http://www.whatgreencar.com/news.php Green Car News en-gb Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:51:48 GMT Copyright 2007, WhatGreenCar? Ltd http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 180 http://www.whatgreencar.com/i/logo.gif http://www.whatgreencar.com For full details see Press Release in PDF format. WhatGreenCar? has awarded its first Green Car of the Year Award 2008 to the Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic. The Focus has CO2 emissions of only 115g/km (65.6mpg on a combined test) and, with a dies... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Ford-Focus-ECOnetic-Green-Car-of-the-Year-08 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:38:49 GMT Sales of small cars have bucked the general trend in May and have seen encouraging levels of growth, according to the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Trader’s report. In the face of dwindling average sales across the UK motor indust... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Minisector-sales-rocket-as-fuel-prices-soar Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:02:40 GMT Toyota have announced that worldwide sales of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid car, have passed 1 million – approximately 1,028,000 units were sold as of the end of April this year. Currently, the Prius is on available in mor... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Global-Toyota-Prius-sales-pass-1-million-mark Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:06:41 GMT Following the recent rise in oil prices and the fuel protests by hauliers, Labour MPs are putting pressure on Gordon Brown to reverse the ‘green’ road tax reforms planned for April 2009. The backbenchers claim that the reforms will, in some cases... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Labour-rebels-threaten-green-road-tax-reform Wed, 28 May 2008 09:08:18 GMT The oil price reached a new high today of $135 a barrel, more than doubling in price in the last 12 months. Recent rises in the cost of crude have resulted in a peaking of petrol and diesel prices across the globe. According to the AA, the UK average... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?135-oil-price-drives-sales-of-green-cars Thu, 22 May 2008 21:15:29 GMT Plans to increase the Congestion Charge for the most polluting vehicles in London and provide discounts for low-emission vehicles look set to be scrapped as Boris Johnson takes up his position as the new mayor of London. As stated in Johnson... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Boris-set-to-scrap-CO2-Congestion-Charge Mon, 19 May 2008 13:56:46 GMT The first of a new network of hydrogen gas fuelling stations has been opened at the University of Birmingham. Built by Air Products, the station will form the focus of research projects to ascertain the viability of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?New-hydrogen-stations-for-trial-fuel-cell-fleet Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:20:37 GMT The UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) comes in to force today. The obligation aims to ensure that biofuels comprise 2.5% of petrol and diesel sold in the UK, in a move which can be seen as the government’s first step towards meeting... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?UK-introduces-transport-biofuels-obligation Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:53:15 GMT The TH!NK City electric was officially launched in Europe at the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva. The new TH!NK is the latest much improved version of the Norwegian-built electric car originally designed by Pivco and bought by Ford in 1999. N... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?New-THINK-City-electric-to-launch-in-UK Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:21:56 GMT From today, 13th March 2008, Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) increases by £5 for VED bands C to F (121-225 gCO2/km), and by £100 for band G cars (>225 gCO2/km). This signals the Government’s increasing resolve to punish the owners of the cars w... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Budget-2008-signals-new-first-year-CO2-road-tax Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:41:08 GMT WhatGreenCar? has launched a new web search tool that lists all models that will be exempt from paying the London Congestion Charge from 27th October 2008, the date when the new CO2-based Congestion Charge scheme is due to be introduced. A list ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Find-Congestion-Charge-exempt-cars-with-WGC Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:03:21 GMT Despite high-profile government advertising campaigns and a road tax now based on emissions, 65% of British drivers ‘don’t have a clue’ how much CO2 is being produced by the car they drive according to a survey conducted on behalf of the Enviro... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Drivers-clueless-about-their-cars-CO2-emissions Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:08:26 GMT In these days of high oil prices, environmental awareness and increased charges for drivers of 'gas guzzlers', new research has found that green credentials are becoming increasingly important for car buyers. The latest research from Global... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Survey-reveals-increase-in-number-of-green-drivers Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:34:46 GMT The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, confirmed today that a new CO2-based London Congestion Charge would be introduced later this year. From 27th October 2008, cars with the highest CO2 emissions will pay £25, and those with the lowest emissions wi... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Green-light-for-Londons-CO2-Congestion-Charge- Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:21:58 GMT The London Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which aims to reduce harmful emissions from the most polluting diesel heavy-duty vehicles, goes live today. All diesel-engine lorries weighing more than 12 tonnes (Gross Vehicle Weight) entering the Zone are now re... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Londons-Low-Emission-Zone-for-lorries-goes-live Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:49:15 GMT In a damning report published yesterday, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee concluded that although "biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport... most first generation biofuels have a detrimental impact on ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?MPs-and-EU-headtohead-over-transport-biofuels Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:13:52 GMT WhatGreenCar? have just launched a new API that gives other websites access to the unique WhatGreenCar? database. The API provides a powerful search tool that enables users to search for the greenest new cars in the UK. Including the WhatGreenCa... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Get-the-WhatGreenCar-API-search-tool-now Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:53:20 GMT As part of the regular ‘Top 10 green wheels’ series, WhatGreenCar? looks ahead to the greenest cars due for launch in 2008. With petrol and diesel prices continuing to rise beyond £1 per litre, and increasing acceptance of the imminent thr... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Top-10-green-wheels-to-watch-in-2008 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 22:51:15 GMT As we first reported February, the European Commission has now proposed legislation that sets a mandatory target of 120g/km by 2012 for all new car emissions within the EU (current average is about 160g/km). Cars (on average) would be permitted to em... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?EC-proposes-mandatory-car-CO2-limits Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:00:39 GMT WhatGreenCar? are pleased to be supporting a major new survey of drivers of electric cars in London. Frost & Sullivan, a major consulting company with extensive experience in consumer research for the automotive industry, is investigating percept... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Electric-vehicle-survey-launched-in-London Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:24:22 GMT GoinGreen, the UK electric car market leader, announces the arrival of the G-Wiz i, the most advanced variant of this iconic EV. GoinGreen launched the emission-free G-Wiz dc drive in London in May 2004 and in June 2006 introduced the G-Wiz ac drive.... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?GoinGreen-launches-the-new-GWiz-i Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:22:59 GMT The 2008 Car of the Year award has been won by the new Fiat 500. The jury of 58 specialist journalists from 22 European countries awarded the Fiat 385 votes, ahead of the Mazda 2 (325 votes), the Ford Mondeo (202) and thirty other new models. Th... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Fiat-500-citycar-wins-Car-of-the-Year-2008 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:29:23 GMT At this year’s Michelin Bibendum Challenge held in Shanghai, China, the Renault Logan eco² set a new low carbon emissions record of 71g/km for the event, covering the 172 km course on only 4.69 litres of diesel; equivalent to an average fuel consu... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Renault-Logan-sets-71gCO2km-record Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:09:15 GMT According to The AA, the average price of UK petrol breached the £1 per litre mark at the start of November 2007 with average diesel prices already over 104p. This follows the inexorable rise in the price of a barrel of crude which is approaching $1... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Petrol-breaks-1-per-litre-barrier Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:10:16 GMT Cleaner, greener van fleets could be a reality on our roads, thanks to a new Department for Transport fund outlined by Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick this week. The programme, which will be worth an initial £20million, will procure lower c... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?20-million-fund-for-low-carbon-vans Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:59:28 GMT GoinGreen, the company that supplies the battery electric G-Wiz, has called for a rethink of plans to give a 100% Congestion Charge discount to all band B vehicles from next year. At the moment, only band A vehicles (cars with CO2 emissions http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Call-to-rethink-CO2-Congestion-Charge Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:46:34 GMT Given the imminent failure of car manufacturers to reach the agreed voluntary CO2 emissions target of 140g/km by 2008, the European Commission is constructing legislation that will set a mandatory target for tailpipe carbon emissions by for all new c... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?EU-to-delay-2012-new-car-CO2-target Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:19:42 GMT A quiet green revolution is about to happen in the world of small panel vans. Fiat and PSA Peugeot-Citroen have announced the phase-in of three new commercial vehicles, each with a model with CO2 emissions of 119 g/km. Marketed as the Fiat Fiori... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Fiat-and-PSA-announce-sub120gCO2km-vans Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:24:26 GMT Following the ‘Top 10 green wheels’ list of eco-friendly new cars published in July, WhatGreenCar? seeks out some of the most polluting new cars in the show-room. While the aim of WhatGreenCar? is to provide ratings for all new cars and prom... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Top-10-gas-guzzlers-autumn-2007 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:09:54 GMT Renault has launched the new Twingo city-car. Fourteen years after its original launch on the continent, UK drivers can get their hands on a right-hand-drive Twingo for the first time. Renault has already sold more than 2.4 million Twingos worl... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Le-eco2-Twingo-est-arrive Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:12:25 GMT Peugeot is showcasing its forthcoming 308 Hybrid HDi at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Peugeot claim the vehicle is “the environmentally friendly car for the next generation” and plan to launch it in 2010. If the reported vehicle CO2 e... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Peugeot-showcases-308-Diesel-Hybrid-HDi Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:57:32 GMT Volvo is unveiling an innovative plug-in hybrid at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The ReCharge Concept is a specially designed Volvo C30 with individual electric wheel motors and batteries that can be charged via a regular electrical outlet. When fully ch... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Volvo-Plugin-Hybrid-Flexifuel-Unveiled Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:21:09 GMT The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has proposed new CO2 emissions-based charging bands for London’s congestion charge. Under the new scheme, cars with the highest CO2 emissions will pay three times more than they do now, and those with the lowes... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?All-change-for-London-Congestion-Charge Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:36:33 GMT This month sees the latest addition to the MINI family – the new low emission MINI Cooper D 108bhp 1.6litre diesel. The revised model is now capable of an impressive 72.4mpg with CO2 emissions of only 104g/km, making it one of the cleanest UK super... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?BMW-launch-72mpg-MINI-Cooper-D Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:05:50 GMT Whether you are after a cute city runabout, a familiar family car or an exclusive executive auto, it is possible to get yourself some greener wheels, says Ben Lane, director of WhatGreenCar? Driving a car isn't the greenest activity in the ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Top-10-green-wheels-summer-2007 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:46:13 GMT Toyota is to launch a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius - named the Toyota Plug-in HV, the auto maker is currently testing eight prototypes of the plug-in hybrid in Japan. Toyota plan to use the same nickel metal hydride battery as in the conv... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Toyota-Prius-to-Plugin Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:40:04 GMT The Polo BlueMotion is now available for ordering ahead of its arrival in the UK in October. Promising outstanding fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions of just 99 g/km, the new model will be priced from £11,995 for the BlueMotion 1 while th... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Taxfree-VW-Polo-to-arrive-in-October Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:08:45 GMT Consumers are still not making the most of the green car labelling scheme, according to a survey carried out by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. Although the label was launched over two years ago, the research found that 44% of car buyers remain u... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Consumers-unaware-of-car-label Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:16:07 GMT Owners of ‘gas guzzlers’ will soon to feel extra strain on their wallet if they reside in Islington, North London. Plans to charge residents with high-polluting cars significantly more to park in the Borough have just received the backing of the ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Islington-green-parking-scheme Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:13:33 GMT After much anticipation, Mitsubishi have at last launched the award winning 'i' car in the UK. There has been much speculation about the efficiency of the i's 57bhp, 660cc, three-cylinder turbo engine and the practical advantages of it... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Introducing-the-new-Mitsubishii Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:21:01 GMT The international home furnishings retailer IKEA are to trade in their fleet of existing company cars for greener hybrid alternatives. The Swedish company will start with the purchase of 50 Honda Civic hybrids, with 20 more during 2008. The low-emiss... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?IKEA-Fleet-Goes-Green Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:36:42 GMT Figures just published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that UK motorists are increasingly opting for environmentally friendly cars. During 2006, green car sales doubled with a remarkable 6,538 hybrid vehicles purchased i... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Record-UK-sales-for-green-cars Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:51:49 GMT Honda announced this month that they will be ceasing the production of the Accord hybrid, currently on sale in the US. The decision to end production follows the model’s poor sales, which have continued to fall over the last three years, with just ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Honda-withdraws-US-Accord-hybrid- Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:51:22 GMT This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Toyota Prius. Almost a decade has passed since the debut of the first commercially produced hybrid car – a milestone in the history of greener motoring. Since the production of the first Prius in 1997, al... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Toyota-Prius-is-10 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:36:24 GMT As many in the car industry had expected, Toyota is aiming to hybridise all of its model range, an objective now confirmed this week by Masatami Takimoto, executive vice president. What has made this possible is the success of its pioneering hybri... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Toyota-to-go-100-hybrid Fri, 11 May 2007 16:09:04 GMT May sees the launch of the World?s first high performance, zero-emission electric motorcycle in London. While its not the first commercial electric two-wheeler, the Vectrix is the first electric bike to combine its green credentials with the perfo... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Vectrix-eMotorbike-Launched-in-London Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:07:16 GMT PSA Peugeot-Citroen are to launch a diesel-hybrid Peugeot 308 to replace the 307. Peugeot?s first diesel-hybrod is to be launched in late 2007. Automotive News Europe report that the hybrid 308 will have a fuel economy of 3.4 litres/100km and will ha... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Peugeot-to-launch-308-dieselhybrid Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:00:14 GMT The first ever Sexy Green Car Show opened its doors today at the Eden Project. The Eden Project might seem a strange setting for a car show but having been to the exhibition the synergy between Cornwall?s legendary greenhouses and the ingenious gr... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Green-cars-party-at-Eden-Launch-Report Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:03:39 GMT As WhatGreenCar? have advocated for some time now, with the climate in trouble and oil expensive, cars need to get greener ? and fast! The Eden Project in Cornwall has also recognized the importance of greener motoring and from March 30th to April 15... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Sexy-Green-Cars-come-to-Eden Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:02:48 GMT The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, has included ?green? measures in this year?s budget in an effort to remind the public of his green credentials, tackling climate change by reducing carbon emissions. Consequently the most fuel-efficient cars will rema... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?More-orange-needed-in-Browns-green-budget Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:00:41 GMT Given the likely failure of car manufacturers to reach the agreed voluntary CO2 emissions target of 140g/km by 2008, the European Commission has proposed legislation that sets a mandatory target of 120g/km by 2012 for all new car emissions within the... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?EU-prepares-for-mandatory-car-CO2-limits Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:59:23 GMT Average CO2 emissions for new cars sold in the UK fell to a record low of 167.2g/km in 2006, a reduction of 1.3% on 2005 figures, according to data released by SMMT this week. The reduction continues the trend for CO2 emissions for new cars, which ha... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Record-low-for-new-car-CO2-emissions Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:57:14 GMT Following a wide-ranging consultation with local residents and businesses, Richmond upon Thames Council is pursuing its radical proposals to charge on a sliding scale for residents? parking permits based on vehicle CO2 emissions - see previous post. ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Richmond-to-pursue-CO2-parking-charge-plan Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:59:51 GMT As part of its ?eGreen Programme 2010?? initiative, Nissan is to launch its first hybrid car, the Altima Hybrid, in the US during 2007. Although originally sceptical about the consumer demand for hybrids, the company has been forced to join the as ye... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Nissan-to-join-hybrid-constructor-eclub Fri, 12 Jan 2007 14:59:05 GMT This year?s PBR has announced immediate increases in fuel excise duties for petrol and diesel of 1.25p per litre. Biodiesel and bioethanol fuels are also affected (although the 20 ppl tax advantage remains). The tax on natural gas used as a road fuel... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Prebudget-report-signals-fuel-tax-rise Wed, 13 Dec 2006 14:58:13 GMT The London Hydrogen Partnership (LHP), has announced its intention to purchase at least 60 new hydrogen vehicles. These vehicles will be deployed as part of London?s public sector fleet and will focus on operations in Central London. The LHP, establi... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Hydrogen-cars-coming-to-London Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:55:40 GMT In an effort to reduce the impact of car emissions on climate change, Richmond upon Thames borough council in the south-east have proposed plans to link car emission ratings with the cost of parking permits. Cars with the lowest vehicle emissions, su... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Cheaper-parking-for-greener-cars Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:53:37 GMT Somerset police have taken delivery of their first high-performance bioethanol flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which will form part of the UK?s first bioethanol police car fleet. The fuel can be made from UK-grown crops such as wheat or sugar beet, which ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Somersets-blues--twos-go-green Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:49:17 GMT Citroen is now running its UK Head Office based diesel cars on a 30% biodiesel blend (B30) sourced from Total. This effectively reduces life cycle carbon emissions by around 15% and implies that all relatively new Citro뮠diesel cars are able to run ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Citroen-runs-own-diesel-fleet-on-30-biodiesel Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:48:31 GMT London Mayor Ken Livingstone has announced plans to increase the Congestion Charge for the most polluting vehicles from 2009. Cars in road tax Band G (with carbon emissions >225 gCO2/km) will pay ?25 per day, while cars in Bands A and B (Bands C, ... http://www.whatgreencar.com/news-item.php?Congestion-Charge-to-treble-for-gas-guzzlers Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:57:09 GMT