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Driving a car is never going to be truly green, but until public transport catches up, there are lots of choices about less damaging cars. Which is best? Read the features below for some reviews of various options. |
Road Test: The best new 'green' cars
The Chancellor reduced road tax for the greener petrol and diesel cars, and punished the 'gas guzzlers'. The trend is clear. So which are the green machines?
How can a car's "green" credentials be judged? By the amount of energy it consumes the less, the better. But, with the global warming debate raging, we're more concerned about the emissions of carbon dioxide that result from burning carbon-based fuels. Nearly all cars do this, which is why, since 2001, the annual tax has been based on a car's CO2 emissions.
Cars made before that date are taxed as having either a small engine or a large one, the dividing line being set at a slightly strange 1,549cc. Newer cars fall into various emissions bands, and the Budget two weeks ago extended the banding and altered the figures. Now, cars emitting under 100g/km of CO2 in the official drive-cycle test attract no tax at all. Electric cars have always been tax-exempt, as they emit nothing except heat and the smell of warm insulation, but now the most frugal of fossil-fuel cars are similarly tax-free.
If your car emits between 100 and 120g/km, you pay a reduced rate of £50 a year if it runs on diesel oil, £40 if on petrol, and £30 if on an alternative fuel (which means LPG, CNG or bio-ethanol). Note that the diesel levy margin over petrol has risen from £5 to £10 because the Government still views diesels as more of a health hazard, even though many new diesel cars now have particulate filters. These should be rewarded, and are not.
Beyond 120g/km things are much as before, unless you buy a new "gas guzzler" there's a new, top rate of excise duty, which means that a petrol car emitting 225g/km or more now attracts a duty of £210. Gas guzzler? That 225g/km figure still equates to about 30mpg on the " combined" (urban and open-road) test cycle, so there are plenty of much thirstier cars which are still getting off lightly.
So, what can you get that qualifies for zero road tax? Ha! The Chancellor flatters our green desires only to deceive. There's nothing officially available apart from the G-Wiz electric runabout with its restricted range. You could consider importing one of those nasty little Aixam microcars from France, but is the resulting purgatory worth saving £40 a year for?
But there's one further idea, and it's a good one. Smart has never officially sold the diesel version of its tiny two-seater here; too hard to convert to right-hand drive, the company says, and not enough demand to make it worthwhile for the low sales numbers likely to be involved.
But that was pre-Budget: has DaimlerChrysler UK now changed its mind? A telephone call to the press office revealed that it has not. This is an opportunity missed. But you can buy a Smart Fortwo CDI here in the UK if you really want to. It will be left-hand drive, but that's not much of a problem in a small Smart with a high seating position, and you quickly get used to it.
A quick trawl of the internet revealed models available at from £7,195 on the road, available from The Left Hand Drive Place in Basingstoke, Hampshire (01256 461 173). That's just £385 more than the cheapest right-hand-drive petrol Smart, and you get the warm glow of a minuscule 90g/km CO2 emissions plus average combined mpg of 83.1. In a surprising burst of generosity, the Chancellor doesn't even charge the £10 diesel penalty. The 799cc, three-cylinder turbodiesel gives spirited pace and (as from about now) it even comes with a particulate filter.
In the next band cars which emit 101-120g/km of CO2 there are just seven petrol-fuelled cars, but five of them do have some of the lowest emissions in the sector. Three of these are really the same car (the Citroën C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo near-clones) and their tiny, Toyota-made, three-cylinder engines emit just 109g/km the same as the bigger, faster Honda Civic Hybrid, whose continuously variable automatic transmission and novel mechanism for closing the engine's valves appear to create a car that runs with extraordinary efficiency.
Toyota's well-known Prius, another petrol-electric hybrid, is even less of a global warmer with its 104g/km score, but the problem with these hybrids is that the promise of official combined mpg figures and CO2 measurements is seldom met in real-world use because people just don't drive like that. It's on motorways that the hybrids most fall short of expectations, but if you do a lot of town driving or are never in a hurry they can be truly, rather than merely statistically, green.
The other two ultra-frugal petrol cars are also powered by a version of Toyota's 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine: the Daihatsu Charade and its larger Sirion stablemate. Toyota's Yaris 1.0 misses the cut, however, because it is heavier and therefore thirstier.
Which leaves the many sub-120g/km diesels, many of which feel punchy and lively as well as sipping minimal amounts of fuel, however they are used. One of the most frugal, at 113g/km, is the Citroën C2 1.4 HDI, which isn't far behind the similar-capacity diesel C1 (109g/km, same as the petrol C1) despite being heavier and having 70bhp, against 55bhp from a similar but de-boosted version of the engine. It just shows that a diesel is more efficient when running a higher turbocharger boost.
Among that cars that just scrape into this low-tax band are the new Fiat Grande Punto 1.3 M-Jet diesel at 119g/km, the Peugeot 206 1.4 HDI SW estate car (120g/km) and one of the biggest-engined diesels in the sector, Citroën's C3 1.6 HDI (also at 120g/km).
And, as of June, we can add Peugeot's new 207, tested last week, to the list; it scores 120g/km in both 70bhp 1.4 and 90bhp 1.6 HDI diesel versions, so there's no real reason not to go for the bigger-engined model.
So, by buying a decent diesel, it's possible to transport a family and still pay just £50 a year car tax while enjoying genuinely minimal fuel consumption, even at speed on a motorway. That's the real secret of green motoring. Of all such cars, the most grown-up as well as the newest is that Peugeot 207 1.6 HDI. It also happens to be one of the most pleasing versions of the range. For once, everyone can be happy.
How can a car's "green" credentials be judged? By the amount of energy it consumes the less, the better. But, with the global warming debate raging, we're more concerned about the emissions of carbon dioxide that result from burning carbon-based fuels. Nearly all cars do this, which is why, since 2001, the annual tax has been based on a car's CO2 emissions.
Cars made before that date are taxed as having either a small engine or a large one, the dividing line being set at a slightly strange 1,549cc. Newer cars fall into various emissions bands, and the Budget two weeks ago extended the banding and altered the figures. Now, cars emitting under 100g/km of CO2 in the official drive-cycle test attract no tax at all. Electric cars have always been tax-exempt, as they emit nothing except heat and the smell of warm insulation, but now the most frugal of fossil-fuel cars are similarly tax-free.
If your car emits between 100 and 120g/km, you pay a reduced rate of £50 a year if it runs on diesel oil, £40 if on petrol, and £30 if on an alternative fuel (which means LPG, CNG or bio-ethanol). Note that the diesel levy margin over petrol has risen from £5 to £10 because the Government still views diesels as more of a health hazard, even though many new diesel cars now have particulate filters. These should be rewarded, and are not.
Beyond 120g/km things are much as before, unless you buy a new "gas guzzler" there's a new, top rate of excise duty, which means that a petrol car emitting 225g/km or more now attracts a duty of £210. Gas guzzler? That 225g/km figure still equates to about 30mpg on the " combined" (urban and open-road) test cycle, so there are plenty of much thirstier cars which are still getting off lightly.
So, what can you get that qualifies for zero road tax? Ha! The Chancellor flatters our green desires only to deceive. There's nothing officially available apart from the G-Wiz electric runabout with its restricted range. You could consider importing one of those nasty little Aixam microcars from France, but is the resulting purgatory worth saving £40 a year for?
But there's one further idea, and it's a good one. Smart has never officially sold the diesel version of its tiny two-seater here; too hard to convert to right-hand drive, the company says, and not enough demand to make it worthwhile for the low sales numbers likely to be involved.
But that was pre-Budget: has DaimlerChrysler UK now changed its mind? A telephone call to the press office revealed that it has not. This is an opportunity missed. But you can buy a Smart Fortwo CDI here in the UK if you really want to. It will be left-hand drive, but that's not much of a problem in a small Smart with a high seating position, and you quickly get used to it.
A quick trawl of the internet revealed models available at from £7,195 on the road, available from The Left Hand Drive Place in Basingstoke, Hampshire (01256 461 173). That's just £385 more than the cheapest right-hand-drive petrol Smart, and you get the warm glow of a minuscule 90g/km CO2 emissions plus average combined mpg of 83.1. In a surprising burst of generosity, the Chancellor doesn't even charge the £10 diesel penalty. The 799cc, three-cylinder turbodiesel gives spirited pace and (as from about now) it even comes with a particulate filter.
Source - The Independent, John Simister |
Useful transport links:
eta - site of the Environmental Transport Association - ETA
The Department for Transport - UK Government site
tourismconcern - for the ethical tourist
fco -general travel advice from the Foreign Office before you go abroad.
travelhealth - a good site with general health advice
nationalrail.co.uk - national rail enquiries
Electric bicycles
mylinkspage.com/roadrage.html - anti-car site
Sustainable Transport - Campaigning to increase awareness of the environmental impacts of current transportation modes and to promote more sustainable alternatives
Transform Scotland.org.uk - The campaign for sustainable transport
DFT: Department for Transport
Manage
Energy.net/conference/transport0602.html
London Congestion Charging Links
Road Rage Sustrans.org.uk Sustainable transport charity working on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport
EERE.energy.gov/RE/hydrogen fuel cells- US Department of energy - hydrogen fuel cells explained
Fuel Economy.gov/feg/fuel cell US Dept of Energy - Fuels cells, benefits and how they work
FuelCellWorld.org World Fuel Cell Council
Fuel Cell Today.com Portals for companies and individuals with an interest in the commercialisation of fuel cells
Biofuels for Sustainable Transport
PTI.org.uk UK Public Transportation Information
AirQuality.co.uk UK National Air Quality Information ArchiveChooseClimate.org/flying The true cost of air travel
Clean Car Campaign.org US campaign promoting a clean revolution in the motor vehicle industry
Geener motoring fuels -
powershift - advice on how to convert to liquid petroleum gas (LPG) including where you can fill up, and grants for conversion. See also www.lpga.co.uk - he site of the LPG Association
toyota - the Prius is the most successful hybrid petrol/electric car favoured by some celebrities
evuk - lots of information on electric vehicles
Transport Jobs
environmentjob.co.uk
amber-jobs
tfl
Eco-friendly transport:
The greener way to get around
 Mercedes' F600 Hygenius
It's probably harder than you might think to change your motoring habits to help to save the planet. Several related but distinct subjects become hopelessly mixed up - saving money, energy security and the need to contain or reduce CO2 emissions, for example. Detailed data on tailpipe emissions for different models are available but it's difficult to find information about the overall environmental impact cars have over their lives, including manufacture and disposal. What do you do with all those batteries when an electric or hybrid car is scrapped? And not only consumers are confused; the muddle is reflected in official policy. Take the London Congestion Charge; electric vehicles and hybrids are exempt because they are considered environmentally friendly, but what has that to do with congestion? Slow electric vehicles may contribute to congestion more than petrol-powered cars. But follow the advice here, and we think you'll do more good than harm.
DRIVE YOUR EXISTING CAR BETTER
Cut out the powerslides. Even if you run a Jaguar or a Ferrari, say, you can do your bit next time you get behind the wheel by sticking to speed limits, driving smoothly, avoiding excessive acceleration and braking. This style is also safer. Turn off your air conditioning and use cruise control where possible. Satellite navigation can help you avoid getting lost and wasting fuel. Some modern cars have mpg read-outs; watch them. A new car will be much greener than the equivalent of, say, 20 years ago but it isn't always the answer. Keeping your old motor going could be an option: a great deal of energy is consumed in the manufacture of a car - although Ford, for example, now uses renewable wind energy at its UK engine plant. It may also be possible to convert your existing car to run on other fuels such as LPG.
SWITCH TO TWO WHEELS
Scooters came into fashion in the 1950s and made that form of two-wheeled transport, at least, irreversibly sexy. Anything powered on two wheels will use less fuel than a car. The world of bikes doesn't bother much with alternative fuels, although you'll find some interesting electric examples in these pages. The US firm Hayes Diversified Technology produces multi-fuel motorcycles that can run on diesel and aviation kerosene, mainly for the military, which likes to simplify its supply lines; it's handy for it to operate motorcycles that run on the same fuels as its other vehicles. Honda and the US firm eCycle have developed experimental hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell bikes. Cycling is best of all, of course.
DO EVERYTHING ONLINE
It seems obvious; order everything online from home instead of driving to the shops. But you'll undo the good work if you end up booking cheap flights, speccing up your new SUV online, or ordering stuff from the other side of the world just because it's a few quid cheaper. The more local (eg, seasonal produce) the better.
BUY CARBON OFFSETS
Climate Care (www.climatecare.org) helps you to calculate the impact of activities in terms of CO2 emissions, and provides a mechanism for off-setting these. Payments made via the site are spent on renewable energy, energy-efficiency measures and reforestation. For example, £10 spent on these activities is claimed to offset 1.3 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to about 4,000 miles of car travel. The CarbonNeutral Company (www.carbonneutral.com) manages an offset scheme for Honda that applies for the first three months of ownership. Do carbon offsets really work? Well, at the very least, they're a start.
USE ALTERNATIVE FUELS
The one that's getting the attention at the moment is E-85; 85 per cent bioethanol, a renewable fuel made from, say, rapeseed or wheat or sugarbeet, and 15 per cent petrol. E-85-capable versions of the Ford Focus and the Saab 9-5 are on sale, and Morrisons has opened the first dozen E-85 pumps in East Anglia and Somerset. Another option is LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), which has lower CO2 emissions than petrol; LNG (liquefied natural gas) and CNG (compressed natural gas) technologies are compatible with diesels. Take those stories about running diesels on chip fat with a pinch of salt; you still need to pay duty.
LOBBY FOR FUTURE FUELS
As well as the alternatives such bio-ethanol E-85 that are available today, other technologies are on the way. Hydrogen fuel-cell technology, for example, has been demonstrated by Honda's FCX and Mercedes' F600 Hygenius. Don't hold your breath though, a lot of development is still required and the fuel suppliers will have to roll out new distribution arrangements. Tell the Transport Secretary, Mr Darling, to chivvy them along.
USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Go on - admit it. Even creaky buses, trains and tubes do a better job of moving people around than cars at peak times. When it comes to greenness you really can't beat public transport. Using the train instead of the plane is an especially sound idea.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Don't be swayed by fashion, do some research and make comparisons. Take the hybrid Lexus RX400h; this achieves 34.9 mpg and CO2 emissions of 192g/km. All excellent for a luxury SUV but if you don't need such a big vehicle, you will still do better with something smaller that doesn't have a fancy hybrid drive.
SHARE YOUR CAR
The first car-sharing lane on a UK motorway is due to open in 2007 near Leeds. Liftshare (www.liftshare.org) allows you to register your journey in an attempt to find a sharer. That also means you could chop your fuel bills in half. Oh - and make a note in your diary; National Liftshare Day is on 14 June this year. Alternatively, you can join a car club (see Car Choice, page 5).
TRY AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID CAR
Electric and hybrid cars help address local pollution problems - there are no local emissions when running on electric power. Electric vehicles such as Piaggio's Porter Electric and the G-Wiz (see our Verdict test, back page) need to be plugged into the mains overnight, while hybrids like Toyota's Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid and some luxury Lexus models have both electric and petrol power. This graphic shows how they work:
At very low speed the electric motor on its own can power a hybrid
Under acceleration the petrol engine adds some oomph to the car
Going downhill or braking the wheels sends power to batteries
When idling at the lights the engine cuts out, so saving more energy
 Mercedes' F600 Hygenius
It's probably harder than you might think to change your motoring habits to help to save the planet. Several related but distinct subjects become hopelessly mixed up - saving money, energy security and the need to contain or reduce CO2 emissions, for example. Detailed data on tailpipe emissions for different models are available but it's difficult to find information about the overall environmental impact cars have over their lives, including manufacture and disposal. What do you do with all those batteries when an electric or hybrid car is scrapped? And not only consumers are confused; the muddle is reflected in official policy. Take the London Congestion Charge; electric vehicles and hybrids are exempt because they are considered environmentally friendly, but what has that to do with congestion? Slow electric vehicles may contribute to congestion more than petrol-powered cars. But follow the advice here, and we think you'll do more good than harm.
DRIVE YOUR EXISTING CAR BETTER
Cut out the powerslides. Even if you run a Jaguar or a Ferrari, say, you can do your bit next time you get behind the wheel by sticking to speed limits, driving smoothly, avoiding excessive acceleration and braking. This style is also safer. Turn off your air conditioning and use cruise control where possible. Satellite navigation can help you avoid getting lost and wasting fuel. Some modern cars have mpg read-outs; watch them. A new car will be much greener than the equivalent of, say, 20 years ago but it isn't always the answer. Keeping your old motor going could be an option: a great deal of energy is consumed in the manufacture of a car - although Ford, for example, now uses renewable wind energy at its UK engine plant. It may also be possible to convert your existing car to run on other fuels such as LPG.
SWITCH TO TWO WHEELS
Scooters came into fashion in the 1950s and made that form of two-wheeled transport, at least, irreversibly sexy. Anything powered on two wheels will use less fuel than a car. The world of bikes doesn't bother much with alternative fuels, although you'll find some interesting electric examples in these pages. The US firm Hayes Diversified Technology produces multi-fuel motorcycles that can run on diesel and aviation kerosene, mainly for the military, which likes to simplify its supply lines; it's handy for it to operate motorcycles that run on the same fuels as its other vehicles. Honda and the US firm eCycle have developed experimental hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell bikes. Cycling is best of all, of course.
DO EVERYTHING ONLINE
It seems obvious; order everything online from home instead of driving to the shops. But you'll undo the good work if you end up booking cheap flights, speccing up your new SUV online, or ordering stuff from the other side of the world just because it's a few quid cheaper. The more local (eg, seasonal produce) the better.
BUY CARBON OFFSETS
Climate Care (www.climatecare.org) helps you to calculate the impact of activities in terms of CO2 emissions, and provides a mechanism for off-setting these. Payments made via the site are spent on renewable energy, energy-efficiency measures and reforestation. For example, £10 spent on these activities is claimed to offset 1.3 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to about 4,000 miles of car travel. The CarbonNeutral Company (www.carbonneutral.com) manages an offset scheme for Honda that applies for the first three months of ownership. Do carbon offsets really work? Well, at the very least, they're a start.
Source - Independent - David Wilkins
Guide to the greenest cars available in Britain
The Honda Civic 1.4 IMA Executive is the greenest car on Britain’s roads for the second year running, according to the Environmental Transport Association’s Car Buyers’ Guide 2006. The Guide, which highlights the best and the worst cars in terms of their impact on the environment, is published today on line at www.eta.co.uk by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), the ethical alternative breakdown service.
Honda’s environmentally superior hybrid car offers a practical and stylish solution for those wanting to avoid the congestion charge and help the atmosphere with lower carbon emissions. Next, the Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid is the most efficient mass produced car on the market, says the ETA, with 66 mpg and CO2 emissions making it the lowest of all cars at only 104g/km.
The ETA’s Car Buyers’ Guide is an easy way to assess all the cars in Britain for their green credentials, an invaluable source for car purchasing, highlighting the winners in each category. If an off-road/SUV is a lifestyle choice then buyers can be reassured that the Honda CRV-2.2 i-CTDi Sport is the greenest choice and prestige marques with a good environmental rating include the Jaguar X-Type, winner of the Luxury Car Category and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class A160 CDI which tops the Small MPV Category. Sporty drivers may choose the Vauxhall Tigra 1.3 DDTi 16v 2 door convertible as it ranks as the most environmentally friendly car in its class.
The Guide also highlight’s the worst offenders in terms of damage to the environment. Top of the worst list for emissions – again for the second year running is the Lamborghini Diablo. This is closely followed by the Bentley Arnage R and two Aston Martin models: the Vanquish V12 and the DB9. The majority of the least green vehicles on the bottom of the list pack a mean environmental punch with vast engines. Vehicles like these can produce up to five times the amount of climate change gases as the Toyota Prius. Driving the Lamborghini* is the equivalent of cutting down three fully grown oak trees every day!
Surprises at the bottom of the list include the poorest performing Supermini: the Renault Clio Renaultsport V6 255, the worst City Car: Ford Street Ka 1.6i, and the worst Executive Car: the Volkswagen Passat W8 (275 PS).
“Although what car we drive continues to define us in terms of style and status, we must acknowledge the fact that our use of transport is the fastest growing cause of climate change,” explains Andrew Davis, director of the ETA. “Car emissions have a direct impact on the environment and climate change remains the number one threat to this country, over and above terrorism.
“As the provider of Britain’s only climate neutral automotive breakdown service, the ETA considers helping people to choose which car to drive as one of its most important objectives. The Car Buyers’ Guide provides an essential shortlist to help you choose the car that suits both your lifestyle and your conscience. Cleaner motoring advice is just a click away with the ETA.”
For the complete Car Buyers’ Guide visit www.eta.co.uk.
* Lamborghini Diablo = 520g/km CO2 and 16,000m a year travelled.
A fully grown tree absorbs 13kg of CO2 a year.
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