Latest Green Car News
Biofuels blend could slash emissions
Could marine fuel and biodiesel be the key to reducing CO emissions? That’s the theory uncovered by a study at two Turkish universities.
Researchers at Sakarya University and Kocaeli University have found that blending biodiesel with marine fuel can improve the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of a diesel engine and reduce CO emissions - although it will increase fuel consumption.
The team took a four-cylinder, four-stroke, direct injection diesel engine with a maximum power output of ... read more
The Queen goes green!
We are in good company here at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk! The queen is having her two Bentleys converted to run on biofuel. As part of the luxury carmaker’s attempt to reform its gas-guzzling image, the Crewe-based company is launching a new biofuel-burning car in the New Year.
Bentley aim to produce a range of engines which offer a 40 per cent improvement in fuel economy by 2012, the Daily Mail reports.
The two state Bentleys are said to be worth £10 million each, the first, a gift from ... read more
The strangest alternative fuel yet
There have been some fairly odd alternative fuels suggested as a potential problem-solver for the oil crisis over the years - however, surely this is the strangest of the bunch?
A liposuction doctor in California has lost his licence to practice after it was discovered he had been using human fat sucked out of patients’ bodies to fuel his car. Apparently using human medical waste in California is illegal.
Beverly Hills doctor Craig Bittner operated a clinic until November when he was ... read more
Ethanol estimates slashed by USDA
The food versus fuel debate has been one of the leading stumbling blocks when determining whether biofuels are a long-term alternative to petroleum and diesel to refuel vehicles. However, now the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) has reduced its estimate of the projected use of corn for ethanol production.
The figure has been slashed by 300 million bushels for 2008/09 to 3,700 million bushels from the November forecast. The ... read more
Oil consumption to hit skids
The stark fall in oil prices this year from a July peak of $147 a barrel to approximately $44 a barrel currently has been startling - and now a new report indicates that there will be virtually no growth in US oil consumption through 2030.
The Annual Energy Outlook 2009 reference case released by the US Energy Information Administration suggests that the combined effects of increased use of renewable energy sources, an assumed rebound in oil prices and the recently enacted CAFE standards ... read more
Warning over new B30 biofuel
Industry service, maintenance and repairs data specialist, Motorconsult warns that using the wrong fuel in your vehicle could invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty. The warning comes as Morrisons, the supermarket chain, launched a new fuel containing 30 per cent biofuel which is mixed in with conventional fossil diesel. Currently diesel bought at forecourts typically contains a much lower percentage of biofuel. The current target as established by the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation ... read more
EU fails to regulate biofuels’ impact on indirect land use
The European Union has reached an agreement on the renewable energy directive, with its commitment for biofuels to account for at least 10 per cent of EU transport fuels by 2020.
But the agreed legislation carries no recognition of the phenomenon of indirect land-use change that means many biofuels will cause more greenhouse gases than they save.
Representatives of member states reached agreement with MEPs earlier this month, but while there are some ’sustainability criteria’ in ... read more
Volvo launches E85 models
Thailand has seen more than its fair share of troubles in recent weeks, but that isn’t stopping the country making significant green progress - even if it is thanks to a Swedish car manufacturer.
Volvo Car Thailand has introduced two green cars to the country in the form of the Volvo C30 1.8F, which is an E85 flexifuel model, and the Volvo S80 2.5FT which is Thailand’s first and only locally produced flexifuel vehicle.
Speaking about the decision to introduce the vehicles to the ... read more
Payroll company runs waste oil cars
The forward-thinking directors of an online payroll services company, thepayrollsite.co.uk have taken the step to reduce their carbon footprint by running their cars on waste vegetable oil.
The directors took the step in a bid to make a real reduction of the environmental impact of their vehicles, following the realisation that carbon offsetting as an alternative did not necessarily require them to take actions to reduce their carbon emissions.
The Managing Director, Steven Tucker has been ... read more
Diesel grows on trees
Scientists have discovered a tree fungus which produces a chemical concoction almost identical to diesel.
The fungus, Gliocladium roseum, is unique to the Patagonian rainforest yet it is so similar to diesel, scientists believe it could be pumped directly into fuel tanks.
Dubbed ‘mycodiesel’ by the scientist who discovered the fungus, Gary Strobel from Montana State University told The Guardian;
“This is the only organism that has ever been shown to produce such an important combination ... read more
Green Car Events Calendar 2009
A calendar of green car events in 2009 including green car motor shows, green car exhibitions, green car races and other special events involving green cars. The events listed also focuses on other aspects of motoring - such as most mainstream motor shows - at which fuel efficient cars may also be displayed. If you know of a green car event that is not listed here, perhaps because it is a local small event, please contact us with as much detail as possible:
Green Car Events Calendar 2009
An interview with the NICE Car Company
The NICE Car Company offers impartial advice and the best range of zero-emission, electric vehicles in Europe. If you are looking for environmentally-friendly vehicles then NICE Car Company is there to help you make the right choice - from electric cars, electric trucks, electric vans and electric minibuses to our range of electric bikes and electric scooters including the Vectrix Scooter. Julian Wilford, the co-founder of the NICE Car Company kindly spoke to us September 2008.
Julian Wilford interview - September 2008
Company Car Tax in 2008/9
Including details of the 2009 vehicle excise duty reform. Are you paying the right company car tax in 2008/9?
The announcement of a major reform of vehicle excise duty in April 2009, the introduction of a new 10% banding for benefit-in-kind tax (13% for diesels), plus a rise to £16,900 in the Government set charge for fuel benefit charge calculation are some of the key points in Budget 2008.
Electric cars
Electric cars were once expected to be the ultimate travelling option of the 21st Century only to be maligned when initial efforts such as the Ford Think failed to earn a sizeable share of the UK market. However, with further technological advancements, electric cars are once again emerging as a viable alternative to the fuel guzzling and polluting vehicles that most of us drive today.
Hybrid cars
The number of hybrid cars available in the UK is on the increase although they are still not as readily available as it is hoped they will be in the long term. Here is a list of some of the hybrid cars currently available in the UK – click on the links to find out more:
There are also several hybrid cars available in other markets:
Here is a list of some of the hybrid cars that are coming soon:
BMW EfficientDynamics
Auto Start-Stop – The engine stops whenever the car comes to rest and is taken out of gear, restarting the second the clutch is depressed - read all about BMW EfficientDynamics by clicking on the following link - A quick guide to BMW EfficientDynamics technologies
The top 10 green cars
Our list of the top ten green cars will put you on the right road to reducing your emissions while still driving in style and comfort.
Top 10 green cars
The most economical green cars
One of the major benefits of owning and running green cars is the increased fuel economy that they are able to offer. Green cars such as the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion and Seat Ibiza Ecomotive are now able to return more than 70 miles to the gallon and have the added bonus of very low CO2 emissions. We look at the green cars that offer the most miles per gallon and have broken down the results into the following categories: saloons, hatchbacks, estates, coupes, cabrios, people carriers and 4x4s.
The most economical green cars
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.
The Quiet Car Company® are a Lymington based company based on the south coast of England. The Quiet Car Company has a dream of making transport cleaner, cheaper and fun. Vaughan Richmond spoke to TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk in September 2008.
Titan Environmental are a pioneer in the manufacture and supply of storage solutions for oil, fuel, lubricants, adblue, chemicals, biofuels and water. Titan’s range of tanks and containers provide the best option for every situation whether domestic, commercial, industrial or agricultural.
More companies are turning to green company cars as a solution to rising motoring costs with research suggesting that more environmentally friendly company cars could save UK firms a collective £3bn a year. So what makes green company cars so attractive and should you consider them for your business? This guide will show you some of the options on the market and explain how you can make the savings work for you.
It’s a widely held myth that ‘green’ driving is more expensive than regular cars with petrol or diesel engines. It’s easy to see the reasoning behind it: everyone’s still driving cars with regular engines - and this ‘green’ technology is all relatively new - so surely it must be more expensive?
The Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Style has been awarded the most prestigious award at the first-ever What Car? Green Awards. The Ford Focus’s impressive credentials saw it beat off 23 other contenders to take the top accolade, in categories ranging from green supermini to green sports car.
You’ve probably heard of pay-as-you-go mobile phones - you may even have one - but could the same philosophy be applied to vehicles? The success of car clubs across the UK suggests the answer is ‘yes’ and now there are a number of green car clubs emerging specifically targeting drivers that want to save cash and the environment. This guide to green car clubs will introduce you to the concept.
What is Eco-Driving? This guide to Eco-Driving will help you find practical steps that you can make today to reduce your carbon emissions as well as insight into alternative fuels and vehicle techology.
According to the Energy Saving Trust's report published in April 2007, a company with 100 vehicles could be saving £90,000 a year by implementing green fleet policies.
Top 5 green driving tips
- Change gear early
- Use air conditioning sparingly
- Do not use car as mobile office - no weight
- Do not use car for short journeys
- Always keep tyres inflated to correct pressure
