The price of oil has reached a new high for 2009, continuing its recent rise on the back of the weak US dollar and strong US company results. US crude rose 52 cents to $79.05 a barrel in early trading, before slipping back to $78.78, up 25 cents on Friday's close. London Brent also traded higher, up 22 cents at $77.11 a barrel. Oil prices … [Read more...]
PSA Peugeot Citroen turn to natural materials for car components
October 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
PSA Peugeot Citroen has started to use components made from natural materials - radiator caps and side mirror mountings that contain hemp instead of glass-fibre; parcel shelves that are moulded in a plastic made from wood chippings; and inner door panels that are 50 per cent flax. The components are the fruits of PSA's Green Materials Plan, set … [Read more...]
CO2 output falls thanks to scrappage scheme
October 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Toyota is first manufacturer* to meet EU target figure. Average new car CO2 fell by 5.5% in the first nine months of 2009 The average for the Year to Date is 150.6 g/km; that's a record 8.8 g/km less than a year ago. The current rate of improvement would enable the car industry to meet the EU target of 130 g/km of CO2 by 2012. In fact one … [Read more...]
The atmosphere’s electric as EV competition hots up
October 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This year’s Frankfurt motor show was dominated by electric cars, and not just expensive concept ideas but production-ready cars with on-sale dates in 2010 and 2011. This is the time when the car industry announces that the alternative to the combustion engine is here. Manufacturers have certainly dipped into alternative power during the last … [Read more...]
Decline in new car CO2 emissions
September 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The widespread take-up of low-emission cars in fleets, and the impact of the scrappage scheme for private motorists, has seen average new car CO2 emissions in the UK plummet over the past 19 months. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that the average CO2 emissions of new cars registered in July was 148.4 g/km - a … [Read more...]
Holiday car rentals – the good, the bad and the ugly
September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
My first memory of a holiday hire car was at the tender age of five when the family trip our villa in Menorca ended up with all of us piling into a Fiat 126, after a hot flight in an Iberia Tri-Star for four hours. I distinctly … [Read more...]
Recession equals a 30 percent reduction in traffic congestion
September 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A new report, by the AA and travel data firm Trafficmaster, shows there has been a reduction in traffic congestion of almost a third, which is the first fall in congestion on UK motorways and trunk roads for 20 years. It says the dramatic drop has been caused by rising unemployment and more people working from home. But congestion on Fridays … [Read more...]
Car makers may be going green but British motorists lag behind
September 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Car makers are being forced to make significant cuts in their vehicles' CO2 emissions, but some countries appear reluctant to buy the greenest models - British motorists languish at sixteenth place in a league table of who buys the most polluting models in Europe, according to a study carried out on behalf of the Environmental Transport Association … [Read more...]
Car makers use blue to get their green message accross
August 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
In the future all cars will have to be kind to the environment and meet increasingly stringent emission targets. Thankfully car technology is so much at the forefront of change and innovation it puts many other … [Read more...]
Volvo get Mayor to change his mind but what’s their car like?
August 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Volvo has been successful in its challenge to The Mayor of London to review the current Congestion Charge alternative fuel exemption that, which Volvo believes, gives an unfair advantage to hybrid cars over other … [Read more...]
London Mayor urged to look again at congestion charge policy
July 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is being challenged by Volvo UK to review the basis of charging for the London Congestion Charging zone. The people at Volvo believe the principle of hybrid cars being … [Read more...]
Chinese government to block Hummer purchase
June 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A Chinese firm's bid to buy the gas-guzzling Hummer car brand will be blocked on environmental grounds, according to Chinese state radio. Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery emerged as the surprise buyer for the brand earlier this year. But China National Radio said Hummer is at odds with the country's planning agency's attempts to … [Read more...]
UK Government announces electric car trial
June 24, 2009 By 1 Comment
The UK government has announced a £25 million project to run trials of electric vehicles that will help the country reduce carbon emissions from car transport. The government funding, won by eight consortia which are predominantly made up of car manufacturers, energy providers and universities, was announced by Science Minister Paul Drayson and … [Read more...]
Nissan banking on electric
June 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
BBC Business News reports that Japanese carmaker Nissan plans to make 100,000 electric cars a year by 2012, and is aiming to become the first car firm to mass produce the vehicles. Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn said the company would unveil its first electric car in August of this year, with sales to begin in 2010. … [Read more...]
Environmental activists attack 4WD’s
May 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The Daily Mail reports on environmental activists carrying out a spate of attacks on 4x4s. Tyres have been let down or slashed, with notes left on motorists' windscreens accusing them of contributing to climate change. The notes say: 'Given the threat of climate change and the government's inaction, direct action such as this is, unfortunately, … [Read more...]
New Toyota hybrid gets off to a flyer
May 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Toyota said on Monday its new Prius had received pre-sale orders for 80,000 vehicles in Japan, kicking off what promises to be a fierce battle against hybrid rival Honda. … [Read more...]
Henry Ford’s grandson tells it like it is
April 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment
As Britain braces itself for the budget tomorrow and the car business holds its collective breath for some much needed assistance from this calamitous government, over in the states whilst all about him are losing … [Read more...]
RAC report reveals that car ownership is up but mileage falls
April 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment
BBC News reports on a RAC Foundation "The Car in British Society" report which reveals that the rapid growth in the use of cars over the last century appears to have halted, although the UK remains "car-reliant". While the number of cars being bought continues to grow, and is widening to new groups, the number and length of car trips fell in the … [Read more...]
Dealers may be tempted to overplay the green card
April 17, 2009 By 5 Comments
With the latest announcements on £5,000 incentives for buying electric cars due to kick in 2011 and the, much anticipated, car scrappage scheme seemingly days away from being given the green … [Read more...]
Green car subsidy plan unveiled
April 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Motorists will be offered subsidies of up to £5,000 to encourage them to buy electric and hybrid cars under plans announced by the government reports BBC News. It is part of the government's £250m plan to promote low carbon transport over the next five years. But ministers do not expect the cars to hit the showrooms until 2011. Full … [Read more...]
Scrappage debate hots up
March 18, 2009 By 2 Comments
Hot on the heels of the comments against a scrappage scheme made by Brian Spratt, chief executive of The Automotive Distribution Federation, British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association CEO John Lewis has come out in favour. Seeing it from his members point of view, he believes that a scrappage scheme would see “…fleets obtaining better … [Read more...]
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