Could it be the end of the road for large cars? Well, polluting, petrol-guzzling vehicles could soon be banned from Swiss roads altogether if voters get their way.

The youth section of the Green Party in Switzerland, known simply as the Young Greens, has collected enough signatures to call for a nationwide vote on its initiative simply named: ‘for more people-friendly vehicles’.

Under the initiative, vehicles that produce excessive amounts of harmful emissions would be banned altogether and it would be up to the Government to set the exact limits. Cars already registered would be exempt, as would forestry and agricultural vehicles.

So far the group has received massive support. Under the Swiss system of direct democracy, 100,000 signatures must be amassed to create a nationwide vote on a subject and the Young Greens claim to have collected around 150,000 in support of its initiative.

Furthermore, around 50 supporters joined the group as the boxes containing the signatures were carried to the federal chancery in Bern on Monday.

Nevertheless, the group does face opposition from a number of motoring organisations who fear the move would drive a number of four-wheel drive and large vehicles off the roads completely.

A good end to the week now, with a picture of BMW’s extraordinary concept, the GINA Light.

BMW proclaim that customers looking to buy in the premium segment demand cars that stir emotions and allow them to “express their individuality”. If the GINA Light’s key ideas ever escape into mainstream manufacture, you will have no trouble standing out.

The GINA (Geometry and Functions In “N” Adaptions) principle grants more freedom for car design. It allows the creation of products with a design and functional range that express individuality and meet the wide variety of requirements of those who are using them.

BMW dare to ask; does a car roof really have to rest on pillars and be bordered by windows? Do all functions have to be visible at all times, even when they are not needed? How many personalisation options can we offer? Are there any possible alternatives to the rigid body shell made of steel or plastic?

The GINA Light answers these questions, with a fabric outer shell which reveals the headlights when needed. The engine is exposed when needed.  A flexible, Neoprene-covered instrument panel as featured on the BMW CS1 concept car of 2002, allows the driver’s attention to focus on the required functions, while covering others. This situation-oriented variability of form and function invites the driver to interact with his car.

The GINA philosophy could mean less reliance on scarce and expensive mineral material and an easier and less energy-intensive manufacturing process. A minimalist approach to the use of components and production stages would yield ecological and economic benefits. A lighter overall body weight of the car would improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions. Nothing is yet known about when we will see more of this eccentric idea, but it could prove to be an important and ground-breaking idea for BMW.

 Earlier this week in our post ‘Beware that new car smell‘ we told you about the Ecology Center’s investigations into toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats. Well now, the results are in.

According to the Ecology Center’s findings several car manufacturers have gone to great lengths to make the interior of their models more environmentally friendly. Among the efforts highlighted in the list of US-based vehicles were soy foam in the seats of the Ford F-150 pickups, and ‘ethically produced’ woollen fabric and floor mats made of sisal in the Lotus Eco Elise.

In total, more than 200 2008 and 2009 year models were tested along with 60 child car seats. Mazda, General Motors (GM) and Nissan all won acclaim for improving since last year’s findings with GM showing the most impressive ranking leap of 27 per cent.

The ‘best vehicle’ according to the findings was the Acura RDX SH-AWD System, with the Smart Pure Coupe and the Chevy HHR LT completing the top three. The bottom three, were the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider GT, the Suzuki Reno, the BMW 128i and the VW Beetle Convertible (the latter two tying for third place). If you’d like to see the rest of the results check out Healthycar.org.

Average child car seats rankings also improved by 28 per cent overall.

How concerned are you about the chemicals used inside your car? Would you like to see similar research in the UK or wherever you live? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

The New-Generation A-Class is safer, more economical and even greener than before. To date over 125,000 A-Class have been sold in the UK since it first launched in 1997 making it one of the best selling models in the range.  The design has been revised and new technical developments have further enhanced levels of safety with crash responsive lighting and adaptive brake lights.  The car is even more comfortable as a result of new interior materials, with improved adjustment and support in the seats.  All models have new infotainment systems with Bluetooth connectivity, and the engines are now more fuel efficient as a result of three new BlueEFFICIENCY models.

From March 2009 an ECO start-stop function will be available on the A 150 and A 170 with manual transmission and the three-door A 160 CDI will benefit from an optional BlueEFFICIENCY package which improves fuel consumption of the Coupé by more than 11 per cent, to 64.2 mpg. Independent experts have awarded the A-Class with the internationally valid environmental certificate already held by the C-Class and S-Class.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is now more self-confident than before. The sweeping lines of the newly designed headlamps harmoniously combine the front end and flanks, while the redesigned front bumper reinforces this impression; its lower air intake is now much larger, emphasising the width of the body. The radiator grille is also new in design which underlines the progressive aura of the A-Class.

Ferrari is reportedly developing a hybrid car. In an interview with German Newspaper, ‘Welt am Sonntag’ Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo said that an alternative energy Ferrari would still be;

“fundamentally a Ferrari”.

Proof of Ferrari’s steal like commitment to the performance sports car. However it will probably be sometime before anything arrives on the market. Get a move on!

 According to research, CO2 emissions are falling at their fastest rate since records began in the 1990s. Automotive World has produced a table showing the improvement that has been made in different segments for the period January-June 2007 compared to January-June 2008.

The most dramatic drop has occurred in the compact executive segment, where emissions have fallen by an average of 7.03%. The luxury sports section has also seen a significant decrease in emissions down from an average of 250.27g/km to 237.01g/km - a drop of 5.30%. Off-road vehicles have also improved by an average of 3.84%.

It’s not just larger cars that are getting greener. Minis have improved by 1.42% from an average of 129.20g/km down to 127.37g/km. In the super mini section the fall has been larger, down from 144.45g/km to 141.10g/km - that’s a drop of 2.32% in one year.

The only car segment that has gone backwards during this period is that of MPVs, with emissions actually growing from an average of 191.29g/km to a worrying 194.05g/km.

Overall, the total industry average has dropped from 165.74g/km to 160.47g/km - a sizeable drop of 3.18%.

To confirm these figures an environmental website recently produced data that suggested that the average new car carbon dioxide emissions here in the UK has fallen by 3.6 per cent down from an average of 161.1g/km to 159.7g/km. Encouraging signs indeed!

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has launched today, a consultation on European Commission (EC) proposals to introduce compulsory CO2 targets for new cars.

The proposed target of 130gCO2/km by 2012 as the fleet average for each car manufacturer across the EU for all new cars is being promoted as an important step forward in tackling climate change, and as an incentivise to manufacturers to use and develop technology that will improve fuel efficiency. 

The Government is also urging the EU to adopt a longer term target - 100gCO2/km by 2020. It could deliver a reduction in CO2 emissions from new cars by an extra five million tonnes a year by 2020, in addition to the six million tonnes cut under EU proposals.  DfT figures suggest that the move could cut the cost of running a car by around £500 a year by 2020.
Ruth Kelly said:

“Tackling climate change is one of the single most important issues we face. Harmful road transport emissions continue to rise and it is important we act now to reduce them.

“That is why we support this move to introduce mandatory CO2 targets for new cars - and are taking the lead in urging the adoption of a tougher target from 2020. This has potential for being the biggest CO2 saving measure in transport.

“It will be good for the environment and for the motorist.”

Diesel cars could fall out of popularity in response to the soaring cost of diesel fuel. The average price of diesel fuel at the end of June reached 132.27p per litre - 22.5 per cent higher than it was at the beginning of the year, according to figures from Experian®, the global information services company.

Furthermore, while both diesel and petrol prices have been rising, diesel prices have inched up at a faster rate over the last six months. There is now an 11.2 per cent difference between petrol and diesel prices, compared to a 4.8 per cent difference in January 2008.

The average price of petrol has also increased significantly to 118.9p per litre - 15.4 per cent higher at the end of June compared to the beginning of the year. 

The figures provided by Catalist, an Experian company, show the biggest increase in diesel fuel prices for the first six months of any year in the last decade.

Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian’s Automotive division, said: “Sales of used diesel cars have continued to remain strong over the last few years and the threat of higher tax on the most polluting cars, plus the rising costs of running a car have played a part in the shift in car buying habits. 

“As fuel prices continue to rise, it will be interesting to see how buying habits adapt this year.  The sharp increase in petrol prices corresponds with a marked decline in sales of petrol run cars.  On the other hand, sales of diesel used cars rose by 10.1 per cent during the first three months of 2008.  However, if diesel fuel prices continue to rise at this rate, we may see a slow down in the sale of diesel cars and a bigger shift over to cars that are running on alternative fuel.  We are already seeing a rapid increase in the sale of hybrid cars, which were up by 93 per cent during the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, and electric cars which increased by 415 per cent.”

 The task to design the world’s most economical car is no mean feat, but its one that Volkswagen has been taking very seriously for the best part of a decade. In 1999, it created a compact car with an average fuel consumption of three litres per 100km (94mpg). Now it has created a vehicle that can achieve 100km with just one litre of fuel - that’s 282mpg.

The so-called One-Litre car made its debut in April in Hamburg, Germany, when VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech himself drove the car from Wolfsburg to Hamburg to make a shareholders’ meeting. Originally the car was considered too expensive for mass production as it relies on a carbon fibre body - it was not expected to be released until at least 2012. However, now the price of carbon fibre has plummeted and Volkswagen plans to build around 1,000 of the 640lb cars by 2010.

So how does the car manage to be so fuel efficient?

There are a number of unique innovations on the One-Litre Car. Aerodynamics is the key and so it boasts a small frontal area with an unusual bullet-shaped body. Exterior mirrors have been scrapped because of their air drag and replaced with cameras in the side-turn signals along with a centrally mounted rear-view camera in the third brake light for parking.

At 640lbs the car is extremely light and it has a one-cylinder diesel engine for maximum energy utilisation. The fuel tank holds just 6.5litres but this gives the car a range of more than 400miles, while the suspension and disc brakes are also made of lightweight materials.

The One-Litre Car’s price tag however, is unlikely to be so lightweight. It is estimated to cost between 20,000 and 30,000 euros - that’s £16-£24,000.

If you’d like to know more about how the model works, check out this feature at Canadian Driver.

South Wales Echo reported recently on a series of fines being given to drivers for stopping to collect passengers as part of car-sharing schemes. Drivers who use the M4 which stretches between Newport, Cardiff and Swansea are being fined for stopping on the hard-shoulder of adjoining duel carriageways in order to collect passengers. 

Police have been accused of lacking sympathy for these environmentally motivated motorists. However, South Wales Police maintain that it is an offence to park on the hard shoulder.  Inspector Carwyn Evans told South Wales Echo;

“We applaud the concept of people car sharing but it cannot be at the expense of illegal or inconsiderate parking.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/06/28/attempts-to-go-green-falling-foul-of-police-91466-21165248/