Cut fuel usage,so saving costs,and reducing carbon emissions- the Ford econo way

Fuel efficiency leads to savings and lower emissions. The following app has got to be worth a look.

Ford Econo Check, which went on sale this year, enables Ford vehicles to be fitted with a data logger for seven days to monitor how they are driven. In response to the latest fuel price rise, its price is now £11.99 to help drivers minimise petrol and diesel use.

Ford says the The Ford Econo Check app calculates potential fuel savings for any car – based on make, model, age and annual mileage – and pick up fuel efficient driving tips on any iPhone or iPad.

Once the Econo Check chip is removed and data downloaded, a tailored report advises how modifying gear changes, anticipation, acceleration and braking will improve fuel economy. Resulting savings are also shown, which can be up to 25 per cent or £474 a year according to a study of 50,000 drivers.

Now all iPhone and iPod users can access Ford Econo Check tips and generalised data for any vehicle make. Those who are Ford drivers can locate their nearest Ford dealer to book an Econo Check for their personalised report.

May I wish you all the very best for a healthy and prosperous New Year!

New London Congestion Charge effective 4th January 2011

The Green Car Guide has just announced its Top 10 Cars that you'll be able to drive in London free of the New London Congestion Charge which starts on 4th January 2011 - Green Car Guide

It reports that: "Boris's new emissions-based system, where cars emitting 100 g/km CO2 or less will be exempt - as long as they meet Euro 5 air quality standards - will replace the current 'technology-based' approach, meaning that hybrids will no longer necessarily be exempt from the charge - unless they comply with the criteria above.

The outcome is likely to be that lots of diesel-engined cars will replace the popularity of cars such as the previous-generation Toyota Prius, which emitted 104 g/km CO2 and which will soon have to pay to drive in central London...

...
Electric cars will be appearing from mainstream manufacturers from early 2011, and with zero tailpipe emissions they will provide a much better solution to help with clean air in central London. However they will be treated no differently in terms of Congestion Charge exemption than a diesel car emitting 99 g/km CO2... Green Car Guide

• First electric vehicle to win the prestigious award
• Car and batteries to be built in Britain from 2013
• UK deliveries start in March, priced at £23,990

Nissan Leaf lifts prestigious CoTY award for 2011

Since my last post yesterday, I have received the historic news that the 100% electric Nissan LEAF has been awarded 2011 European Car of the Year. This is fantastic news for Nissan and low emission cars.

The world’s first mass-marketed, affordable, zero-emission vehicle for the global market beat 40 contenders to win motoring’s most important accolade. This is the first time in the 47-year history of the annual competition that the award has gone to an electric vehicle. Nissan LEAF’s rivals included vehicles from brands such as Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, Opel/Vauxhall and Volvo. The jury included 57 leading motoring journalists from 23 European countries.

“The jury acknowledged today that the Nissan LEAF is a breakthrough for electric cars. Nissan LEAF is the first EV that can match conventional cars in many respects,” said Håkan Matson, President of the Jury, Car of the Year.

For more information go to www.twitter.com/nissanpr

The Nissan Leaf is here!

Green-car-guide.com reports that : The Nissan LEAF, the world’s first mass-produced electric family hatchback, is now rolling off the production line, and Green-Car-Guide has carried out its most extensive test of the car to date, both in the city and on the open road.

The big headline is that no-one should fear the electric car. As long as you go into a relationship with a Nissan LEAF knowing that a slightly different mindset will be required about the range limitations, then there is very little to fault the car on.



In a full report Green Car Guide covers the road testing of the the LEAF on a variety of roads in Portugal, and says,"The car is primarily designed for the city, and it certainly makes complete sense in this environment. Driving it is easy, just move the computer mouse-like gear selector to drive, and it’s like driving a car with automatic transmission – except that you don’t get the sensation the car is struggling to find the right gear, which is a feature of many automatics."

The Guide also notes: " If you are on a renewable energy tariff then the electricity and car combination could mean zero emissions. If you get your electricity to recharge the car from the average UK energy mix, then this should mean that the CO2 [ emissions] of the LEAF is somewhere between 62-72 g/km."

For full details on the Leaf you should go to green-car-guide.com

Why go electric? You should Think about it!

According to the Think ev people the reasons you should go electric are:

• electric cars have no tailpipe at all, and no local CO2 emissions,nitrous oxide or particle emissions
• driving electrical vehicles (evs) will even reduce noise pollution
• evs are both clean and silent

The THINK City is on sale across Europe with production reaching the milestone of 2,500 units recently. Sales and production are also about to commence in the US. THINK has been a unique innovator in pure electric vehicles and power-train technology for nearly twenty years, positioning the company as a world leader in producing cars on a dedicated and highway safe platform. The THINK City can maintain speeds of 70 miles per hour and travel up to 100 miles on a single charge. In total THINK has now sold approaching 10,000 EV’s accumulating 35 million zero-emissions road miles to date.

Check out the full range at thinkev.com now.

The 9-5 set to resurrect the Saab brand with its green credentials

The Green Car Guide reports the following data for the 9-5 a 2.0 litre diesel:

Fuel economy extra urban: 64.1 mpg
Fuel economy urban: 40.9 mpg
CO2 emissions: 139 g/km
Green rating: VED band E - first year £110
Weight: 1725 Kg
Company car tax liability (2010/11): 19%
Price: £26,495 (From £26,495 - £37,795)
Insurance group: 24E
Power: 160 bhp
Max speed: 134 mph
0-62 mph: 9.4 seconds
DPF: Yes

For the full details of the Saab 9-5 Saloon 2.0 TiD review, Saab 9-5 Saloon 2.0 TiD road test go to the Green Car Guide site

Also featured is the Vauxhall Insignia now with higher mpg and lower CO2 emissions. You can check it out at Green car Guide

Toyota hybrid engine first for Deeside

According to the The Liverpool Post - 'Toyota's £700m plant in North Wales has become the first factory outside Japan to manufacture a hybrid engine... the Deeside operation which opened in 1992 is to build the 1.8-litre VVT-1 petrol engine for the new Auris Hybrid model.'

Richard Kenworthy, TMUK's General Manager Engine Manufacturing, is reported to have said:"This is the first time a Toyota hybrid engine has been manufactured outside Japan and we take great pride in having that opportunity."

For more information about the new Auris and its low emission credentials check out the report at Green-Car-Guide.com