UK car manufacturers and dealers must do more to publicise the CO2 emissions of the vehicles they sell, a leading environmental body has demanded.

A wide-ranging review of the passenger car market over the past four decades by independent environmental organisation the Energy Saving Trust has found that car buyers are making “poor choices, both economically and environmentally” when it comes to buying new cars - despite good incentives to choose low CO2 vehicles and a wider range of vehicle models available.

And it points to a “market failure”, citing “the current market structure, where more desirable cars within vehicle model ranges tend to have higher CO2 emissions and lack of awareness and advice which makes carbon dioxide-saving information clearer”.

The findings of the report - Driven - are backed up by consumer research, commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust and launched today, which shows that nearly three-quarters of UK drivers (74 per cent) do not know how much carbon dioxide their car emits. Yet when buying a car nine in ten people (89 per cent) want environmental features brought to their attention.

The survey of 1511 UK drivers found that nearly half (48 per cent) are considering replacing their car in the next year. And if everyone who buys a new car chooses the greenest car in its class - e.g. supermini/MPV - a typical motorist could save £375 a year in fuel costs, or nearly £1bn for all UK motorists. This does not include savings in terms of lower vehicle purchase costs and reduced vehicle excise duty and insurance.

According to Energy Saving Trust Chief Executive Philip Sellwood car manufacturers, dealers and drivers all have a vital role to play.

He said: “The bottom line is that, at the moment, the car market is failing: there is no good reason why at a time of rising fuel prices and higher vehicle excise duties for higher CO2  vehicles, people are continuing to buy inefficient cars. It’s not good for the environment or the pockets of customers.

“While car manufacturers are starting to place CO2 information more prominently in their advertising, this is only helpful up to a certain point. For many years, manufacturers have marketed the higher-carbon vehicles within a vehicle range as better quality, more expensive, faster and even more desirable, influencing consumers to make irrational choices with regard to fuel and running costs. Dealers are making inroads by displaying information on the cost implications of choosing greener cars more prominently.  However, more still needs to be done to help educate drivers earlier on in the decision making process.”

He added: “It is difficult for consumers to understand the meaning of CO2 information without comparison to other vehicles in their class. Consumer transport advice being provided through our network of advice centres can help consumers make those informed choices.”

According to Energy Saving Trust figures, new vehicles registered in the UK in 2007 produce annual emissions of 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide but the organisation predicts this could be reduced by 25 per cent over the next five years through encouraging the purchase of cars with lower emissions.

Sellwood added: “Our research shows that while consumers want to know about environmental features, at present the vast majority do not know the basics like how much CO2 their car emits.

“The Energy Saving Trust wants to help the public make better choices. We are not telling everybody to go out and buy a hybrid or electric car but we are urging motorists to buy the greenest car in its class.”

The Energy Saving Trust’s consumer research also found that:

• Fifty per cent say they would drive more efficiently if they had more information as to how it would save money and carbon dioxide emissions.
• More than half (51 per cent) of those shown a list of popular cars had no idea which was greenest.
• When looking at car advertisements and asked what grabs their attention, fuel efficiency came third (18 per cent), behind style and look (23 per cent), and price (24 per cent).
• More than half (51 per cent) say they take the car to travel distances of less than one mile, with this figure rising to seven in ten (71 per cent) for a journey of fewer than one-and-a-half miles. And almost two thirds (63 per cent) say bad weather was a reason for taking the car rather than walking a short distance.

Sellwood comments: “It is also true that consumers need to play their part. People need to think twice about taking the car to the end of the road for a pint of milk if it’s raining. It’s expensive in every respect.”

A successful legal challenge by the Alliance Against Urban 4×4s has corrected a mistake by the Department for Transport in its interpretation of EU laws.

Car adverts and billboards must now carry information on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
After a three month campaign, the Department of Transport has conceded that the 1999/94/EC Car Fuel Labelling Directive was incorrectly exempted for mainly graphical advertisements. 

From the 20th of June, VCA, who are responsible for monitoring car advertisements in media publications revised their guidance notes to manufacturers and marketing agencies.

Lawyers have come to the decision that The European Commission is within its rights to levy financial penalties on car manufacturers who fail to meet CO2 reduction targets. The German car manufacturers are the most concerned as Porsche, BMW and Audi traditionally produce high performance, high emitting cars that will be hit hard by the new regulations.

The final form of the car CO2 regulations in still under discussion with hints that concessions may be made to Germany’s car manufacturers. The EU Commissioner Stavros Dimas has been reported as being willing to reduce the targets for the German car manufacturers as long as the overall emissions target across Europe is maintained.

According to a report issued by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT); throughout the last ten years, significant and sustained progress has been made in cutting CO2 emissions from new cars. Among comprehensive figures in SMMT’s latest CO2 report is the headline that average CO2 has fallen 13% since 1997. Publication of the seventh annual report also reinforces the industry’s drive towards open and honest reporting on sustainability measures.

“Our latest CO2 report shows how far we have come, but also the challenges that lie ahead,” said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. “Industry is bringing more new technologies to market. Encouraging consumers to embrace these and choose lower-CO2 emitting variants must be our priority. However, this is not a task for industry alone; car makers, government, fuel companies and new car buyers have a role to play in delivering lower carbon motoring.”

Highlights from the report, which is available to download from the home page of the SMMT web site, include:

• A 13% improvement in average CO2 reduction since 1997
• 39.5% of new car market under 140g/km CO2 last year; just 3.9% in 1997
• Band B emitting cars set to overtake Band G sellers for the first time in 2008
• Diesel penetration at 40.2% in the UK; 26.5% in 1997
• Diesel duty lower than petrol in all major European markets except the UK
• Total CO2 emitted by cars has fallen 4.8% since 1997; 72.2 to 68.7 million tonnes
• Government revenue from motorists up from £33.8 to £45.1 bn since 1997

Paul Everitt added, “We shall be working with government to help shape the new car CO2 regulation, emphasising the need for appropriate lead-times, fines that are closely aligned to the market price of carbon and with suitable incentives for innovation. We will also be urging government to ensure that the diversity of the market and car manufacturing bases in the UK are protected.” 

The report was launched to the All Party Motor Group of MPs at a House of Commons event on 17 March 2008.

For more information visit: www.smmt.co.uk

Car groups structured to provide customers with insight into environmental impact of vehicles.

In a ground-breaking initiative for the car rental industry, the UK’s leading provider, Europcar UK Group, has announced plans to add vital information to its car group descriptions to reflect the average CO2 emissions of vehicles.  The new information will be provided for both Europcar and National brands, helping leisure and business travellers make greener decisions when renting.

“Through this industry-leading initiative, Europcar and National will be the first daily rental brands to include average CO2 emissions in how cars are grouped, along with shell size and transmission,” explains Tim Bailey, Fleet Director, Europcar UK Group.  “We believe this is an enormously positive step for the industry and we hope that the other rental providers will soon follow suit. 

“Our environmental commitment is central to our business development strategy and the addition of this information to our car groups is just the first of a number of initiatives we are developing.  For example, we are also exploring new technologies such as biofuel, HDI and BlueMotion in order to introduce a sub-120gms CO2 emissions group.   But most importantly, this initiative means our customers can make more informed choices about the vehicles they rent and, as a result, help them contribute to an overall reduction in CO2 emissions.”

The lowest emissions group will feature average 130gms CO2 emissions vehicles.  This will typically include mini three-door hatchbacks, such as the Peugeot 107. The highest group will comprise 230gms emissions vehicles such as executive saloon automatic estates including the Saab 9-5 and the Volvo V70.
“We are tremendously excited about this move” confirmed Tim Bailey.  “It provides vital clarity for both leisure and business renters and reaffirms our position as the number one daily rental provider in the UK.”

http://www.europcar.co.uk/