The car scrappage scheme was responsible for 372, 401 new cars being registered in March 2010, which accounted for 12.2 per cent of all new car registrations, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders based in the UK.

It was also revealed that the system had been responsible for 3.2 per cent of the total van market for March, with 6,577 new LCV’s being registered through the scrappage scheme since its introduction in May 2009.

Chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Paul Everitt said, “The scheme has provided a hugely important stimulus to the market and leaves the industry in far better health than we saw in pre-scrappage 2009.”

There are fears that the Scrappage Incentive Scheme may have given an artificial lift to the motor sales industry and result in a dramatic dip in sales for the remainder of 2010.

The scrappage scheme accounted for 12.2 per cent of all new car registrations in March, a fall of around 8 per cent on the average monthly level, due to the scheme finishing at the end of that month and new car sales falling.

The proposed ecological benefits of replacing older vehicles with new ones have also become known with average carbon dioxide emissions of a car purchased through the scheme measuring 132.9g/km.

This figure is 27.1 per cent below a scrapped vehicles figure and 9.6 per cent below the overall new car market average. Even though the emissions benefits do not feature in the emissions related to the scrappage of an old car and the manufacture of a new one, the drop in the emissions figure does provide some evidence that supports these types of initiatives having a positive environmental and eco-friendly effect.

SMMT chief executive, Paul Everitt commented, “Consumers will also benefit from the improved fuel efficiency, the latest safety features and cleaner tailpipe emissions available from the new vehicles purchased through the scheme.”

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The specification and performance targets of the T.27 City Car from Gordon Murray Design have been revealed.

The pure electric drive vehicle has been designed to fully optimise packaging, weight and performance. It is powered by a third generation Zytek powertrain with a 25kW motor and a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack. With a range of 80-100 miles it has a top speed of 65mph and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than 15 seconds.

Developed by a consortium led by Gordon Murray, along with Zytek Automotive Limited, the vehicle is boosted by technical support from the likes of Continental Corporation and Michelin Plc as well as sub-contractors MIRA Limited, Vocis Driveline Controls, ENAX and VCA UK.

Indeed Zytek worked closely with Vocis to develop a compact and lightweight transmission. Projected emissions are just 48g/km of CO2 using a UK energy mix for the combined cycle and 28g/km of CO2 for the urban cycle alone. There are zero emissions at the point of use and the full lifecycle CO2 damage is expected to be 42 per cent less than the average UK car.

The T.27 follows the layout and geometry of Gordon Murray Design’s T.25 city car, an MPV with six possible internal layouts. The programme began in November 2009 and is supported by a 50 per cent investment from the UK Technology Strategy Board.

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It goes without saying that we all want our petrol engines to achieve better fuel economy at a lower cost – however, according to a new study, US vehicle owners would rather existing engine choices achieve this goal over opting for higher priced alternative fuel engines.

According to Harris Interactive’s 2010 AutoTECHCAST study, one in five Americans would be extremely or very likely to opt for a start/stop system or an ECO drive assistant that provides an estimated 10 per cent gain in fuel economy; compared to barely one in six owners who would purchase a flexible fuel engine or a clean diesel engine.

There is even less interest in alternative technologies with only four per cent extremely or very likely to consider a fuel cell engine; four per cent for hybrid electric engines; and a mere two per cent for pure electric engines. In a surprising contrast however, 10 per cent would be extremely or very likely to consider a compressed natural gas engine.

David Duganne, the senior research director of Harris Interactive Automotive and Transportation Research, believes that consideration of clean diesel engines has been consistent for several years while consideration for flexible fuel engines appears to be falling.

The study suggests that interest in technology driven approaches using traditional petrol engines is growing with eco drive assistants doubling their level of consideration compared to the 2009 study.

As for newer alternative technologies such as electric and fuel cells, while price is a factor the biggest stumbling block appears to be the lack of infrastructure for refuelling and recharging as well as concerns about service and repair of the vehicles and how long the charge of electric cars will last in relation to a daily commute.

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There were celebrations all around Mississippi State University after its students scooped first place in the 2010 EcoCar: The NeXt Challenge finals in San Diego, California.

The team built a biodiesel extended range electric vehicle with a 21.3kWh battery pack from A123Systems that provides an electric range of 60miles. It is also equipped with a 1.3l GM turbodiesel engine and a 75kW UQM generator and achieves the equivalent of 118miles per gallon.

The MSU Biodiesel EREV.

In addition to the overall winner’s award the university won nine additional awards including in performance events in auto-cross and acceleration.

A further 15 universities competed with Virginia Tech earning second place with an ethanol extended range electric vehicle; and Penn State scooping the bronze by building a biodiesel extended range electric vehicle.

The competition challenged university students to re-engineer a GM-donated vehicle to minimise the vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining safety, utility and performance. Once the vehicles were built and rolled out they went through a series of tests at GM’s Desert Proving Grounds in Yuma with each car evaluated on its ability to decrease fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining acceptable performance, utility and safety levels.

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With Toyota’s next major hybrid-powered vehicle release only a month (or so) away the Japanese car maker is keen to promote the company’s efforts in not only developing and manufacturing cutting-edge vehicles but also the ongoing, often forgotten, work in reducing waste and emissions at its manufacturing plants.

Toyota’s UK manufacturing operations at Burnaston and Deeside are European leaders in environmental performance, making the UK the ideal choice for building the new low-emissions Toyota Auris Hybrid.

“Building Auris Hybrid enables us to take a leading role in the move to a low carbon economy,” said Tony Walker, TMUK Deputy Managing Director. “At Burnaston we are proud to be building cars with low emissions in a factory that itself has a low carbon impact and which is constantly working to cut waste and use of energy and natural resources.”

Dubbed “sustainable plants” both Burnaston and Deeside are pace-setters for Toyota in Europe in regards of environmental management, and meant Toyota was the first car manufacturer in the UK to achieve the ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental management across both sites. Since production began in 1992, the amount of energy and water required to build each vehicle has been reduced by more than 60 per cent.

Toyota continues to focus on improved environmental performance, as Dave Chapman, Assistant General Manager Facilities and Environment, explained: “Environmental improvement is at the heart of what we do day to day and most of the significant achievements have been as a result of involving of our employees and listening to their ideas.”

As an example of this approach in action, the company organises “eco tours” for employees, arranging for them to see work being done on site that they would not normally encounter, such as the waste management and recycling centre and the planting and estate management around the factory to support biodiversity.

The initiative goes beyond the factory gates, too, to encourage environmental awareness in the local community. Through an eco-card scheme, employees are also given advice and support on how to reduce their carbon footprint and cut waste in their own homes.

“What we have done here is really just the start,” said Dave, “and we will continue with the support of our employees to improve our environmental efficiency even further.”

The 89g/km of CO2 emitting Toyota Auris Hybrid officially goes on sale from 1st July.

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General Motors (GM) is to launch a hybrid car in south Asia by the end of the year, the group’s country head revealed yesterday.

According to the Financial Times, the US carmaker announced its plans after it was revealed that it was to shelve a project to build an electric car for the country with Reva (see story).

The car giant altered its plans after Reva sold a majority stake to Mahindra & Mahindra.

Meanwhile GM India recently launched a CNG (compressed natural gas) version of its Chevrolet Aveo model this month. The Aveo CNG is a bi-fuel vehicle fitted with a full-size petrol tank.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Slym said: “The launch of the Aveo CNG is a testament to the importance that GM India attaches to green technology and environmentally friendly mobility solutions.”

Its running cost are estimated to be approximately 54 per cent lower than a similar vehicle powered by petrol and 25 per cent lower than a similar vehicle powered by diesel. Because of the lower operating economics and the growing number of CNG stations being built across India, this new vehicle is expected to prove popular with  individual and fleet customers in the country.

Under normal driving conditions, the Aveo CNG has a range of 180 to 200 kilometres on a full tank of CNG.

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UK automotive design company, Gordon Murray Design has announced the specification and performance targets for its new T.27 electric city car.

The company has released details of the new electric car model in the hope of attracting partners and funding for UK manufacture. The firm says that a UK partner or consortium to produce the city cars in the UK would keep the technology at home and could create 6,000 jobs.

The designers along with powertrain partner, Zyker Automotive, are producing a working prototype of the car, scheduled for completion in April 2011, thanks to funding from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB). The car uses a 12kWh lithium ion batteries to allow the model to achieve a top speed of 65 miles, a range of between 80 and 100 miles and a 0-62mph of less than 15 seconds.

Projected emissions, using a UK energy mix, are 48g/km CO₂ for the combined cycle and 28g/km CO₂ for the urban cycle alone, with zero emissions at the point of use.  Full lifecycle CO₂ damage  is estimated to be 42 per cent less than the average UK car.

he T.27 vehicle concept closely follows the layout and geometry of Gordon Murray Design’s innovative T.25 city car, an MPV with 6 possible internal layouts.

The efficiency in cost, weight and performance comes in part from the ‘clean sheet of paper’ approach, part from the full integration of the powertrain and also from the low energy manufacturing system developed by Gordon Murray Design called iStream®.

iStream® massively reduces the capital investment required to produce the vehicle and also the energy required for manufacture plus the flexibility of the iStream® process would also allow the petrol powered T.25 and the T.27 to be manufactured at the same plant.

Bill Gibson, Chairman of Zytek Automotive said: “Zytek’s new innovative powertrain, developed from our substantial experience of EV and hybrid vehicle production programmes, will substantially reduce the weight and cost of the electric engine, whilst delivering  the quality, refinement and driving experience that T.27 customers will demand.”

Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board said: "This is another example of the UK positioning itself to benefit from the economic opportunities offered by the emerging low-carbon vehicles market.It’s great that the T.27, a fantastic example of smart engineering and sustainable design, is at the forefront of this. We are also glad that we were able to support a project that enabled Gordon Murray Design and Zytek Automotive and the other partners to work together to be truly innovative.”

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A prestigious event which specialises in displaying the finest luxury vehicles and supercars is not something you would expect TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk to cover, but this year’s Salon Privé seems worth a mention.

The exclusive event, which runs from July 21 to July 23, is to host the UK debut of an electric version of the Fiat 500 Abarth. Two Atomik 50s will be on display at the show when it opens at London’s Hurlingham Club next month. The electric cars made by Paris-based Atomik Cars take the supermini to Tesla Roadster standards of electric performance. Despite its diminutive size, the new Atomik car claims a 0-100km/h of under five seconds while achieving a range of 200km.

“Atomik Cars offer a preview of tomorrow’s technology, in cars you can buy and use today.  Our cars offer avant-garde design, ambition and technological skill and Salon Privé gives us the perfect platform to reach customers looking for just that exclusivity,” said Jerome Griffart of Atomik Cars.

The electric models will be the first of their kind to feature at the upmarket event, which is also set to debut a new performance model from German marque, Veritas.

Said Salon Privé co-founder, David Bagley:  “Our philosophy has always been that Salon Privé should be a showcase for the exotic, unusual and exclusive supercars, alongside their more recognisable contemporaries.  With Atomik and Veritas this year, we are continuing that proud tradition.”

For more information and tickets, visit www.salonprivelondon.com (tickets cost from £150 each!)

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Mitsubishi is to loan two of its all-electric i-MiEV models to the State of California for use in its test fleet.

The decision comes after the Governor’s office and the Department of General Services both expressed interest in the inclusion of electric vehicles (EV), such as the i-MiEV, into the State’s support vehicle fleet.

During a May 24th press event, Governor Schwarzenegger was introduced to the Mitsubishi Motors i-MiEV by company officers. Schwarzenegger sat in the i-MiEV and later spoke to reporters about the battery electric vehicle being representative of the technology necessary to tackle the sustainable transportation challenges facing the State of California.

Key committees within the US state seek to gain experience with battery electric transportation to help better understand and resolve the challenges facing the development of electric vehicle infrastructure. Lawmakers and officials will have these vehicles available for extended test-drives to learn the nuances of driving an EV and experience the recharging process.

The i-MiEV went on sale in Japan in July 2009. This efficiently-designed, battery electric, sub-compact vehicle seats four adults, and can be recharged from a standard wall-socket. The State of California will be evaluating production model RHD Japanese Domestic Market versions of the i-MiEV. Mitsubishi Motors plans to introduce an EV for US consumers in 2011.

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Nissan has taken an important step towards its electric vehicle future by breaking ground on its lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee.

The plant will produce the batteries for the Nissan LEAF from 2012 and onwards and is one of the largest vehicle battery manufacturing plants in North America at 1.3million sq ft. At full capacity it will be able to produce 200,000 advanced technology batteries every year.

It will be located opposite the vehicle assembly plant that will produce the Nissan LEAF at a rate of around 150,000 electric cars annually.

The Japanese manufacturer is expected to pour around $1.7billion into the construction of the battery plant and the modification of the manufacturing facility with support from a US Department of Energy loan for 80 per cent of the investment. The loan was part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Programme.

It is hoped that the Nissan LEAF will have significant success in the US with around 13,000 customers having already placed reservations for the vehicle – it will begin its roll out in spring 2011.

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