As the debate continues about eco cars v. gass guzzlers it seems we are all going to be ‘encouraged’ to help out a little. From September a new section to the driving theory test will be introduced by the Driving Standards Agency. You will need to know more about efficient driving. The aim is to cut down on carbon emissions and save fuel at the same time.
Showing posts with label Cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cars. Show all posts
Eco Driving
Low Carbon Driving
One of the world’s largest eco car trials has begun in the UK. Eight car makers have been awarded 25 million pounds in prize money from the British Government. This will be used to fund the next generation of greener car - electric, hydrogen and hybrids.
The aim of the trial is to get the cars onto the road, show people how they operate and test their effectiveness in real driving situations.
You can view Maryam Moshiri’s report from the BBC here.
Plug-in Car Test
The Toyota Prius Hybrid car (which runs on petrol and electricity) is a big hit in London. You don’t have to pay the congestion charge there if you drive in to the centre of the capital and this can save you around £2,000 each year!
A test is currently being held using a ‘plug-in’ version of the car. This means that you can plug your Prius into your home power socket (or some street outlets in London) and recharge your battery to give you extended range. At the moment Prius owners just drive and the car recharges itself, but this limits the distance you can travel using the electric motor. It is hoped that a plug in version will extend the electric range to around 6 miles, handy for short city trips.
A video and more details can be found on the BBC website.
An Eco Team will give you a chance to DO something!
Make a real difference! Become an ECOTEAM PARTICIPANT
What’s it all about?
An EcoTeam is a group of 6-8 local people who meet to discover simple, effective changes for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and is a great way to meet new people in your local area.
Previous members have;
- Cut household bills
- Improved the environment
- Received our newsletter
- Lead a healthier lifestyle
- Visited eco houses
- Made new friends
No-one can do everything - but we can all do something!
Everyone is welcome - It doesn't matter if you’re already very green or not! EcoTeams are easy, supportive and free to residents in Broxtowe, Rushcliffe, Gedling and Nottingham City!
EcoTeam meetings are held locally (usually within walking distance of participant’s homes) and are informal and very friendly on dates convenient to the participants. It takes just five monthly meetings to take the EcoTeam from start to finish. We look at shopping ethically, saving resources, saving energy and traveling wisely and even have a celebration meeting! Every participant receives our information folder which is filled with useful tips, web-links and information. And, if you’d like to be more than a participant, why not receive our one day training to become an EcoTeam Facilitator?
With simple monitoring, you’ll also generate your own ‘before’ and ‘after’ results showing the effect of your more sustainable lifestyle.
For more information on joining an EcoTeam, contact Global Action Plan on: (0115) 9223298 or nottingham@globalactionplan.org.uk
Toyota’s Solar Car
Well, the air-conditioning anyway! Toyota have announced that they will be producing a version of their successful petrol/hybrid Prius with solar panels on the roof to power the air-conditioning.
It seems we are still a way-away from totally solar powered cars but this is a step in the right direction. Air-conditioning is generally powered by a car’s engine which has to use petrol to power it. The current Prius is one of the few cars to have an electric air conditioner, so not so much petrol is used. By powering the air-conditioner using solar energy there will be less drain on the electrics, less use of petrol and less Co2 emissions.
There is something nice about the idea of using the sun’s energy to keep the inside of a car cool because it has been heated up by the sun in the first place!!!
[Via Cnet.co.uk ]
One Million Hybrid Cars Sold
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If you just filled up your car with petrol - at the new increased prices - you might like to know that Toyota have announced world-wide cumulative sales of their popular Prius Hybrid electric/petrol car of over one million units!
More than half a million of these have been purchased during the past three years alone so it is getting harder to dismiss hybrids as a fringe eco vehicle!
Not only are Prius drivers using less petrol than conventional drivers, and only paying £15.00 car tax (in the UK) it seems that these million cars have prevented 4.5 million tons of CO2 being released into the atmosphere (as calculated by Toyota). They also calculate that this is equivalent to around 535,500,000 gallons of fuel - or around One Billion Pounds saved.
There will be a new Prius out on the market in 2010 which can do around 100 miles per gallon - so even more savings on the way.
[Via EcoGeek ]
Eco Cars in Eden
Today, and until 31st May the “Sexy Green Car Show” (really - that’’s what it’s called!) is taking place at the Eden Project in the UK.
One of the perceived problems with eco cars is that people think they are boring, badly designed and not at all ‘sexy’. This is the second year of the show to prove them wrong. There are a heap of very sexy looking machines to have a look at from all of the main manufacturers. As the price of a barrel of oil goes through the roof (again) this week, there are even more reasons to consider something a little more ‘eco’.
Sponsored by Co-operative Insurance, the show is a practical way to see what is on offer from the likes of Saab, Volkswagen, Citroen, Peugeot, Seat, Honda, Fiat, Smart, Toyota and Segway.
The most eco-friendly version of Ford's best-selling Focus – the ECOnetic - is to have its UK launch at the show. Lotus is bringing its Exige 270E Tri-Fuel for its UK debut. British company Axon Automotive will be showcasing their yet-to-be-named eco-friendly hatchback and classic British manufacturer Morgan’s futuristic LIFECar will also make its UK debut at the show.
There are more details here: www.edenproject.com
And a BBC video here: news.bbc.co.uk
Stop that Car (In Germany anyway!)
If you are thinking of driving into the cities of Cologne, Berlin or Hanover make sure you have a sticker.
In an attempt to deal with city air pollution the three German cities have introduced a coloured sticker system. The small green, yellow or red circles indicate how polluting your car is with green being good and red less so. If you car is worse than red, then you will not be able to have a sticker and will be banned from entering the city! If you do you will receive 40 Euro fine. It seems there are about 1.7 million vehicles, which can’t achieve a sticker of any colour!
The aim, apart from cleaning up the city air (air pollution causes 75,000 premature deaths a year!), it will also encourage people to use public transport. As the public transport system is exceptional in Germany, and relatively economical to use (compared to the UK) this is probably a workable solution.
The system, which is to be extended to other cities later this year, includes vehicles registered outside Germany. Quite what happens if you are on holiday from other parts of Europe and happen to drive into one of these Cities is unclear. Ignorance of the law isn’t an option but how you find out about this (except by reading the EcoList), and get a sticker, is a little vague. It seems these cases will be treated with ‘leniency’!
[Via: Inhabitat]
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/01/15/germany-bans-polluting-cars-from-city-centre/#more-7862
Eco Moped
If you don’t want to go as far as one of the ‘eco’ hybrid electric/petrol cars from Toyota or Honda, and just want to ‘zip’ around town, this might just be for you.
The Eco Moped is electric – you plug it in to recharge it – and it offers zero carbon emissions when you are riding. It can be delivered to your door, nationwide (in the UK), and you will soon be able to walk into a showroom in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford, Leeds and Cambridge. It can travel for 30 miles on one charge, takes about 3-6 hours to recharge and can make a top speed of 37 mph.
More details from Ecomoped.com
Do you need a car?
Last year I made the big step to get rid of my trusted car. There was a time when I used my 7 seater daily, life has changed and I found that I only really made use of it once or twice a week.
Realizing this, I added up the cost of just having it sit on the road: Road Tax, MOT, Service, Insurance, car washes and the like...this all added up to nearly £700.
A friend told me that she had just rented a car. She was picked up from her home, dropped off on the way back and all for a very small sum of £45. (pick up Friday 4pm and return Monday by 10pm).
When we needed a car for the weekend, I followed her advise and was very impressed. It took a little time to set up the account, but once that was done, the whole process was simple.
I have now got an account just in case I do have the whole family over when we would need a 7 seater, a van when we go to Ikea or a little car if the weather is so bad that my bike won't do!
I used Enterprise-rent-a- car in Nottingham, but I am sure that if you don't have them anywhere near you, another car rental company is worth having a look at.
You might like to have a look into this today, when you have time, so it is set up when you are in a rush and desperately need transport.
For more information and on-line registration www.enterprise.com
By the way: The company I used to sell my car was
Nationwide Business Finance Ltd: 01246 558686
I called them, gave them details of my car, they gave me a (good) price, arranged pick up when I wanted it and a cheque in the post. It was almost easier than buying a loaf of bread! [K]
Celebrate Green Weeks in West Bridgford
On Saturday 9th June the West Bridgford Summer Gathering will take place between 10am - 2pm
Join us (behind the farmers' market in Bridgford Park), to help celebrating Green Weeks and visit the variety of people taking part: Freecycle, Ecoteams, Teddy Bear's Picnic, Craft, Plants, Cakes, Clipper Tea, The Green Box Shop, River Nene Organic Deliveries, Money saving Eco tips, the Vendablenda, Jo Jingles, U3A.
Hybrid Cars – Not just for the Eco Worrier
It seems there are masses of eco worriers sitting at traffic lights in their Toyota Prius, the world over, feeling smug that they are not emitting an ounce of CO2. Good on them, but the Hybrid from Toyota (petrol/electric), with reduced emission, and high MPG, appears to also be saving people a small fortune - so they might be feeling smug for a very different reason!
In this year’s UK Budget, the Chancellor dropped the Car Tax for this type of low CO2 emission vehicle to £15.00 a year. Experience shows that you use around 40% less petrol and, if you are self employed you can offset the entire purchase price of the car against tax! Because the car is exempt from the London Congestion charge, capital drivers, who go into the zone every day, can save almost £2,000. You can also park for free in Manchester!
I’ve been driving a Prius now for 3 months, it works just like a roomy (ish) family car and the Inland Revenue will be paying me to drive it when I put my tax return in – Oh and I’m using much less fuel and pumping out much less CO2. I’m also not smug at traffic lights! [A]
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