measures being taken to reduce the impact of transport on the environment- although some critics claim that biofuels cause more harm than good, and so a review into biofuels is also underway."

At low emission cars , we feel that all reasonable steps, however small, in the fight to reduce CO2 emissions are worthwhile. Biofuels is just one part in the overall solution. The debate on the sustainability issues is very important and must continue, and the balance in the economic use of crops (fuel versus food) carefully weighed.

Copyright (c) 2006-2008. CFM(Services)Limited. All Rights Reserved.