Green car development ‘needs to accelerate’
The rate of development of green vehicles and related fuel-saving technology must be increased, according to a new report.
Between the first and third quarters of 2010, there was a reduction of just 1.3 per cent in the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by new cars, the Clean Green Cars research revealed.
The average level fell from 145.6 g/km 143.35 g/km, still well above the EU target of 130 g/km by 2012.
Clean Green Cars said the end of the scrappage scheme put a stop to the easy CO2 gains and left the motor industry struggling to make further improvements as people return to traditional buying habits and move away from small cars.
“The overall CO2 improvement so far this year has been marginal, despite the fact that individual models have performed better, simply because customers are now buying bigger cars,” it explained.
Car manufacturers are introducing new technology to reduce CO2 emissions but are “a long way behind the curve”, said Jay Nagley, publisher of Clean Green Cars.
“The chances of the whole industry hitting 130g/km by 2012 look extremely slim,” he warned.
Four manufacturers - Toyota, Fiat, Mini and Citroen - are already below the EU target.
Whatever their vehicle, motorists can take steps to further reduce their carbon emissions, Accelerating and braking smoothly, keeping tyres properly inflated and removing any excess weight such as roof-racks, can help fuel efficiency and minimise exhaust pollution.
