Troubled automaker Ford certainly needed a boost in its efforts to meet the demands of the new administration and “go green” – and now it has received one.

Buyers of the new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Mercury Milan Hybrid will qualify for a staggering $3,400 tax credit in the USA – the highest credit amount ever offered to a hybrid car.

It’s a huge boost for the company as it attempts to make ground on Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. The Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry Hybrid both sell in the mid $20,000 range and have comparable fuel efficiency to the Ford Fusion Hybrid. However, they no longer qualify for the tax credit because the company has surpassed the 60,000 unit limit that is part of the federal incentive program.

By contrast, the Ford Fusion Hybrid has a base price of around $27,300 with fuel efficiency at 41mpg in the city and 36mpg on the highway – and now it has a tax credit to boot.

Derrick Kuzak, the vice president of global product development for the Ford group, commented that the company is glad the government is helping promote these advanced fuel-efficient vehicles to the consumer. It is hoped that the tax credit could stimulate interest in the new saloon cars.

The arrival of the Mercury Milan Hybrid and the Ford Fusion Hybrid double the number of hybrid vehicles in the company’s stock – it already boasts the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

Perhaps the headline to this article isn’t all that remarkable – after all, Bentleys are hardly renowned for their environmental performance and so a model that slightly improves on that record is just a small step in the right direction.

However, the new Bentley, which will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, represents a big step from the manufacturer as it aims to bring its entire fleet towards the 120g/km carbon dioxide emission level. Why? Well, because this Bentley will run on biofuels.

Bentley didn’t give too much away in its 54 word Press release about the vehicle – simply stating that it will be the manufacturer’s most powerful performance car ever despite the fact that it can run on biofuels. There are no details as to what form these biofuels will take, but most industry analysts would suggest a flex-fuel model that can run on petrol, ethanol or a combination of the two.

The model will use the D1 platform that is famous on vehicles such as the Continental GT and the Continental Flying Spur. There are also no details about its emission levels, although it’s probably safe to suggest they will be significantly below the near 400g/km spurted out by the 2008 Continental coupe.

 One thing is for sure – the implementation of biofuels is a pioneering move for the luxury car sector. Of course, if it’s good enough for the Queen, then it’s good enough for the rest of us.

Spanish car maker SEAT is celebrating soaring sales for its greenest model: the Ibiza Ecomotive.

Launched in the UK just last year, the super-frugal supermini recently recorded its 1,000th registration, and continues to prove extremely popular among buyers looking to maximise economy while minimising emissions of CO2.

Nigel Morgan, of Huby, North Yorkshire, became the milestone motorist when he took delivery of his shiny new SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive from Durham dealer S G Petch.

The 55-year-old storage depot worker previously drove a Nissan Micra.  He said: “I did my research before buying a new car and decided to go for the Ecomotive because it made the most financial sense.

“The fuel economy and the fact you don’t have to pay any road tax were big factors in my decision, but the environmental benefits were also important.

“I also liked the fact that it’s a quite a sporty car for something so green and economical.

“Since taking delivery I’ve been delighted with the car.  It’s great to drive.  But I’m most pleased about the savings I’m making.  I used to spend about £70 a month on fuel but now its only about £50.  It’s great!”

Exceptional fuel economy of up to 88.3 mpg (extra urban) and CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km which continue to make it Road Tax-exempt are among the Ibiza Ecomotive’s highlights.

However, the team of expert engineers working at SEAT’s state-of-the-art Martorell Technical Centre have been careful to develop the economy champion’s virtues without compromising its trademark dynamic and engaging driving experience.

So, the Ibiza Ecomotive boasts a punchy 80 PS turbodiesel engine capable of powering it from rest to 62 mph in only 12.8 seconds and carrying it on, where legal, to a top speed of 109 mph.  

Among the measures taken to achieve the Ecomotive’s outstanding economy are software changes to the characterful three-cylinder powerplant’s ECU, while particulate emissions are reduced thanks to the addition of a state-of-the-art Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).  Ratios in the Ecomotive’s slick five-speed manual gearbox are lengthened, too, making for both more relaxed cruising and improved economy.

This Ibiza is also made more slippery through the air, with a Cd (coefficient of drag) figure reduced to just 0.30.  Special low rolling resistance 14” tyres from Dunlop help reduce road friction.

Outstanding economy does not come at the expense of creature comforts in the Ibiza.  There’s no shortage of equipment on board with air conditioning, electric front windows, steering wheel-mounted audio controls for the MP3-compatible single-disc CD/radio and speed-sensitive electro hydraulic power steering all standard.�
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The original shape Ibiza Ecomotive, is due to be replaced by new-shape versions in SC and 5dr in the Spring and will go even further in the quest to slash emissions and improve fuel economy making it an ever greener car.

While some details and prices for the new models have yet to be confirmed, SEAT is saying that the new Ibiza Ecomotive will be a class leader. CO2 emissions, for instance, become not only joint best in class for a conventional-engined five-seat car, but joint best on the entire car market as they shrink to just 98 g/km.
Economy improves yet further, too, as the new generation car is capable of as much as 94.1 mpg on the extra urban cycle, or 76.3 mpg combined.

SEAT UK Head of Marketing, Steve Robertson, said: “The undoubted appeal of the existing Ibiza Ecomotive is obvious.  In delivering a car capable of such impressive economy we have managed to retain SEAT’s trademark sporty character and generous levels of standard equipment.

“Add ultra-competitive pricing [current Ibiza Ecomotive costs from £10,765 RRP] and it’s easy to see why sales have streaked to the 1,000 mark in such a short time.”

Earlier this week we told you about Lord Mandelson’s rescue package for the UK car industry. However, just how green are the plans?

The aid is said to be linked to “lower carbon initiatives” however, it remains to be seen how loosely this can be interpreted.

Manufacturers are focusing on more fuel efficient vehicles and attempting to re-equip their factories and any company deemed to be contributing to lower miles per gallon is expected to qualify for aid. Indeed much of the £2billion handout is likely to head to Jaguar Land Rover, despite the fact that the company makes predominantly high emission cars.

On the plus side some of the cash will be designated to supporting research into the next generation of green cars. However, it is unlikely to result in a greener fleet of vehicles on the UK’s roads. Around 78 per cent of the cars made here last year were exported – so the cash boost will be predominantly helping to lower the pollutant levels in other European countries.

According to reports the Business Department is hoping to tempt both Vauxhall and Nissan to build electric car plants, but with no infrastructure in place this decision is a long way from confirmation.

Another idea that has been touted is the implementation of a scrappage scheme similar to those used in Germany and France that allow drivers to trade in old cars for a grant towards a new, more fuel efficient vehicle. At this point however, the Business Department is “not yet convinced” that this is the right way forward.  

So while any money going towards green cars can be seen as a bonus, it’s clear that the Government hasn’t made as bold a step as it may on the surface appear. Had the aid been directly linked to the production of cars with emissions below 130g/km, perhaps we would have more reasons to celebrate.

Green car fever in the motor city did not end when the Detroit Auto Show closed its doors last Sunday. Now, Ricardo Inc has launched a new Battery Systems Development Centre on the Ricardo Detroit Technology Campus that aims to provide complete high-voltage battery pack systems for electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars.

Prototypes of the battery pack systems will be subject to development in specially built chambers each featuring high capacity battery cyclers as well as hardware in-the-loop systems, high voltage instrumentation and other equipment.

Once the battery pack design is verified, the system can be integrated and further developed at the adjoining garage facility.

Ricardo is now positioned as one of the few suppliers able to deliver increased efficiencies by fully optimising a battery pack and control system.

According to Dean Harlow, the President of Ricardo Inc, his company is taking the technology “off the whiteboard and into the real world”. He describes the centre as the industry’s most complete battery development and system integration facilities.

The biggest ever single UK public investment in bioenergy research has been announced by the main funding agency for the biosciences – the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

A new £27m BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre has been launched to provide the science to underpin and develop the important and emerging UK sustainable bioenergy sector – and to replace the petrol in our cars with fuels derived from plants.

Sustainable bioenergy offers the potential to provide a significant source of clean, low carbon and secure energy, and to generate thousands of new ‘green collar’ jobs. It uses non-food crops, such as willow, industrial and agricultural waste products and inedible parts of crops, such as straw, and so does not take products out of the food chain.

Minister of State for Science and Innovation, Lord Drayson, said: “Investing £27 million in this new centre involves the single biggest UK public investment in bioenergy research. The centre is exactly the sort of initiative this country needs to lead the way in transforming the exciting potential of sustainable biofuels into a widespread technology that can replace fossil fuels.

“The centre is a great example of the UK investing in innovative areas which have the benefits of creating new green collar jobs as well as helping us to meet the global challenges of climate change and reducing carbon emissions.”

The BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre is focussed on six research hubs of academic and industrial partners, based at each of the Universities of Cambridge, Dundee and York and Rothamsted Research and two at the University of Nottingham. Another 7 universities and institutes are involved and 15 industrial partners across the hubs are contributing around £7m of the funding.

The Centre’s research activities will encompass many different stages of bioenergy production, from widening the range of materials that can be the starting point for bioenergy to improving the crops used by making them grow more efficiently to changing plant cell walls. The Centre will also analyse the complete economic and environmental life cycle of potential sources of bioenergy.

This means the researchers will be working to make sustainable bioenergy a practical solution by improving not only the yield and quality of non-food biomass and the processes used to convert this into biofuels but ensuring that the whole system is economically and socially viable.

BBSRC Chief Executive, Prof Douglas Kell, said: “The UK has a world leading research base in plant and microbial science. The BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre draws together some of these world beating scientists in order to help develop technology and understanding to support the sustainable bioenergy sector. The Centre is taking a holistic systems-level approach, examining all the relevant areas of science needed for sustainable bioenergy and studying the economic and social impact of the bioenergy process.

“By working closely with industrial partners the Centre’s scientists will be able to quickly translate their progress into practical solutions to all our benefit – and ultimately, by supporting the sustainable bioenergy sector, help to create thousands of new ‘green collar’ jobs in the UK.”

Motoring organisation, the AA is calling for financial incentives to be given to those who voluntarily scrap older cars and replace them with new models.

The AA has written to the Treasury calling upon Government to introduce a cash incentive scheme to encourage motorists to replace old cars with new ones. The AA claims this would help reduce vehicle emissions and add a needed boost to new car sales in line with the UK Government’s own efforts announced yesterday by the business secretary, Lord Mandelson.

The organisation claim that the current Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) system gives an incentive for some motorists to hold on to pre-2001 cars particularly if they want a more powerful and bigger car. There are two flat rates of VED for pre-2001cars, one below 1,549cc and the other above. These vehicles tend to be bigger polluters and tend to be less roadworthy and less safe.

To overcome problems of the French scheme where old cars that had not been used for years were cashed in, this scheme should rely on DVLA data to show that the car is pre-1996 and has been on the road for at least the last 12 months. In subsequent years the scheme could be rolled out to pre-97, 98 etc. Average new car CO2 emissions have fallen by 13 per cent since 97, so any like for like replacement will mean significant improvement. Also the market shift towards diesel would suggest an even greater benefit.

In the proposed AA scheme a voucher against the purchase of a new car would be awarded. The motorist would take the old vehicle to the dealer and the dealer would offer the £500 discount plus any additional discount which would be increased to cover the scrap value. The AA estimates that there are approximately 4.26 million pre 1996 cars or 14% of the car parc.

The combination of dramatic falls in demand and no access to finance means that automotive businesses face significant cash flow problems. Short-term support is needed to protect vital industrial capability and longer-term to maintain a competitive market for consumers. Commenting, Edmund King, AA president, said:

“A cash incentive to get the older gross polluter cars off the road to be replaced by cleaner, greener, safer models would be a boost to sales, the environment and road safety.

“In our AA/Populus poll of 17,481 drivers 28 per cent said that they would consider taking advantage of a Government incentive scheme to scrap older cars if one was available.

“A scrappage scheme would bring back some consumer confidence to the market particularly if linked to more viable loan schemes.”

Germany already has a scrappage scheme which offers up to 2,500 euros who replace a car over nine years of age.

Although not every one agrees that a scrappage scheme would be the most beneficial to the environment.

Brian Spratt, chief executive of the Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF) said:

“it’s a misuse of taxpayers’ pounds to purchase and crush so-called ‘polluting’ vehicles, and it’s nonsense to think it will achieve the goal of boosting new car sales. For a start, low-income individuals will still not be able to afford to purchase new vehicles, let alone more fuel efficient or cleaner vehicles…..There are several observers who clearly fell the resources used to produce new cars and the consequent environmental impact exceeds the environmental damage of the cars they replace.”

To crush or not to crush, why not leave a comment with your thoughts. Is it worse for the environment to manufacturer new vehicles or to keep running old ones?

Motorway lighting is to be switched off to save money and cut carbon emissions,  The Times reports.

The Highways Agency has decided to turn off lights at undisclosed locations between midnight and 5am, claiming that it will reduce light pollution.

A trail of the scheme will take place in a small number of locations” around England as early as March.

The development follows the decision by some councils to switch off street lighting despite criticism from police, motoring organisations and residents.

The latest research published in the journal, the Cochrane Library found that the number of fatal crashes by 77 per cent and other accidents by 32 to 55 per cent.

Local publication ‘Pendle Today’ has revealed that the M65 between Pendle and Burnley is one of the motorways expected to trial the blackout. Lancashire Council is to make a final decision on the matter by February 12th.

Neil Greig, assistant director of the IAM Motoring Trust said to The Times that the Highways Agency needed to be more ‘innovative in its plans.

He said: “Why not use roadstuds that charge up in daylight and glow at night or generate energy through wind or solar power in more remote areas?”

Solar powered road studs were first developed by Astucia Traffic Safety Systems who won ‘Road Marking Project of the Year’ in the 2008 Highways Excellence Awards  for their invention.

One of the UK’s leading automotive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) suppliers, Autogas, has announced an increase in the number of outlets providing LPG.

The latest service station to include LPG as part of its fuel range is Shell Eagle in Rochdale. This addition takes the total number of LPG stations in the UK to over 1,400.

Autogas National Marketing Coordinator, Chris Taylor, says LPG availability is core to the company’s policy of delivering fuel to the thousands of LPG motorists.

“Autogas is committed to providing LPG customers with a wide-range of convenient and accessible service stations offering LPG.

“With over 160,000 vehicles now being powered by LPG it’s vital we continually modify and update our location strategy.”

A further 15 outlets are set to start retailing LPG in 2009 giving improved coverage across the UK.

Chris added: “Anyone thinking of converting their vehicle to run off LPG can be assured they will be no more than five miles away from an LPG service station in major conurbations, a figure which is continually monitored.

“Conversions should always be carried out by an LPG Approved Installer who will comply with set safety standards, has undergone extensive training and examinations and can advise on the most suitable system for your vehicle.”

There are around 220 outlets currently supplied by Autogas in the UK and a full list can be found at www.autogas.ltd.uk/whereToBuyMap.htm.

Vehicles running on LPG produce far fewer harmful emissions that contribute to environmental and health problems than traditional road fuels. LPG vehicles produce 17 per cent less carbon dioxide than petrol and 2 per cent less than diesel, 120 per cent less NOx than petrol and staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel and in terms of small particle emissions (PM10) one LPG vehicle will emit up to 120 times less than a diesel vehicle.

Added benefits of running a vehicle on LPG can include up to 100 per cent exemption from the London Congestion Charge and increased residual vehicle values.

Regular readers may remember that earlier this week we told you about a Press release from Shelby Super Cars making some remarkable claims about the performance of its electric car. If you missed it, you can check out the post here.

Well, now Shelby has taken a second look at those claims and admitted that the Press release was ‘premature’. Instead, the company has issued a revised version regarding its electric vehicle program.

So, gone is the incredible claim that it could recharge its Ultimate Aero EV in ten minutes from an ordinary 110V outlet. Instead, the Press release states that Shelby Super Cars’ “Charge on the Run” onboard charging system allows for 10 minute full battery recharges on a 220V service.

Of course the claims still seem a little wild, but let’s give the company the benefit of the doubt as it is willing to put its technology to the test. Shelby Super Cars will produce a demonstration of its all-electric scalable powertrain (AESP) technology at one of America’s super speedways following the official debut of the car.

Indeed company owner Jerod Shelby will even be on hand along with some “notable” drivers to put the vehicle to the test performing high speed laps with 10 minute battery recharging pit-stops. So time will tell if the company can deliver on its revised claims – here’s hoping it can.