Car manufacturer Mazda has already won plaudits for its green cars and now it has debuted another – the Mazda Kazamai concept car, which reflects Mazda’s ‘sustainable zoom-zoom’ strategy.

The car made its debut at the Moscow Motor Show, which runs from August 28-September 1, and combines an aggressive design with 30 per cent improved fuel consumption. The concept car reflects the growing popularity of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in Russia and aims to appeal to young Russians with a sense of style and urban lifestyle demands.

The aerodynamic performance of the Kazamai is achieved through a flat floor panel and a low roof design. To reduce bodyweight, lightweight materials and new processing/joining technologies are employed to support the use of aluminium and aluminium-alloy in the chassis, engine block and bonnet. It is around 100kg lighter than similar models in its class thanks to plastic panels, fenders and engine covers. This in turn helps to reduce its carbon dioxide output.

Its launch at the Moscow show is reflective of the expanding market in Russia. Between 2004 and 2007, the segment became ten times larger and is expected to continue to grow. The sports utility vehicle market reflected 16 per cent of the total sales volume last year.

Barry Shrier is the charismatic and passionate promoter of entrepreneurial innovation – he is also the founder and CEO of Liberty Electric Cars. Liberty Electric Cars was established to respond to the rapidly expanding demand for zero and low emission cars. The company is investing £30 million in the re engineering of large luxury cars and 4×4s into emission-free, high performance electric vehicles. TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk speaks to Barry about the recent exclusive agreement reached with ecurie 25 and asks for his thoughts on pedestrian safety, the Eden Project’s ‘Green Car Show’ if whether or not he believes that electricity is a viable solution to fossil fuels.

Barry Shrier interview – August 2008

• CO2 emissions of 119g/km mean lowest tax band for company car drivers
• Power output increase over current Astra 1.7 CDTi
• Most economical Astra in range

Vauxhall has launched its first Astra ecoFLEX with a 1.7 turbo-diesel engine producing CO2 emissions of just 119g/km and fuel consumption of 62.8mpg on the combined cycle.

The new model, which is available in Hatch, Sport Hatch and estate guises, falls into the lowest BIK tax band for company car drivers, while private buyers will only pay £35 per year in Vehicle Excise Duty thanks to its band B credentials.

But the Astra 1.7 CDTi ecoFLEX has not sacrificed driver involvement to go green. Its engine produces 110PS, an increase of 10PS over the existing Astra 1.7 CDTi, and 260Nm of torque at 2000rpm, enough to power the ecoFLEX to a top speed of 117mph.

Vauxhall’s engineers have achieved extra efficiency from the Astra’s 1.7 CDTi drivetrain by fitting a taller axle ratio, optimising the engine management system and reducing the engine’s idle speed.

In addition, ecoFLEX’s kerbweight has been reduced by 30kgs, while aerodynamics have been improved by lowering the suspension, modifying the front air intakes and fitting a drag-reducing lower engine compartment panel.  Engineers also reduced the power steering pump’s idle speed and fitted low rolling-resistance, 15-inch tyres (16-inch optional).

Hans Demant, GME’s Engineering Vice President, summed up Vauxhall’s commitment to further reducing fuel consumption and emissions in cars with conventional internal combustion engines;

“At General Motors Europe, environmental consciousness means offering clever technological innovations at affordable prices, making them accessible to as many customers as possible. The Astra ecoFLEX is the newest example of our strategy and directly addresses the needs of buyers in high-volume sectors.”

In 2009, Vauxhall will introduce two further ecoFLEX models: a 109g/km Corsa 1.3 CDTi with combined mpg of nearly 69mpg, and a low-emissions version of the Insignia which is set to make a stir in the mid-size sector.

The cost of fuel is causing congestion levels on British motorways to fall at the same time as the overall number of cars on the road increases, according to green breakdown provider, the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).

Recent increases in the cost of petrol and diesel have prompted a 12 per cent reduction in congestion on British motorways, and despite a slowdown in the number of new cars being sold the overall number of cars in Britain is increasing.

Director at the Environmental Transport Association, Andrew Davis said: “Congestion might be down, but it is wrong to assume that it is simply because there is less traffic – when cars on motorways are driven carefully they not only produce less harmful emissions, they cause less congestion.”

“The fact that the most impressive recent drop in congestion has been on a section of the M25 that does not yet have the highly effective variable speed limits that are in place elsewhere on the motorway, illustrates the gains to be made by a self-imposed careful driving style.”

The ETA believes that increased fuel prices, revised rates of emissions-based vehicle excise duty and an increasing awareness of environmental issues is having an effect on our driving habits, but in the longer term, unless drivers ‘pay as they go’ reduced congestion on major roads will attract additional traffic.

What is ‘careful driving’?

Motorists can reduce their car’s emissions, the amount they spend on fuel and levels of congestion by taking the two following steps:

Slow down

Reducing your speed from 70mph to 60mph will not dramatically add to your journey time but it reduces emissions and could save 20 per cent of your fuel bills.

Do not tailgate

Driving too close to the car in front is dangerous and inevitably causes a concertina effect which slows following traffic and can even bring it to a complete standstill.

London’s electric car company NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine) has the largest range of all-electric cars, commercial vehicles and motor cycles on sale now. But it is warning customers to expect a long wait if they think mainstream manufacturers are about to follow suit.

“It’s easy to get caught up in talk of an electric car revolution,” said NICE co-founder Evert Geurtsen. “However, we’d be very surprised if many of the all-electric sports cars, and other models that have been making headlines, hit showrooms within forecast time frames.”

According to NICE, the recent motor show in London reveals the gulf between talk and action. Despite interesting exhibits from smaller companies in the Show’s electric vehicle village (EVV), there were very few concepts or production-ready models on major car makers’ stands.

NICE, on the other hand, showed what can be done today. It had concepts in the EVV and a stand dedicated to its four-car line-up, including new models coming to market this autumn.

These include a stylish two-seater from Hong Kong called the MyCar which starts from just £8,995 and the five seat Ze-O a family electric MPV priced from just £13,995.

And of course NICE continues to sell its popular four-seat Mega City. Starting from £11,500, Mega City drivers enjoy motoring from just 2p per mile, with no congestion charge, no road tax and parking concessions within the capital.

And a rather stylish-looking car to boot.

 Drivers will soon have a new weapon in their efforts to become more eco-conscious with the arrival of Nissan’s ECO Pedal.

The ECO Pedal system works by providing a counter push-back control mechanism if activated, every time a driver puts his or her foot on the accelerator. The system detects excess pressure and informs the driver if they are using more fuel than is required. There is an eco-driving indicator included in the instrument panel which relays fuel consumption information helping drivers to make choices about their behaviour behind the wheel.

The system uses data on fuel consumption and transmission efficiency during both acceleration and cruising and makes a calculation about the optimum acceleration rate. The instrument panel relays the information to the driver about the ideal level for fuel-efficient driving. The indicator is green when driving within the suitable range but begins to flash when reaching the fuel consumption threshold before changing to amber.

Nissan estimates that the ECO Pedal could help drivers improve their fuel consumption by between five and 10 per cent. It hopes to make the system available from 2009.

What do you think of this innovation? Is it helpful to drivers or too distracting? Let us know your thoughts.

 The changing face of the automotive industry is reflected through its award ceremonies – and green car of the year titles have become more frequent and more prominent.

Their importance is personified at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, where the Green Car of the Year will be announced during Press days on November 20. With California proving to be the epicentre for the growth of green cars in America, its fitting that LA plays host to an award that recognises environmental innovation.

So what criteria do the judges use when determining the green car of the year?

Staff from the Green Car Journal, a prominent automotive environmental magazine in America, narrow down the list of eligible vehicles to five based on research and driving experience – to be eligible a vehicle must be in production by January 1 2009.

Emphasis is placed on vehicles that advance overall efficiency and that decrease their environmental footprint. The impact the green car has on the marketplace is also taken into consideration.

Last year’s winner was the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, while the previous year’s winner was the Toyota Camry Hybrid. The first award back in 2006 was granted to the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

When buyers are looking for greener cars the first place they turn is the internet. Here Really Good Domains reflects on the eco internet explosion.

If you were to rewind back about a year to the spring of 2007 and looked at the number of times internet users searched for the term ‘green cars’ you would see that virtually no-one was looking.

Funny thing was, those that did were more likely to be looking for British Racing Green rather than an environmentally friendly motor! But fast forward a year and that picture has significantly changed – ‘green cars’ and issues is one of the latest buzz words to sweep the motor industry. And it is one that’s likely to become increasingly more important as the tide moves in favour of leaner, more efficient, and cheaper-to-run cars than ever before.

High emissions vehicles that gulp down fuel are fast becoming unpopular – but the good news is this new breed of machine is taking their place. But the question is, should this move towards green cars be met with trepidation from dealers or seen as an opportunity?

Well, while it’s true the current credit crunch is tightening customer belts, there is a golden opportunity to show these same consumers that substantial running-cost savings can be achieved by considering the switch – lower CO2 emissions, higher mpg, regenerative breaking, and alternative fuel sources can all help in reducing monthly costs – potentially music to buyer’s ears in the current climate.

Websites such as TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, run by Really Good Domains, provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for all things environmental.

‘Our aim for TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk was to bring together hundreds of suppliers that sell and lease new and nearly new green cars – it is unique in that sense,’ explains RGDs chief Dave Timmis. ‘ We also felt it was vital to really give the consumer as much information on every aspect of green cars, and in this respect we’ve added a huge amount of information on super-efficient diesels, electric cars, LPG conversions, hybrids, and even hydrogen fuelled vehicles.’

‘People aren’t ditching their cars, they are carefully planning their next purchase and are looking to avoid being stung by higher tax rates and escalating fuel bills and they are using the internet to aid their decision-making and to look for the best deals on greener alternatives. Equally, increasing numbers of fleet managers are looking to reduce their running costs and to swap expensive-to-run models with a green alternative. In the past 10 months we have seen a 500% increase in traffic.’ 

Manufacturers are making the move towards greener cars, with some scaling back and even ceasing production on some of their ‘gas-guzzlers’. But dealers could still benefit.

‘Wrongly some businesses decide to cut back on their advertising budgets in the face of a more difficult trading environment’ explained Timmis. ‘But if you scale back your advertising you are guaranteeing a downturn in business. There is a thriving, growing market for green cars and for the more astute dealership there are plenty of opportunities to defy the economic downturn.”

 Link to original article Car Dealer Issue 6, page 51.

Plans for separate motorway lanes that allow drivers to pay for the privilege of beating congestion are to receive a boost this week the Sunday Times reports.

Ministers are to award contracts to begin trials next year, which could see motorists choosing to pay around £5.00 to use a special toll lane. While the idea seems simple, there is always the possibility that motorists will weigh up the cost of wasted fuel, when sat idly in stationary traffic and will choose to pay the extra £5.00, perhaps extending congestion further. 

The Department for Transport (DfT) told the national newspaper that this type of tolling is being considered for one lane on any stretch of motorway that is due to be widened. Other schemes include hard-shoulder running which is being trialled in Birmingham and a high occupancy lane for cars carrying at least one passenger which is being trialled on the M62/M606 junction outside Bradford.

Not everyone approves of the scheme, Vicki Butler-Henderson, presenter of Fifth Gear, told the Sunday Times; “We already pay so much to use the roads – congestion charge, road tax, petrol duty – so I can’t believe the government are even thinking of doing that,”

 After some disappointing quarterly results, Ford has made it clear where its future lies – with plans to become the number one hybrid car producer in America next year.

Ford intends to double the number of hybrid cars it offers with hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan to be added to the Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape Hybrid the company already offers.

The company’s director of powertrain research, Dan Kapp, discussed the long-term strategy for the business at a recent Press event in Portland, Oregon, and outlined that the plan is to advance fuel-saving technologies across the product line and begin to delve into plug-in hybrids and more. After that the company will look into hydrogen fuel-cell cars, biofuel-powered cars and any other new technologies.

In particular, Kapp chose to highlight the EcoBoost engine available on select models. With direct injection and turbo charging it can raise fuel economy by as much as 20 per cent and can lower exhaust emissions by around 15 per cent.

Kapp also highlighted that Ford offers the first driveable hydrogen fuel-cell PHEV in the Edge HySeries but admitted that Ford was not pursuing hydrogen powered cars as quickly as Honda.