The Sexy Green Car Show at The
Eden
30 March -15th April
Welcome to the sexy green car show!
With the climate in trouble and oil expensive, cars need to get greener, fast.
From March 30th to April 15th 2007 Eden will be packed with beautiful green machines. Admission is free with entry to Eden. Open 10am to 6pm, last entry at 4.30pm.
Click here for info.
Among the cars on show will be Saab's 9300 bio-power convertible and possibly their Aero X hydrogen concept coupe. Vauxhall are to showcase their latest Zafira and Corsa models while Ford are putting up the new Focus flexi-fuel convertible, a formula race car which runs on ethanol. Also on show will be the latest Mercedes Smart EV car and the Lexus 3.8 executive saloon and RX400h. One of the real head-turners will be the D1 Oils 24-hour Le Mans race car which runs on biodiesel made from jatropha trees.
News:
Buyers Go Green:
The number of Britons looking to buy "green" cars has risen three-fold over the past 12 months, a survey has found.
"At a time when car manufacturers continue to push 'drive of your life' performance features and va-va-voom sex appeal, the ultimate driving machine for the majority of Brits is a car that is environmentally friendly and cheap to run," said the report by AA Personal Loans.
On the day that chancellor Gordon Brown was penalising gas-guzzlers in his annual budget, the report said that, with a quarter of Britons expecting to change their car this year, 20% were looking for an environmentally friendly model, against just 6% n February 2006.
"The rapid growth of the green agenda among car buyers over the last year is very significant," said AA Personal Loans director Lloyd East.
"With a fifth of all car buyers today going green, the environmental agenda is being driven into the heart of the motor industry - over family estates, saloon cars and people carriers."
Source News24 23.03.07
Car makers told to cut emissions by 25%
12 January 2007
• European Commission wants emissions cut
• Makers told to cut average emissions to 120g/km
• Proposals could add £3300 to a new car's cost
The European Commission is to unveil proposals that will force car makers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a quarter.
The proposals, to be shown on January 26, will mean that there could be mandatory standards to force car manufacturers to reduce the carbon dioxide output of their products from the present average of 162g/km (grams per kilometre) to 120g/km from 2012.
Manufacturers had signed a voluntary agreement back in 1998 to cut emissions by 25% to 140g/km by 2008, but they have achieved only 13% so far, and the EC now feels that compulsion to make them hit targets is necessary.
Car industry representatives believe that the costs of meeting the targets are too prohibitive. Ivan Hodac, secretary-general of the European Automotive Manufacturers' Association, said 'The costs would be absolutely prohibitive. We are already reducing emissions - we're very aware of how important this is, but will be fighting these proposals.'
The Association also believes it would add £3300 to the price of a car, and that car manufacturers would have to move outside Europe.
However, Stavros Dimas, the European Environment Commissioner behind the proposals, insists that car manufacturers can subsidise mass-market, cheaper cars and pass on the increased costs of developing low-emissions vehicles on to the buyers of cars which pollute more.
Toyota is believed to do this with its hybrid Prius - its true production costs are way beyond its £17,780 asking price, and buyers of luxury models in its range pick up the cost.
The Commission believes the five-year plan will give car makers enough time to develop the technology for low-emissions cars.
