General Motors has decided to keep Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant running, meaning 2,100 jobs have been saved. Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, flew to the US in February when General Motors said it was losing money in the UK and there were fears for the plant's closure. He said that he and the Government had managed to persuade General Motors that the UK was a "very good busines...

A new report from the Road Safety Foundation (RSF) concludes an increase in the maximum speed limit on motorways to 80 mph would reduce safety. Over the next few months the government will be consulting on the introduction of new speed limit on English and Welsh motorways of 80 mph. The intention is to reduce journey times so businesses become more efficient, in an attempt to boost the econ...

A new study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests that green cars may severely reduce the amount of future tax revenue collected from fuel duty and VED. Even though traffic is predicted to grow over the coming decades, the IFS report notes that the £38 billion annual revenue from VED and fuel duty has already began to diminish as more motorists choose lower emission petro...

The Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) recently launched the beginning of its second three year effort to improve vehicle fuel economy around the world. It also announced that a new partner – the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT ) – has joined the effort. The GFEI achieved numerous objectives during its first three years, from 2009-2012, including enga...

Nissan's e-NV200 test car has helped British Gas kick-start its ambition of switching 10% of its 14,000 vehicle fleet to electric by the end of 2015. British Gas has been trialling a Nissan e-NV200 teat car for a few weeks at its Leicester and Newbury depots, the first OEM van of its kind ever to grace the fleet. Nissan have been helping British Gas determine which of its 14,000 driver...

With data from the new National Chargepoint Registry now integrated, Next Green Car's Zap-Map continues to lead the way in providing the most comprehensive UK-wide map of charging points, with over 2,250 charging points mapped. The government funded National Chargepoint Registry is now live (currently showing around 300 points) with the data available to download. Next Green Car has in...

The second annual EcoVelocity low carbon motor show continues at the ExCel exhibition centre in London until Sunday 13th May. The show's 3.5 mile long test drive track has already been very popular with members of the public who wish to be among the first to get a chance to drive some of the latest zero and low carbon cars. The EcoVelocity paddock is showing some exciting and aspiratio...

Eight car manufacturers from the United States and Germany will demonstrate fast-charging technology that will enable the recharging of most electrified vehicles with compatible systems in as little as 15-20 minutes. Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have agreed to support a harmonised single-port fast charging approach – called DC-fast chargin...

The new BMW X1 premium compact crossover model is now available to order after the launch of the first X1 model over two years ago – the EfficienctDynamics version returns 62.8 mpg (combined) with CO2 reduced to 119 g/km. The new X1's design has been refined inside and out, and an extensive range of optional extras is on offer. With a new range of diesel engines to choose from, the ne...

The Toyota Plug-in Prius went on sale a couple of months ago in the US, ahead of its UK launch due in July. Sales volumes so far have been impressive – with 1,654 units sold in April alone, it has been more popular than other plug-in cars on the market such as the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF, which sold 1,462 and 370 units respectively. This gives some indication of the likely...

Electric Car and Van Leasing Specialists Fleetdrive will host a stand at the GreenFleet Arrive and Drive event at Rockingham race circuit near Corby on 17th May 2012. The show has an impressive array of manufacturers attending with plenty of the latest low carbon diesel, hybrid and electric cars and commercial vehicles available to drive on the circuit. Sponsored by EDF Energy, the Arr...

The days when hybrid cars could be dismissed as a passing technical novelty are well and truly past: figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show a steady rise in annual UK sales over the past five years. From 2007 up to the end of the first quarter of this year, almost 100,000 hybrid vehicles have been sold in the UK, helping achieve a healthy saving in carbon em...

LOCOG and BMW, Official Automotive Partner to the London 2012 Olympic Games, have revealed a full details of the London 2012 fleet. LOCOG has deployed a range of low emission diesel, hybrid and electric cars, whose fleet average will be 116 g/km CO2 emissions and 64.5 mpg fuel economy, beating targets set by Olympics officials. LOCOG set an average fleet emissions target of 120 gCO2/km...

Now in its second year, the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure World Congress will take place in Berlin, Germany, on the 26th and 27th June. The event will provide an opportunity to hear from car makers, fleet owners, local authorities and utility companies, among others, on how electric vehicle technologies can be integrated into businesses to reduce costs and improve environmental credential...

British Gas have announced two new initiatives that will help to drive down the cost of running an electric vehicle in the UK, and to make charging easier. To be introduced this month, the new Off-Peak Saver Tariff will make the charging process more affordable, and a new British Gas Payment Plan will spread the cost of purchasing a charging point. The Off-Peak Saver Tariff is designed...

Toyota will expand its hybrid technology range into new areas of the market with this summer's launch of the Prius+, Europe's first full hybrid seven-seat MPV. The new model will combines traditional people carrier practicality with ultra-efficient performance, and will be the first mainstream Toyota hybrid to use a lighter and more compact lithium-ion battery pack. The Prius+ will sta...

The UK's largest green motoring show, EcoVelocity, is returning for its second year, to be held from 5th to 13th May at London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre. Organisers of the show are giving away 100 pairs of tickets completely free, which will enable free entry to the show. To obtain a free ticket, visit EcoVelocity's website and enter 'ECOV2012' as your 'Special Offer Code'. Once the co...

Peugeot's eagerly awaited new 208 model is now available to order. With on the road prices from £9,995, deliveries will begin on 28th June. Each model in the line-up emits 99 gCO2/km or less, with the e-HDi diesel engine version being the lowest emission variant with just 87 g/km of CO2 emissions. There are eight engines available in total – five petrol and three diesel. Th...

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published its 11th annual New Car CO2 Report, which has revealed that new cars registered in the UK last year were, on average, 18% more fuel efficient than the average car on the road. Data analysing the emissions of all new cars registered in the UK showed a continued trend in falling emissions and improving fuel efficiency. 2011 e...

Renault's all-electric Zoe supermini is making its first public appearance in the UK today at the EV & Low CO2 Fleet Show at Silverstone racing circuit in Northampton. The Zoe, which costs just £13,650 plus £70 a month for battery leasing, will be on the Renault stand as a static exhibit, however the new Twizy electric quadricycle will be available to test drive on the Stowe...

John Griffin, chairman of Addison Lee minicab firm was granted a meeting with Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond to discuss the potential use of restricted bus lanes for his taxi drivers. It was suggested that the meeting was given consent based on the influence of £250,000 worth of donations that Addison Lee has given to the Conservative Party over the last couple of years. Mr ...

Susuki's 2012 Alto model is on sale now, with improvements including the addition of Dual Variable Valve Timing (VVT) for greater fuel economy and improved CO2 emissions. With manual transmission, the 2012 Alto emits just 99 gCO2/km, and combined fuel economy rises to 65.7 mpg. The new sub 100 g/km figure introduces exemption from London's congestion charge scheme and means VED road tax is ...

The 2012 LowCVP Annual Conference will take place at ExCel, London Docklands on Thursday 10 May alongside the EcoVelocity low carbon motor show which will run from 5-13 May. The conference will feature leading speakers, topical debates and the opportunity to network with low carbon industry leaders and stakeholders. The event will last from 9.30 to 4.30pm. Delegates at the LowCVP Confe...

Renault's new electric two-seater, the Twizy, begins its showroom launch today – it will be arriving in 22 Renault dealerships across the UK, with an on the road price tag from £6,690. The unique Twizys are now available for test drives around the country. Primarily demo models will be at dealerships with a large urban coverage, but all Renault dealerships will have a demo Twizy...

Volvo has announced the pricing for its all-new premium five-door, five-seat hatchback, the Volvo V40, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last month. Starting at just £19,745 on the road, the all-new Volvo V40 will enter the premium hatchback segment with CO2 emissions ranging from just 94 g/km – bringing with it a range of financial incentives. Company car users will b...

The UK's largest green motor show, EcoVelocity, will be held from the 5th to the 13th May at London's ExCeL exhibition centre. EDF Energy, the UK's largest producer of low carbon energy, has confirmed that they will act as headline sponsors for the event – they will be supplying the on-site recharge points that will be used for charging the numerous electric vehicles that will be att...

The Prius plug-in hybrid is now available to order, and will reach showrooms ready for delivery in July. The plug-in version of the popular Prius model will offer all the familiar virtues of the existing Prius, but with more – not least the fact that CO2 has been lowered to just 49 g/km. Like the conventional Prius hybrid, it is powered by an ultra-efficient full hybrid powertrai...

At a press conference hosted by Bridgestone and the New York International Auto Show, the Volkswagen Up! was declared the 2012 World Car of the Year. The Volkswagen Up! was chosen from an initial entry list of thirty-four new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists: the Volkswagen Up!, the BMW 3 Series and the Porsche 911. "This award shows once...

Ford claims that the new Focus with 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine delivers lower per-mile fuel costs than a Focus driver would have paid in 2008, despite a 34% rise in fuel prices. As many carmakers have done over recent years, Ford has been working hard on improving the efficiency of their conventional engines. In January 2008, with petrol at 104.3 pence per litre, owners of the 100PS 1....

Skoda has released official pricing for their new Citigo model range. It will be on sale from 1 June 2012, starting at just £7,630. It will be the first Skoda model to enter the fast growing city car segment – with CO2 from 96 g/km translating to free road tax and congestion charge and fuel economy as high as 68.9 mpg – it is likely to be a popular choice. Safety was ...

Many people think of electric vehicles as being 'quirky', but a new study, by POD Point and ChoosEV, has revealed that many electric vehicles have been quickly adopted as the primary family car. For the average family driving 12,000 miles a year, this could result in fuel savings of £961 a year, based on a comparison between a new Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi and a Nissan LEAF being charged on...

The all-new SEAT Mii 3 door city car is now available to order in the UK, with prices starting at only £7,845 on the road for the entry-level version. The Mii range offers a version with a start-stop system, which reduces CO2 emission down to 96 g/km, meaning that it qualifies for free VED road tax and London congestion charge exemption – helping to keep running costs to a minim...

Order books for the new Toyota Yaris hybrid are now open, and the first UK deliveries will be on July 1st. Priced at just £14,995, it will be the UK's lowest priced full hybrid model. Toyota's refined Hybrid Synergy Drive system uses a 1.5 litre VVT-i petrol engine, nickel-metal hydride battery pack and CVT transmission, which results in lowest-in-class CO2 emissions from just 79 g/km...

Ford is on track to begin full deliveries of their battery-electric Ford Focus in the US this April, after delivering the first wave of vehicles to commercial partners, such as Google and Microsoft, late last year. Ford has hinted that they have received numerous pre-orders for the car ahead of its public launch in April. Ford is planning to 'de-risk' the rollout by adopting a 'build-to-ord...

Citroen's distinctive DS5 officially goes on sale today, with the long awaited DS5 Hybrid4 being the most fuel efficient and lowest CO2 emission model in the range. The Hybrid4 version uses the same powertrain as the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 model, which was the world's first ever diesel electric hybrid car available in the UK. The DS5 Hybrid is now available on the road from between &pou...

ABB has launched the Terra Smart Connect (SC), a breakthrough product that will significantly improve the business case for installing electric-vehicle fast chargers in the UK and throughout Europe. The Terra SC from ABB, a leading power and automation technology group, will be available for delivery later this year, starting at the breakthrough price of less than £8,500 for small vol...

Now available for pre-order, the newly restyled Citroen C1 will officially go on sale in the UK on 2 April, with the range starting at a manufacturer recommended on the road price of £7,995. Five out of the six models in the new C1 range return fuel economy on a combined cycle of 65.7 mpg, whilst emitting just 99 gCO2/km. The low emissions figures mean that the C1 falls into the ...

With the Unite Union having balloted for industrial action for fuel tanker drivers, a imminent strike is a now real possibility. If a strike is confirmed, there will be a seven day notice period given by the union. Around 2,000 tanker drivers voted in the strike ballot earlier this week. Fuel delivery is a crucial link in the fuel supply chain, and these 2,000 drivers, working for just seve...

It has now been three years since Boris Johnson announced his plan to make London the electric car capital of Europe, and it was reported last month that only 588 extra electric cars have been registered in the city. Leading car hire specialist, Euopcar, have responded to this, and believes that drivers who hire electric cars will be surprised by their performance, driveability and cost-eff...

The Vauxhall Ampera will now be available with a fast-charge kit that reduces its full charging time by around two hours, thanks to a new agreement made between Vauxhall and British Gas. Vauxhall will offer all Ampera owners a British Gas Home Charging solution, which will include the installation of a home charge point, three year warranty on parts and labour, and three year Home Electrica...

Nissan and Gateshead College are to develop a Zero Emission Centre of Excellence (ZECE) in the North East of England. The new centre will act as a business incubator for the electric vehicle industry, creating jobs in the region and developing knowledge and technology. Research will initially focus on charging infrastructure and battery second life. Nissan has a longstanding relations...

Changes to company car taxation announced in Budget 2012 present a serious challenge to the UK electric vehicle (EV) market. With fleet purchases accounting for the vast majority of the UK's first 1,000 electric car and van sales, business and company car taxation are playing a crucial role in supporting the emerging EV market. It comes as some surprise therefore that the Chancellor h...

Ford's newest Fiesta model officially returns more than 85 mpg, making it one of the most efficient and lowest emitting conventional vehicle available today. The latest Ford Fiesta ECOnetic model now on sale emits just 87 gCO2/km – meaning free road tax and no London Congestion Charge for the car – while sipping diesel fuel at the rate of just 85.6 mpg on the combined cycle. ...

Follow Budget 2012 today with Next Green Car as the Chancellor announces future levels of fuel duty and company car tax rates. As the Chancellor George Osborne aims to protect and stimulate the economy, Next Green Car is following the Budget live, providing clear analysis of all tax issues affecting road transport. Next Green Car coverage of Budget 2012 on Wed 21st March. Fuel dut...

The Prime Minister has announced government plans to 'semi-privatise' sections of the country's major road network, with the aim to encourage investment and to improve the infrastructure. Yesterdays proposals saw the Treasury seeking funds from private investors and pension funds to address 'urgent' improvements needed on England's roads, after decades of degradation on major routes. ...

Citroen and Peugeot UK have both announced changes to their electric vehicle sales programs, including lowering the on-the-road prices of Peugeot's iOn and Citroen's C-ZERO to just £21,216, after the Government's £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant. This has reduced the purchase cost by around £7,000 for each electric vehicle, and means that monthly rental cost is reduced to £2...

The award-winning new Volkswagen up! is now in UK showrooms. For £9,330 on-the-road, a 96 gCO2/km version will keep you exempt from road tax and London's congestion charge. The range starts at £7,995 and rises to £11,180, whilst retail customers using Volkswagen's Finance Solutions PCP package can get into an up! from just £79 a month. The up! citycar distils Vo...

Now in its third year, the e-miglia electric vehicle rally 2012 will tour through four Alpine countries, a total of around 800 km of zero-emission driving. What started as a big adventure for the participants, partners and organizers in 2010, has established itself to become an annual event. In 2012 it will take place between 12th and 16th August, and will continue to demonstrate that elect...

Jaguar Land Rover announced today that they will create 1,000 new jobs at its Halewood Operations manufacturing facility, near Liverpool in the UK. The new positions, which will support the on-going significant demand for the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander 2, take the workforce at Halewood to almost 4,500 – treble the number employed there just three years ago. Jagu...

With the new i30 now available in UK showrooms, Hyundai can demonstrate how they have been developing their clean diesel technologies to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Expected to build on the success of the original i30 model, the new generation version offers a more stylish and more refined alternative, with lower running costs and lower CO2. Pricing starts at £14,495...

Andy Eastlake has been appointed as the new MD of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) – the organisation established to support the Government's Climate Change Strategy by delivering greenhouse gas reductions from the road transport sector. Andy has a strong background in mechanical engineering, spending most of his career to date at Millbrook Proving Ground where he has speci...

For the fifth year running, Fiat Automobiles has recorded the lowest level of CO2 emissions by vehicles sold in Europe in 2011, with an average measurement of 118.2 g/km (4.9 g/km less than the 2010 average). According to figures certified by JATO Dynamics, Fiat also ranked first as a Group, with 123.3 g/km, an improvement of 2.6 g/km on last year. This is an important achievement and ...

Appearing in a new short film about electric cars, Dr Ben Lane of Next Green Car provides an overview of their benefits, and outlines how electric technology may evolve in the future. The short documentary, made as part of a student project at the University of Sunderland, and headed by Ben Jones, highlights how electric drive-trains may be the technology driving future vehicles. With ...

The 2012 Geneva Motor Show has been chosen for the first public appearance of the Renault ZOE – one of four all-electric models in their all-electric Z.E. range. The ZOE will become one of the most affordable battery electric cars on the UK market, in terms of up-front cost, available on-the-road for just £13,650 (after the government’s £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant), altho...

The average price of unleaded fuel in the UK has reached a record high – according to The AA, the average price per litre reached 137.44 on Monday 2nd March. Government statistics also show diesel to be at a record high of 144.7p per litre, up almost 1p from the previous record set just last week. The ongoing increases in UK fuel prices are a result of the rising cost of crude oi...

ACFO, a leading fleet organisation, is calling on the Chancellor to review the planned company car benefit-in-kind tax changes in the 2012 Budget on March 21. As we reported in February, as a result of the planned removal of the Qualifying Low Emission Car Category (QUALEC), drivers of low cars will see their company car tax increase sharply, while most drivers of high emission cars will se...

The World Electric Vehicle Summit, taking place this June in Copenhagen, will aim to harnesses critical cross-value chain partnerships to drive the global electric vehicles industry forward. The agenda will discuss and share European and international case studies and business models for the push towards larger scale implementation of electric transportation. The event will take place from ...

The Vauxhall Ampera and Chevrolet Volt have won the 'Car of the Year' award, with the highest score of 47 points coming from the Car of the Year's UK jurors. The panel of judges, made up of 59 leading automotive journalists from 23 European nations, awarded GM's revolutionary electric vehicle as undisputed winner with 330 points – against the Volkswagen Up! with 281 and the Ford Focus...

The world premiere of the all-new Hyundai i20 will take place this week at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show – it will have lower CO2 emissions than any other conventional model on sale today. Among the four powertrain options will be the new 1.1-litre, 3-cylinder 'U-II' diesel engine that generates 75 ps. When mated to Hyundai's Blue Drive technologies, this derivative emits just 84 g/km of...

Just one tank of fuel can take you from Land's End to John O'Groats in a Toyota Avensis, as a long distance economy challenge taken up by two journalists for Banzai magazine has proved. Editor Joe Clifford and Andrew Biddle accomplished the feat in a standard Avensis T Spirit Tourer, powered by the latest version of Toyota's 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine. The high efficiency of the engi...

Order books are now open for the revolutionary Chevrolet Volt in the UK, and it has been confirmed that only one trim level will be available but it will be packed with features. Furthermore, Chevrolet has announced the first two dealerships that will sell the Volt and confirmed that the on the road price will be £29,995 after the government's £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant discount. ...

A range of electric, hybrid and low carbon conventional cars will be available for test driving at 'Company Cars in Action' – a two day event to be held at Millbrook Proving Ground on June 26-27th. Attendees will be able to drive a variety of vehicles to allow them to discover how vehicles perform in a range of environments. Manufacturers already signed up include Toyota, Vauxhall, Ho...

The official CO2 emissions and fuel economy figures have been released for Toyota's new Plug-in Prius, confirming it as the most economic Toyota to ever reach British roads. The car will emit 49 g/km of CO2 on the combined cycle and travel 134.5 miles on one gallon of petrol. It is also able to be driven in pure electric mode, meaning some journeys can be completely emission free (at tailpi...

Toyota have released official figures for their Yaris Hybrid model – it will emit just 79 gCO2/km whilst returning a combined fuel economy of 80.7 mpg. First deliveries will be on July 1st with a starting price below £15,000 on-the-road. This will make the Yaris Hybrid the most CO2 efficient combustion engine in the mainstream car market, and the most affordable hybrid on sale i...

A new electric vehicle charging system, called ELVIIS, could mean that soon electric vehicle owners will be able to charge their vehicles up from anywhere, and see the cost appear on their own electricity bill. The ELVIIS (Electric Vehicle Intelligent Infra Structure) consortium is a collaboration between Volvo Cars, Goteborg Energi, Viktoria Institute and mobile provider Ericsson. Although...

SCI hyMod is a highly innovative modular hybrid concept envisioned by a Romanian team of designers and engineers. hyMod proposes a modular structure that allows the user to select a drive-train depending on what is required. The car buyer can choose between an electric only model which uses a 68 kW electric-drive, and a hybrid alternative, which adds an internal combustion engine offering a...

After confirmation of the Government's Plug-in Van Grant yesterday, several manufacturers released specific details of their eligible models. Among the first to qualify are the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL, the mia electric and Renault's Kangoo Z.E. To qualify, a van must emit less than 75 g/km CO2, be capable of at least 60 miles between charges and more than 50 mph top speed. It must also co...

The Qualifying Low Emission Car Category (QUALEC) is due to be removed from April 6th 2012, resulting in an increase in company car tax for some employers and drivers of company cars. The definition of a QUALEC is a car that has been registered after January 1st 1998 that has CO2 emissions that do not exceed a statutory limit for the tax year – currently 120 g/km. Company car tax...

The first seven vans eligible for the Government's new Plug-in Van Grant have been announced by Transport Secretary Justine Greening and Business Minister Mark Prisk today. Van buyers will be able to receive 20% – up to £8,000 – off the cost of this first wave of seven plug-in vans. At an event today to launch the eligible vans, Justine Greening said, "Our new grant d...

The first generation Renault Zoe will be launched in October this year, however a second edition due in 2014 is expected to have a range more than twice that of the first generation, of around 220 miles. Unlike the Fluence and Kangoo Z.E. models, the Zoe has been designed from scratch to accommodate an electric drivetrain. The first Zoe version will be launched with a 100 mile range, simila...

The low carbon motor show EcoVelocity, is set to be even bigger and better this year, after news that the event has joined forces with the organisers of Grand Designs Live and the shows will run side by side at ExCel London. The company behind the popular Grand Designs Live show and The Ideal Home Show, Media 10, have purchased a majority stake in IGME Ltd, the EcoVelocity organisers. The p...

Peugeot's new ultra-green 208 supermini, which boasts three diesels and one petrol engine under the magic 99 g/km mark and goes on sale in June, makes its UK fleet debut at the EV & Low CO2 Fleet Show at Silverstone on April 18th. Peugeot will also unveil the 508 RXH with its latest ground breaking diesel-electric HYbrid4 technology at the Show to an expected audience of more than 500 f...

Vauxhall's are a particularly popular choice for police cars in the UK – it appears that this is likely to continue, with police interest in the range-extended electric Ampera. Vauxhall has won a competition run by the Association of Chief Police Officers Intelligent Transport Systems (ACPO ITS) by demonstrating that the Ampera can be fitted with cutting-edge crime-fighting technology...

Tesla has released some initial details of their next electric vehicle, the Model X SUV. Although production will not begin until late 2013, reservations are now welcomed by Tesla. The Model X will follow on from the Roaster and Model S as Tesla's third electric vehicle. It has been designed from the bottom up, to blend the best of an SUV with benefits of an MPV, whilst producing zero tailp...

Nissan and Europcar, the leading car hire company in Europe, have announced that as of February, the all-electric Nissan LEAF will be available for short term hire in two of the world's busiest capitals: London and Paris. From February, the 2011 World and European Car of The Year will be available for hire bringing the LEAF to a wider audience. "There are two distinct reasons for joini...

To support London 2012's vision is to be the sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has commissioned ChargePoint Services Ltd (CPS) to supply and install electric vehicle chargers and provide on-going after sales support. CPS will supply 120 GE Energy's DuraStation electric vehicle chargers for the fleet of 200 BMW and MINI ele...

Charge your Car (CYC), the North East's Plugged-in-Places programme, has launched a scheme that will allow all electric vehicle drivers, even those who are not CYC members, to charge their vehicles while travelling throughout the region. Now underway, this is the first Pay-as-you-Go electric vehicle charging scheme to go live in the UK, and will allow electric car owners to access charge po...

Toyota will launch their next hybridized model, the Yaris hybrid, in June. It will debut a lighter and more compact full hybrid system than those used in Prius and Auris models. Inside a modern supermini every inch of space counts – which is why Toyota are being careful that in creating the Yaris hybrid, fitting the new powertrain will not come at the cost of interior space. The ...

There are two diesel variants in BMW's new 3 Series range that offer particularly low CO2 and high fuel economy – the new 320d Saloon with 120 gCO2/km and the 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon with just 109 gCO2/km. The 3 Series Saloon is the heart of the BMW brand, responsible for one-fifth of the company's global sales. By maintaining BMW's performance and build quality reputation, the ...

Major car manufacturers who have pioneered the development and production of electric vehicles, including Renault, Nissan, Peugeot and Citroen, will be backing the one-day EV & Low CO2 Fleet Show event at the world-famous Silverstone circuit in April. They join a growing number of manufacturers, including makers of conventionally powered, low-emission and hybrid vehicles, who are attend...

New TDIe versions of the Audi A5 Coupe and Sportback have made the model particularly efficient, bringing 64.2 mpg potential with CO2 outputs as low as 115 g/km. The 2.0 litre TDIe engines used in the coupe models deliver 163PS, and the Sportback offers a 136PS version with similar attributes. The range is now available with a new cost-effective SE Technik specification, and priced from jus...

One month ahead of UK showroom launch, Renault has delivered its first Fluence Z.E. saloons to London's largest eco-friendly car services, greentomatocars and Climatecars. Each company are receiving two of the five-seat all-electric saloons in metallic silver. The Fluence Z.E. will be London's first 100% electric private hire car with a range of up to 115 miles on a single charge. Toda...

Major fleet operators have been honoured for their green-friendly credentials at a special awards ceremony in Edinburgh. The ECOSTARS Edinburgh launch gave recognition to fleet operators who have achieved five stars for environmental performance, helping reduce carbon emissions and improve Edinburgh's air quality. Highland Explorer Tours, City Circle Coaches, NEXT and DHL were amongst ...

SKODA will present the new Citigo to the public as a five-door version for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in early 2012, offering another fuel efficient and low emission city car to European markets. It is a model very closely based on the Volkswagen Up! and SEAT Mii, and will offer similar engines, with similar fuel consumption figures –c additional features, trim levels and...

Ford's new ultra-efficient, turbocharged, high-tech direct injection 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine goes on sale across the Ford Focus range in the UK, as of next month. This unique EcoBoost engine delivers performance to rival a traditional 1.6-litre engine with significantly improved fuel efficiency and class-leading ultra-low CO2 emissions. The 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine i...

A British-built Auris Hybrid, from Toyota's Burnaston factory in Derbyshire, has taken Toyota to a new sales landmark – their 400,000th hybrid sold in Europe was delivered yesterday (26th January). The vehicle was handed over to Valentine Nkwocha, a company car driver for CTG, an IT company in Belgium. The Auris Hybrid, the first full hybrid power Toyota to be built in Europe, h...

Chevrolet UK has been contacted by 2,500 people "who said they want to talk to us about the Volt," managing director Mark Terry said, adding that he expects there to be more customers than cars, certainly for the foreseeable future. The UK pricing for the range-extended electric Chevrolet Volt was confirmed in 2011 at £28,545, including the Government's £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant ...

The new Kia Rio is available to order now in three door guise for the first time in its history. The new version will be priced from just £9,995 on-the-road. The line-up of engines, trim levels and external dimensions from the five door, that went on sale in September last year, are carried over to 3-door Rio. A coupe-like side profile and a –600 saving, compared to equivalent f...

Honda has announced that they have sold more than 800,000 hybrid vehicles since the first generation Honda Insight hit the road in November 1999. They were the first manufacturer in the world to launch a hybrid model – with the first Insight delivering 83 miles per gallon giving it the highest fuel economy among all petrol powered vehicles at the time. Honda now sells seven hybri...

A Nottinghamshire based printer, RCS Printers plc, is using the 100% electric Nissan LEAF as an integral part of its corporate commitment to reduce energy use and its overall carbon footprint. RCS has purchased six Nissan LEAFs from Lightcliffe Nissan, Halifax, for use by a number of its 120-strong staff, including company founder and managing director Michael Todd. Most importantly, b...

Hyundai has announced full pricing and specification for its new generation five-door i30 hatchback. Due to launch in the UK on 12th March, it will be a very cost effective model to own. With pricing starting at £14,495 on-the-road, CO2 figures from 97 g/km and fuel economy up to 76.3 mpg, the i30 will become the lowest priced hatchback with highest fuel efficiency in the small family...

2012 to 2015 is expected to be the most crucial period for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure market to advance, according to Growth Partnership Company Frost & Sullivan. Central and local Governments will play a crucial role in the development and roll out of a widespread infrastructure, and London is expected to become the European capital of electric vehicles (EVs). A...

Fleet World magazine and the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association are to hold a free one-day event to encourage the uptake of electric and low carbon vehicles, especially into fleets. The EV and Low CO2 Fleet Show is an annual event, and this year will be held at Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire on Wednesday 18th April. Manufacturers including Renault, BMW, Toyota, Lex...

In addition to the long awaited arrival of the Plug-in Prius scheduled for this summer, Toyota will be releasing a new-look Prius hybrid in March, priced from £21,350. Toyota plans to introduce full hybrid technology across its core model range, but in the mean time they will continue to refine the quality, performance and owner-appeal of the Prius – the world's best-known and b...

Transport Minister Norman Baker opened the UK's first DC rapid electric vehicle charger at Midlands printing company RCS this morning. Delivered to RCS in Retford, Nottinghamshire, by power and automation technology group ABB, the government's commitment to ultra-low carbon transport was highlighted by having Norman Baker officially unveil the charging unit. RCS, a fast-growing company...

A ground breaking project to ensure the UK is well positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles has been launched, Business Minister Mark Prisk announced today. The new initiative – UKH2Mobility – brings together three Government Departments and 13 industrial partners from the utility, gas, infrastructure and global car manufacturing sectors. ...

BMW has issued a recall on 235,000 MINI vehicles worldwide – around 30,000 Cooper S and John Cooper Works models in the UK. The concern is an issue with the electric circuit board that makes up part of the water pump. MINI says that it is possible that the electrics could smoulder and potentially catch fire. The vehicles affected are those that were manufactured between March 200...

Van buyers will be able to receive 20% – up to £8,000 – off the cost of a plug-in electric van, Transport Minister Norman Baker and Business Minister Mark Prisk announced today. This is an extension of the Plug-In Car Grant which offers 25% – up to £5000 – to motorists buying a new plug-in car. Ministers have also re-confirmed there is funding secured for...

Following the successful launch of the UK's first eco motor show EcoVelocity in 2011, the show's organisers, IGME, have announced details for year two. The show will move from its inaugural launch location of Battersea Power Station to ExCeL, London – and will run from May 10th through to May 13th 2012. Giles Brown, managing director of organisers IGME Ltd commented, "EcoVelocity...

The new generation SEAT Ibiza will arrive in the UK in the spring – to date, the Ibiza has been SEAT's most successful model. The new line-up will offer a large breadth of variations to meet almost any need, from an ultra-efficient E Ecomotive option to sportier versions and an estate model, all packed with innovative technologies and improved functionality and quality. The Ibiza...

The all-new Kia Optima saloon is set to go on sale in the UK from 1 February, bringing low running costs and emissions as well as high specification levels to the D-segment. Pricing starts at £19,595 on-the-road. Unveiled in 2010 at the New York Auto Show, the Optima has proven to be a global success since day one. It became Korea's top-selling car within a month of going on sale, and...

The North American International Auto Show 2012 (NAIAS) kicked off its press and industry previews this week, with the public show running from 14th until 22nd January. Renowned for being one of the largest car shows worldwide, with over 500 vehicles on display, this year's show has already been reported as being filled with enthusiasm and excitement, especially towards models using cutting...

Vauxhall has opened its order books for the revolutionary Ampera E-REV, and announced full specs and pricing – the first Amperas will arrive in showrooms on May 1st 2012. Details of its 23-strong Ampera dealership network have also been released, but each owner will also be allocated a personal Vauxhall HQ-based customer liaison contact. The Ampera will be offered in three trim l...

Electric vehicle charging manufacturers, POD Point, are celebrating 100,000 miles of electric motoring in the UK thanks to their network of charge points, fuelled by a growing public demand for electric vehicles. The Nissan Leaf may well have led the way in 2011 when it comes to electric vehicles, but 2012 is set to see many more electric models launched from almost all of the world's major...

The first details and pictures of the new Yaris Hybrid have been release by Toyota, ahead of the public debut of the car at the Geneva motor show in March. The new model brings together the practicality and agile handling of Yaris with the high efficiency and refined driving experience of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, currently used in the Prius and Auris models. The Yaris ...

A former Californian lawyer is to take Honda to court after her 2006 Honda Civic hybrid failed to live up to its 50 mpg fuel economy expectations. Heather Peters, from Los Angeles has filed a $10,000 suit against Honda in the small claims court as the hybrid that she bought returned fuel economy figures far from those officially quoted by Honda. Peter's will argue that Honda were e...

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has reported on 2011's new car sales trends, announcing that the average CO2 of new cars has fallen to a record low and sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles have risen. New car demand totalled 1,941,253 units in 2011, which was down 4.4% on 2010 figures but still ahead of sales forecasts for the year. Private sales were down 14.1% ove...

Two of PSA Peugeot Citroen's most popular city cars, the Peugeot 107 and the Citroen C1, will be upgraded for 2012 with both their CO2 emissions falling to 99 g/km. Both models will use a 1.0 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine to lower emissions and improve fuel economy. The result will be that neither model will have to pay London's congestion charge or any VED road tax. To be introduced ...

At the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volvo will unveil an innovative petrol plug-in hybrid, to follow their V60 diesel plug-in hybrid model confirmed for later this year. The Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is an electric car, an economical hybrid and a powerful high-performance car all rolled into one – the driver can switch between power sources at the to...

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has announced that all its franchised dealers are to become fully functioning Mitsubishi Electric Vehicle Centres starting from January 2012. By the end of March 2012, the approved dealerships will have two fully trained EV sales personnel as well as aftersales technicians. The move is particularly exciting as Mitsubishi Motors looks forward to the arrival of its...

New initiatives, stemming from the Mayor's Air Quality Strategy and delivered by Transport for London, were introduced yesterday (3 January), which will deter older heavy duty diesel vehicles from driving in London through changes to the Low Emission Zone (LEZ). The principle aim is to lower particulate matter (tiny airborne particles generated largely from road transport) emissions in the ...

Next Green Car looks ahead to the greenest and most innovative cars due for launch in 2012. In 2012, purchase incentives for plug-in electric vehicles continue to be available, including the Plug-in Car Grant, which is worth up to £5,000 on selected models. The coming year also promises a second electric revolution with the launch of the first two plug-in hybrids, which join the p...

The first three quarters of 2011 witnessed a significant slump in petrol sales in the UK, and the AA has said that this is a trend that is likely to continue into 2012. Petrol sales at the pumps between January and September 2011 totalled 13.9 billion litres – compared with 14.9 billion litres between the same months in 2010 (a fall over over 6%), and 16.3 billion litres in the pre-re...

With the arrival of Kangoo Van Z.E., the first model in Renault's four-strong electric vehicle line-up, the French carmaker has confirmed the first wave of UK dealers for its electric vehicles (EVs). Twenty one electric vehicle sites, branded Z.E. Expert, are now live and ready to offer the full range of sales and after-sales services for Renault's electric vehicle customers, with each one ...

In an exclusive, Next Green Car can reveal the latest sleigh technology being used by Santa's mobility unit to provide as-fast-as-light travel for its present delivery platform. Following the recent breaking research from the Large Hadron Collider at Cern, the European particle physics laboratory near Geneva, evidence is closing in on the Higgs boson, the particle thought to give all other ...

Renault has announced that it will be restructuring its business in the UK, by dropping five combustion engine models and focusing on its electric vehicle range in an attempt to improve profitability. From February 2012, Renault will halt the supply of the conventional Kangoo, Modus, Wind Roadster, Laguna and Espace models and reducing its dealer network by around a third – they will ...

Renault UK is proud to announce that they have made delivery of their first vehicle from the new Zero Emissions (Z.E.) range, a all-electric Kangoo Van. Accepting the keys at Milton Keynes dealership Marshall Renault, one of Renault's 21 Z.E. Expert dealers, printer Patrick Chard is now enjoying silent, zero-emission driving in the first of Renault's electric vehicle range to reach our shor...

In anticipation of their new electric Model S due for US customers in 2012, Tesla are pleased to announce final pricing and options for reservation holders. Due to volatility in global currency rates, UK pricing will not be confirmed until 6 months prior to the start of deliveries here, likely to be in early 2013. However, the US price tag will form a good guide. Rumours were circulati...

Due for UK arrival in spring 2012, Volkswagen's new Up! will come with a five-star Euro NCAP test rating as well as a class leading 1E insurance group rating. It's not just the entry-level £7,995 1.0-litre 60 PS Take Up! that qualifies for the lowest group – both the £8,970 Move Up! and £9,330 Move Up! with BlueMotion Technology are also in group 1E. The Up! is ...

Sewdish car maker Saab has officially filed for bankruptcy, according to a Swedish court. Chinese investors were interested in raising funds to keep Saab in operation, but General Motors (GM), who own part of Saab, did not want the Chinese carmakers having access to its technology licences. Several Chinese companies had expressed an interest in saving the troubled brand, but the inter...

Ecotricity, leading green electricity provider, has installed a network of electric vehicle charging stations in motorway service stations, making it possible to travel between major cities without running out of power. The 'electric highway' officially opens this weekend, and will initially link London, Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and the Lake District. Ecotricity ha...

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has won a prestigious award for his efforts in promoting electric vehicles. The world's largest network of professional motor industry communicators, MIPAA Limited, presents its annual Chairman's Award to recognise an outstanding contribution to public relations. The accolade has previously been received by Robert Llewellyn, Chris Evans, Ken Gibson, Lord...

Siemens, the global engineering and technology giant, has chosen Nissan LEAFs to become the first electric vehicles on its UK fleet. Three Nissan LEAFs are now in use as employee pool cars at the Siemens Industrial Turbo Machinery business in Lincolnshire – with a further seven vehicles to be used at other UK locations, including its new Renewable Engineering Centre in Manchester. ...

A prototype zero-emission all-electric Nissan NV200 delivery vehicle is ready to start extensive real-world testing on the streets of London. FedEx Express and Nissan are collaborating over a two month period to evaluate how the NV200 electric vehicle (EV) prototype copes with the rigours of daily duties in the capital. The Nissan NV200 EV prototype uses the same EV powertrain and batt...

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid and is Volvo's most technically advanced model ever – an electric, hybrid and performance car all rolled into one. The indicative price of the V60 is starting at between £45,000 and £50,000 in the UK, minus the Government's Plug-in car grant that it will qualify for on launch. Sales get under way ...

The future looks bright for North East England's low carbon vehicle industry, thanks to the development of a new company set up to oversee the growth of the sector. Gateshead College has established a new company; Zero Carbon Futures, to deliver a range of local and national programmes all geared up to advance the region as a European leader in the production of low carbon vehicles. This fo...

An announcement has been made by Transport Minister Mike Penning which has confirmed that learner drivers will finally be allowed to drive on motorways, with their instructors, before having passed their tests. The decision was made as part of an attempt to reduce motorway accidents among young drivers. Mr Penning says that it is wrong that drivers are suddenly allowed to drive alone on mot...

When most people hear the words 'fuel cell', they think of eco-friendly, hydrogen-powered cars that emit nothing more than water. And that, says Professor Eric Wachsman, director of the University of Maryland Energy Research Center (UMERC), is one of the reasons we're all not driving one. The US Department of Energy's (DOE) recent decisions about how to fund fuel cell research, he says...

A new electric car rental scheme has gone live in Paris this week – the new Autolib system allows you to rent a vehicle in a similar way to London's 'Boris Bikes' scheme. The project went live on Monday with 250 electric vehicles. The small EVs are called 'Bluecars'; 4-seater pure electric citycars that can be docked at a number of bays around Paris, each equipped with charging facili...

Toyota has named British Gas as its preferred supplier of electric vehicle charging points, ahead of introducing the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid to the UK market in 2012. British Gas will be offering Toyota customers – both private and business buyers – a range of products and services for safe, convenient and efficient vehicle recharging, designed to suit individual needs and pref...

The new British-built Avensis makes its entrance sporting Toyota's 2.0 litre D-4D engine with CO2 emissions reduced to 119 g/km and fuel economy raised to 61.4 mpg. Along with new styling, extra equipment and improved ride comfort, the improved efficiency bring with it reduced running costs making it a likely attractive option for both private and business users. The revised engine sup...

Volvo has announced the latest step in its 'DRIVe towards Zero' emissions strategy with the launch of an automatic gearbox option in four Volvo DRIVe models – the S60, V60, V70 and the S80. For the first time, these DRIVe models can now be ordered with Volvo's Powershift dual-clutch automatic gearbox. There will be no compromise on environmental care or economy as the automatic gearbo...

Production of the all-electric LEAF and its batteries at Nissan's Sunderland plant will be supported by a £189 million investment from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The development of the LEAF and its electric batteries represent a £420 million investment by Nissan, and expected to maintain 2,250 jobs at Nissan and across the UK supply chain. Nissan has also already receiv...

In his Spending Review, the Chancellor today deferred the 3.02 pence per litre (ppl) fuel duty increase that was due to take effect on 1st January 2012 until August 2012. The inflation increase that was due for August 2012 will also be cancelled – this was expected to be worth 1.92 ppl. This will mean that there will only be one RPI increase during 2012. There will also be a 5 pp...

A survey conducted by the AA questioned over 16,000 of their members to reveal the likely effects that the proposed fuel duty rise will have on motoring habits. The Government have planned two fuel duty rises for next year, with VAT adding 8p to petrol and diesel pump prices – the survey suggests that this will force many households to abandon or delay spending on household goods, hom...

Elektromotive, the Brighton-based electric vehicle charging point manufacturer, is urging the Government to continue offering the Plug-In Car Grant to buyers of electric vehicles into the next parliamentary session. The £5,000 incentive, available to motorists buying EVs such as the Nissan LEAF, is due for review in early 2012, but after a slow year of UK new car sales, there is conce...

Chargemaster's installation of their POLAR electric vehicle recharging network is now well under way – set to be one of the largest networks in the world with 4,000 public points supplemented by hundreds of home charging units. Around 40 points have been designated for 100 of the largest towns in the UK, all expected to be fully operational by the end of 2012. This will significantly ...

Jaguar Land Rover has won SMMT's 2011 Award for Automotive Innovation for its prototype Range_e – the world's first luxury Plug-in Hybrid Electric 4X4 with integrated V6 diesel engine. The system, first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, has been hailed by the auto industry as the most significant achievement of the year in UK research and development for the global market. ...

Peugeot has delivered an iOn to the idyllic islands of Orkney, making it the most northerly all-electric car in Britain. In a drive to cut fuel bills and reduce emissions, Orkney Island Council has become the latest Scottish authority to boost its fleet with one. And, as the success of the electric car grows and its capabilities become more widely recognised, the Leader of the Council ...

There is a groundswell of opinion which says that fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions should not be the only factors taken into account when deciding if a car is 'green' – a view fully supported by Next Green Car. The energy needed to make it and its fuel, and the number of parts which can be recycled at the end of its life, are also factors that should be taken into consideration...

A new report from the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) suggests that the UK is not on track to reach its renewable transport fuel targets. The study concludes that significant investment into new generation biofuels is essential if targets are to be met. New technologies – like gasification and pyrolysis – allow biofuels to be made from a wide range of sustainable ma...

With a number of diesel-hybrid models to be launched in 2012, the HMRC has confirmed that diesel-hybrids will not incur the 3% Benefit in Kind (BIK) rate surcharge that all other diesel models receive. The 3% levy cannot apply to diesel hybrids because the ITEPA 2003 regulatory document that controls company car tax defines a 'diesel car' as being 'propelled solely by diesel'. This wi...

In response to new data sets and the imminent launch of new technology plug-in hybrids, we have updated our fuel and technology database, and redesigned the way we present our Green Car Rating information. This update will enable us to show you more information on each model page, including the emissions and environmental impacts using different fuels. For example, the Nissan LEAF mod...

The Nissan LEAF completed the 60-mile Brighton to London RAC Future Car Challenge route whilst using just £1.83 worth of energy – helping it to win two awards on the day. Competing against 49 other cars, the Nissan LEAF won 'The Best Overall Vehicle on Sale at Time of Event' for its low energy consumption, as well as the 'Most Energy Efficient Regular Production Car'. Accor...

Leaders in the drive to cut carbon emissions from road transport have been announced at a prestigious ceremony in London. The LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards recognise best practice in key areas from vehicle manufacturing and fleet operation to the development of products and services that reduce greenhouse gases from road transport operations. The winners were announced at the ...

Volvo is backing the House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee's call for a Government public awareness campaign to educate people about the action they could take to improve air quality, and ultimately their health. In 2010, Volvo launched its Emissions Equality campaign, dedicated to educating motorists about the wider picture of car emissions, rather than just CO2 alone. It i...

SEAT is working on its first electric car, which will be designed and manufactured in Spain. The firm is unveiling the prototype Altea XL Electric Ecomotive, a totally electrically-driven zero-emissions car, as well as the prototype Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive, a plug-in hybrid. Over the next few months the Spanish car maker will make available units of both models to government institutions i...

Qualcomm Incorporated, world leader in 3G and next generation mobile technologies, has announced the first Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) trial for London, in what is a UK and industry-leading initiative. Qualcomm is collaborating with the UK Government, as well as the Mayor of London's office and Transport for London (TfL) to deliver the trial, which is expected to begin early n...

Citroen has announced the introduction of its most CO2 efficient conventionally powered model to date – the new C3 e-HDi 70 Airdream EGS VTR+. With emissions of just 87 g/km and combined cycle economy of 83.1 mpg, this new version of the C3 supermini is now Citroen's most fuel and CO2 efficient diesel powered car, ranking it amongst the very best in its class. First displayed at...

Nissan is accelerating plans for a European-wide Quick Charge network for electric vehicles by giving away 400 new quick charging stations free of charge. These new points will boost existing networks and give electric vehicle customers greater freedom and flexibility by effectively extending the range of their car. Countries across Europe have been asked to pitch for a charging networ...

Toyota has won the 2011 Green Manufacturing Award in recognition of the outstanding environmental achievements of its European operations. The honour has been presented to Toyota Motor Europe, the company which controls Toyota's Burnaston and Deeside plants, at the fifth annual Strategic Manufacturing Awards ceremony by the World Trade Group. The award recognises the best performance i...

Next Green Car successfully completed this year's RAC Future Car Challenge co-driving Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell powered Highlander from Brighton to London. Next Green Car would like to thank Toyota for allowing us to drive their fuel cell model at the RAC's Future Car Challenge. The event, which was held on Saturday, was a great success with more than 60 green cars completing the 60 mile ...

Next Green Car will be taking part in this year's RAC Future Car Challenge, driving a hydrogen fuel cell powered Toyota Highlander 60 miles from Brighton to London. Taking place this Saturday, November 5th, over 60 cars have confirmed their attendance, making the event the largest low carbon vehicle rally in the UK. The winner of the event will be the vehicle which uses the least amount of ...

Only a third of councils surveyed by the RAC Foundation say they have installed public charging points for electric vehicles, and the promotion of green vehicles varies significantly between local authorities. Even the most progressive authorities are only using a fraction of the powers available to them to encourage drivers to use low and ultra-low carbon cars. The survey of councils ...

Clean vehicle technology specialist Zytek has won a £1.35 million grant from the UK Government's Regional Growth Fund to support the development of an Electric Powertrain Technologies Centre. Based at the company's technical centre in Staffordshire (UK), the new facility will create 44 jobs developing low carbon technologies for the automotive and other industries. "Zytek has man...

Peugeot will launch an all-new model into the supermini segment in the UK next spring – a super efficient model that will be available in both 3 and 5-door options. The Peugeot 208 is expected to follow on from successful predecessors, namely the iconic 205, 206 and 207 models. With an ambitious specification overhaul, the 208 will represent a true generation leap. By achieving a...

Imagine: You're in a dealership selecting a new car and you sit down with the salesperson to talk through the benefits of clean diesels and hybrids. It's really important, you remind them, that you get the spec right as you want to cut your fuel costs and emissions. What is your reaction to being told that the only fuel use and CO2 data is the average shown on the Fuel Economy Label with n...

North East England has welcomed the announcement of a £6.2 million boost to the low carbon vehicle economy of the region, through the Government's Regional Growth Fund. At the core of the bid is a plan to create 1,500 apprenticeships in the low carbon vehicle sector, with the aim of securing a positive future in an industry that is already flourishing in the region. The Regional ...

In 2010, Kia was one of seven manufacturers to sign an agreement to make hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) vehicles commercially available by the middle of this decade. Being able to make its own electricity on the move whilst emitting no CO2 and offering a long driving range, fuel-cell vehicles are regarded as the solution for a zero-emission future. Hydrogen cars are one strand of Kia's alte...

2011 was expected to become the 'year of the electric car' here in the UK, with the Government's £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant thought to have sparked a boom in EV sales. However, recent figures from the Department for Transport have shown that the uptake of EVs has been slowing, suggesting that consumer interest may have already peaked. The Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) only...

By introducing the CT 200h into their line-up, Lexus has been able to report a reduction in average CO2 of more than 22% over the last year. The CT 200h was the world's first premium compact car with a hybrid drivetrain, and has significantly helped Lexus achieve the sharpest fall in average CO2 emissions compared to any other car manufacturer in the UK. The latest 'cleangreencars' ind...

Nissan Motor Company today announced its new six-year environmental plan, Nissan Green Program 2016 (NGP 2016). Their new strategy will focus on three areas: reduction of carbon footprint, shift to renewable energy and an increase in the diversity of resources used by Nissan. NGP 2016 represents the pillar of sustainability in Nissan's Blue Citizenship, the company's strategic platform...

In 2009, Kia introduced the EcoDynamics programme to their model range – the sub-brand highlights Kia's commitment to manufacture good value, practical cars with reduced environmental impact. EcoDynamics is a green umbrella for a range of technologies. Ultimately it will lead to alternative-fuel cars with zero tailpipe emissions, a process that is already under-way. Battery electric K...

The Economist has awarded their 2011 'Energy and the Environment' Award to Chetan Maini, co-founder of REVA Electric Vehicle Company from Bangalore, India. Chetan Maini co-founded the REVA Electric Vehicle Company in Bangalore in 1994. The company built the first electric vehicle in India and in 2004 then started to export them to the UK under the well-known G-Wiz brand. Maini has bee...

The EU's legally binding CO2 targets, whereby all new cars sold in Europe in 2015 should emit no more than 130 g/km on average, means that manufacturers are concentrating on tailpipe CO2 reduction. The targets extend to a 95 g/km threshold by 2020. Volvo Car Corporation tops the tables among European carmakers when it comes to CO2 reductions. This is shown in the sixth annual analysis condu...

More than 60 cars are confirmed for the RAC's Future Car Challenge from Brighton to London on Saturday 5 November 2011 – one of which will be driven by Next Green Car. Recent additions include two Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 diesel development cars entered via Robert Bosch GB and What Car?. Peugeot UK has also entered a Peugeot 508 e-HDi (one of the lowest CO2 emissions upper-medium sized ca...

Citroen's first ever hybrid model, the DS5 will full hybrid diesel technology, is to make its UK premiere at Top Gear Live at the NEC Birmingham and ExCel London venues. Taking place in November, this will be the public's first opportunity to meet the hybrid DS5, likely to be a popular choice in 2012 for CO2 conscious customers. In the first quarter of 2012, the DS5 hybrid will launch ...

Justine Greening replaces Phillip Hammond as Secretary of State for Transport, as Hammond becomes Defence Secretary following Liam Fox's recent resignation. Greening, previously Treasury Economic Secretary, is MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, and becomes the 14th Transport Secretary in the last 23 years. Although Greening is yet to comment upon any transport propositions, she...

Offering improved performance, efficiency and lower fuel consumption, the new twin dry clutch semi-automatic transmission, ALFA TCT, is available on the five-door Alfa Giulietta hatchback. Introducing this new transmission technology into the Giulietta has labelled the C segment model as the lowest CO2 emitting car of any petrol engine vehicle in its class. Equipped with the next-gene...

BMW have announced that the sixth generation of their 3 Series model will go on sale in February 2012 – the popular 3 Series alone currently represents 20% of the company's global sales. Although just four versions will be available from launch, additional engines will be added to result in BMW offering eight versions of the 3 Series saloon with CO2 emissions at or below 120 g/km, in...

Building upon the success of Paris's popular Velib bike rental scheme, and by extension our Boris Bikes scheme, the City of Lights could soon become the City of Electric Cars. An innovative new electric car rental scheme has recently launched in France's capital. Known as Autolib (short for 'automobile' and 'liberte'), a fleet of electric bubble-shaped 'Bluecars' have been deployed in Paris...

Lucky Metro reader Nicola Ahmed has today taken delivery of her new pure electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Nicola won the car in a recent competition in conjunction with the Metro newspaper and was handed over by our North West approved Mitsubishi EV dealer, Manchester Mitsubishi. Nicola, aged 22 from Cheshire, completed an online competition, which ran from May to September. Readers were as...

While studies suggest that that 80% of all EV charging will either be done at home or at the workplace, the lack of publicly available fast charging points continues to deter car buyers from considering the electric option. A new prouct from npower aims to remove this this potential barrier by providing a cost-effective charger for on-street and off-road use. The 'combi-station juice...

Other than 'range anxiety', probably the next largest drawback of today's electric vehicles is the amount of time it takes to charge up the batteries – even a DC rapid charger takes 30 minutes to deliver an 80% charge. However, Nissan and Japan's Kansai University have announced that they have developed super-rapid charging system that could charge up an electric vehicle in just 10 mi...

Hyper-milers taking part in the 2011 ALD Automotive/Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon have once again demonstrated that the use of smarter driving techniques can indeed save a considerable amount of money at the fuel pumps. The highly competitive annual economy driving event, now in its eleventh year, aims to get motorists thinking about the way they drive, and the impact this has on their vehicl...

The new Volkswagen Up! is now available to order; a city specialist that will be arriving in UK showrooms in spring 2012. The OTR pricing starts at £7,995 and rises to £11,180 for the higher specification. First seen at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, the Up! is an entirely new city car that will be available with a choice of two petrol engines as well as with Volkswagen's eff...

New evidence suggests that the recent government-backed MINI E trials have generated a significant amount of consumer interest in environmentally friendly vehicles. A popular motoring website, Autotrader.co.uk, revealed that there was a sudden 8% increase in searches for greener vehicles at the time of the trials, compared to the previous month. The month-on-month rise in searches coin...

A car dealership and fleet management company has become the first business in the UK to train its workers in a potentially life-saving new electric vehicle (EV) qualification. Vic Young Group, in South Shields, South Tyneside, is the first automotive company to complete a BTEC Level 2 in EV Hazard Management. The course teaches mechanics and engineers how to safely maintain and repair EVs ...

Nissan has added another six locations to the network of dealerships equipped to sell and service the 100% electric Nissan LEAF, the reigning European Car of the Year. The dealerships have been appointed to further improve the regional coverage for LEAF customers in the UK, and take the number of Nissan EV dealers to 32. These new dealers will be the first in the UK to install the new,...

Little Chef, the iconic chain of road-side restaurants, is to roll out electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the UK, in what is the largest deployment of charging points by any restaurant chain worldwide. The new infrastructure is being developed in a partnership with SSE, a generator of renewable energy and Chargemaster, a provider of EV charging technology. The new points bei...

SEAT is unveiling the all-new Mii city car, expected to be a practical, fun and efficient solution to urban driving. If you think you have seen it before, you are probably thinking of Volkswagen's Up! model revealed at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. The Mii is similar, only with SEAT's added Spanish flair. Spain, SEAT's home market, will begin sales of the Mii before the end of the ...

BMW announces the launch of the new ActiveHybrid 5 model for February 2012, a petrol-electric saloon based on the 5 Series. The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 delivers similar performance to a 535i, but with 16% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions – meaning that it sits 6 bands lower in the benefit-in-kind company car tax scale. The new model features intelligent energy management to ma...

The government is planning to raise the motorway speed limit from 70 mph to 80 mph, expected to be enforced from 2013. The Transport secretary, Philip Hammond, believes that increasing the 50 year old speed limit will generate economic benefit by shortening journey times. Most motorists (apparently) welcome the announcement, and with 49% of drivers already regularly travelling over 70 ...

The manufacture of a liquid fuel using only air, water and renewable energy is to be demonstrated here in the UK by Air Fuel Synthesis. Taking hydrogen from rainwater and mixing it with carbon dioxide from the air around us to create a fuel for existing vehicles represents a huge step towards reducing the world's carbon footprint and finding a green alternative for declining fossil oil supp...

Last Saturday, three cars and crews took part in a trial run for the 2011 RAC Future Car Challenge. The second consecutive year of the event, to take place on Saturday 5 November, serves as a public showcase for low-energy vehicles to demonstrate their eco credentials. The trial run was an opportunity for three crews, comprising entrants and members of the organising team, to reconnoitre th...

Last week, European automobile manufacturers defined a comprehensive set of recommendations to standardise the charging of electric vehicles – a joint industry proposal that will enable the use of one plug type independent of car manufacturer, electricity provider or country. Standardisation of the connection between the electricity grid and electrically-chargeable vehicles is one of ...

Automotive researcher Trend Tracker's new Car Buyer Brand Perceptions 2011 study, of a nationally representative sample of 12,000 motorists, tracks the criteria on which buyers choose individual brands, and the size, type and cost of car they intend to buy next. Among the criteria investigated are carbon emissions, and the type of engine consumers' next car is likely to have. The results ma...

The newly designed third generation electric smart fortwo ED, recently shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, will be available in the UK from spring 2012. The new version has been heavily revised from the previous fortwo ED (electric drive) model, with greater performance and additional range among other refinements. The revisions have been largely driven by response to extensive customer...

The new Plug-in Prius will cost less than £31,000 when sales start in the first half of 2012. This headline figure does not take into account Government funding through the Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicle grant scheme that will reduce the price of the Plug-in Prius to the customer by £5,000. The pricing is competitive compared to the latest electric and plug-in hybrid models on th...

A new report published in the British Medical Journal concludes that some traffic emissions can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack for up to six hours. The report identifies particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) as being the most harmful pollutants, both which are expelled by vehicles and contribute significantly to urban air pollution. The study does say ...

Nissan has teamed up with leading utility and electrical vehicle supply equipment companies to speed development of cheaper, smaller, quick chargers for electric vehicles. The primary intention is to reduce the costs of rapid DC charging units, and to accelerate the installation of publicly-available Quick Charge (QC) points in the UK and across Europe. This agreement between Nissan, C...

The UK's first public hydrogen vehicle refuelling station has been officially opened at Honda's manufacturing facility in Swindon. Built and operated by industrial gases company BOC, the venture is the result of a partnership between Honda, BOC and economic development company Forward Swindon. The new station is open to anyone developing or using hydrogen-powered vehicles. It can fill ...

Next Green Car is sponsoring the 'Low Carbon Road Transport Initiative of the Year 2011' award; one of a total of nine awards that are to be presented. As one of the sponsors of the LowCVP's second Low Carbon Champion Awards, Next Green Car is proud to support and encourage progression in the low carbon transport sector. Held in association with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (I...

Statistics released by nationwide electric vehicle charging specialist POD Point have revealed that the IKEA store in Wembley, North London, is their most popular Source London charger. Drivers took advantage of over 157 hours of charging time across 32 POD Points in the Source London network during August, but the IKEA store topped the usage chart with over 18 hours of charging. Surpr...

Global car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that a new £355 million engine plant will be constructed in Wolverhampton. The announcement is good news for the local economy, and it is suspected that the plant will generate up to 750 new jobs for local inhabitants. Jaguar Land Rover have secured around a £10 million financial support package from the Government, as...

One of the world's newest car companies, Fisker, will introduce its first models in the UK soon through a dealership in London – but it plans to expand when right hand drive versions arrive from 2014. The Fisker Karma is a luxury sports saloon equipped with an electric motor and a range extender. Similarly to the Vauxhall Ampera range extended vehicle, the wheels are solely driven by ...

TomTom and Renault have launched their first in-dash navigation system at the Frankfurt Motor Show – it is specifically designed for electric vehicles and will be fitted as standard to the Fluence Z.E. The system is intended to reduce 'range anxiety' by monitoring battery charge alongside journey details. The driver can then be informed about the nearest charging station if necessary....

Low Carbon Expo 2011, the first low carbon exhibition ever to be held in Wales, takes place at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on 16-17 September. Bringing together businesses and consumers under one roof, over 2,000 visitors are expected to benefit from free guidance as well as exclusive discounts, coupons and prizes offered from over 100 companies expected to be exhibiting. Next Green Car i...

Vauxhall have unveiled their new concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which is expected to revolutionise emission-free urban transport, especially for younger drivers. The RAK e concept will open a new chapter for Vauxhall's electric mobility plans – the focus of the concept concentrates on minimal energy costs and weight – and is particularly aimed at young teenage drivers....

Held at the Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire on 7th-8th September, POD Point revealed three new developments in their revolutionary POD Point technology. These included their first communicated charge unit for the home, the first Mennekes wall unit and their new fast charge unit for public networks. All three innovations are a leap forward in making life easier for EV car ...

The UK motor show dedicated to electric and ultra-low carbon vehicles is now well under way, after having been officially opened by Boris Johnson on Thursday. Next Green Car visited the iconic Battersea Power Station to see what the show had to offer. The most exciting feature for many is the test drive track, circling the show's perimeter. This is available for free to anyone who wishes to...

The Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a network of new charge points will support the Olympic and Paralympic electric vehicle fleet – points that, after the Games, will boost the growing Source London electric network. To coincide with London's largest consumer green vehicle show, EcoVelocity, annual membership for Source London will be discounted from £100 to £10 for thos...

The new Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4, the world's first full diesel hybrid is now available to pre-order with full prices and specifications announced for this multi-award winning vehicle. This environmentally friendly car introduces a combination of diesel and electric power, a real breakthrough in technology that delivers reduced cost of ownership. HYbrid4 technology delivers low CO2 and hig...

This year's Low Carbon Vehicle event (LCV2011) began today and will continue tomorrow (September 8th) at Rockingham Race Circuit in Corby. It is set to demonstrate Northamptonshire's expertise and potential as a world leader in the low carbon vehicle sector. Hosted by the UK's Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies (Cenex), the fourth annual event is being held for t...

The total cost of owning an electric or hydrogen vehicle is unlikely to approach that of a conventional car for another 15-20 years, according to a new study from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP). The report found that, while total vehicle owning costs are expected to change significantly with the introduction of lower carbon technologies, most zero-emission vehicles will continu...

Dr Ben Lane of Next Green Car will today be taking questions live on all issues related to the environmental impact of electric cars. The third of six Q&A sessions are part of 'Electric Vision', a web-based discussion forum created by The Guardian newspaper in association with Renault, which focuses upon all aspects of electric cars. This week's live Q&A will be entitled 'Consumer att...

Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers need to cut prices if they want to energise the market, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has warned. According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today, just 812 buyers have taken up the Government's £5000 Plug-In-Car Grant so far this year, suggesting that EVs are still too expensi...

Skoda has begun production of a 10 car trial fleet of its first ever fully electric car – the Octavia E Line – trials will begin this Autumn. It is the next step in Skoda's continued efforts to reduce emissions and consumption levels throughout the company. The Octavia Green E Line is based on the series-production Octavia Estate, as its modular floor pan design is ideal in...

NILS, a single-seat electric concept vehicle that offers a glimpse of a new form of minimalist mobility, has been unveiled ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. This concept car – which features an aluminium space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels – has dynamic performance whilst travelling silently, with zero emissions. "NILS anti...

London is to play host to the eco-motor show, EcoVelocity – a green motoring festival packed with the very latest no compromise, hi-tech and ultra low carbon vehicles. The 4-day event runs from Thursday September 8 to Sunday September 11 and will be staged in the grounds of the iconic Battersea Power Station. EcoVelocity will see car makers showcase their latest green models and ...

Ford has announced that they will unveil a new concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month – the Ford Evos Concept will be a plug-in hybrid with a lithium-ion battery unit. The Evos will be the ultimate expression of Ford's new global design language, and explores key future powertrain and vehicle interaction technologies. Created as a bespoke concept vehicle, the Ev...

Elektromotive is to provide five of its innovative Elektrobay electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for GreenFleet Scotland taking place today. As 'Recharging Technology Partner', Elektromotive will be responsible for keeping more than 20 EVs fully charged between test drives around the showground, including the Vauxhall Ampera and Nissan Leaf. GreenFleet Scotland, which takes place ...

Siemens have joined forces with Volvo and intend to advance the technical development of electric cars through extensive strategic cooperation. In terms of electric vehicles, Volvo will start small-scale production of the Volvo C30 Electric later this year, and the company will start selling the V60 Plug-in Hybrid next year. The focus of the partnership will be on the development of el...

Home energy advisors working for E.ON will be driving new Ford Fiesta 1.6-litre TDCi ECOnetic hatchbacks this year, thanks to a new delivery of 340 cars. These fuel-efficient, low-CO2 models provide much improved transport for the consultants, who advise and help customers to save money and be more energy efficient. E.ON is amongst the leading green energy providers in the UK, and curr...

Peugeot has announced that they will be deploying their diesel-electric hybrid technology on the 508 RXH – following on from its first use in the 3008 HYbrid4 model, on sale later this year. Peugeot will also be unveiling the HX1, a concept car which has had environmental issues leading its design and development. The 508 RXH will be the third model in the accomplished 508 range....

Euro NCAP are continuing to test plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles for crash safety, and have revealed that the Vauxhall Ampera achieved the top score of five stars. A further nine models were also tested by Euro NCAP recently, the Audi A6, BMW X3, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Orlando, Citroen DS5, Hyundai i40, Volkswagen Golf Cabrolet, Volkswagen Jetta and the Kia Picanto – all recei...

International electricity and gas company, National Grid, has taken delivery of four Nissan LEAFs on a four year/40,000 mile lease contract. They will act as pool cars for National Grid staff who are delivering a project over the next eight years to construct tunnels that will house a new high voltage electric cabling network for London. The 100% electric Nissan LEAF will be used aroun...

With the production of electrified vehicles gearing up all over the world, Pike Research have predicted that global cumulative sales will reach 5.2 million units by 2017. Carmakers are rapidly launching hybrids (HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery electric (BEVs) – technologies that are expected to represent an increasing portion of the total vehicle market. In 2011, less ...

Volvo's fuel saving start-stop technology, which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 8%, has been added to six-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox models for the first time. To begin with, the start-stop technology is available as standard in four models – the S60, V60, V70 and S80. All four models are available to order now with no change to existing prices. The start-stop technology ...

The new 4th generation Rio goes on sale in the UK on 1st September and continues Kia's roll-out of models with lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. By 2012 Kia aims to have the newest product line-up on offer in the UK. The arrival of the new Rio, and for the first time as a three-door from early 2012, will help Kia reach that ambition. The new Kia Rio will be available with four...

Electric vehicle charge point provider, POD Point, have been heavily involved in the recent launch of Source East – the government's initiative to boost the provision of EV charge points in the region. The East of England is one of eight regions to receive funding for electric vehicle charging as part of the Government's Plugged-in-Places scheme, which will give drivers unlimited acce...

Ethanol refined from corn is by far the most common form of biofuel used in the US – however, a new $510 million (£311m) plan could give next generation fuels a chance. Barack Obama has announced that the fund will be used to help construct new refineries throughout the mid-west that can be used to produce fuel from wood chips, grasses and corn cobs. Obama commented, "B...

Daimler has announced that the third generation of the smart fortwo Electric Drive (ED) will be available from spring 2012 – a five-figure number of vehicles will be manufactured in Hanbach, France. Following the success of the second generation fortwo, the new and enhanced ED model will be made globally available to more than 30 different countries. A 55 kW electric motor, drive...

Vauxhall is set to unveil two new cars at this year's Frankfurt Show, in addition to the surprise debut of an experimental car that will emphasise the company's passion for driver-focused vehicles. The Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer will each receive their world debuts on Vauxhall's show stand on September 13. Vauxhall will also be showing a series production Ampera, which will soon appear in ...

Following on from the successful i10 Blue launched at the beginning of the year, Hyundai has now added another sub-100 g/km CO2 model to its range – the i20 Blue. With emissions of just 98 g/km CO2, it is the lowest emitting vehicle in Hyundai UK's product line-up. The i20 Blue is based on the current i20 Comfort trim level with the 1.4 CRDi 90 PS engine and is priced at £13,195...

Following on from the recent launch of the all-new Picanto city car, Kia is introducing a three-door version to the line-up for the first time since the model appeared in 2004. The new three-door Picanto will go on sale in the UK from 1st September, and is available with CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km meaning that it will qualify for Congestion Charge exemption in London and free VED road ta...

Toyota will debut the production version of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 15th September. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid represents the latest development of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system, which has proved a reliable technology with over two million cars sold worldwide. The new Prius Plug-in will become the flagship of the Prius ...

Low Carbon Expo 2011, the first low carbon exhibition to be held in Wales, will be held at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on 16-17 September – bringing businesses and consumers together under one roof, over 3,000 visitors are expected. Exhibitors will be showcasing energy-saving products and services as well as offering education and advice, interactive workshops and live demonstrations. Ov...

Many of the world's major car, commercial vehicle and public service vehicle manufacturers will join a record number of technology and infrastructure businesses showcasing products at LCV 2011, the UK's leading low carbon vehicle event. LCV 2011 takes place at Rockingham Race Circuit, in Northamptonshire, and is hosted by Cenex, the Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell technol...

Nissan's all-electric LEAF has provided the crucial last element in an innovative business owner's attempts to become entirely self-sufficient on the remote Hebridean island of Islay. The award-winning 130-year old Bruichladdich whisky distillery uses a pioneering 'Biowayste' system, allowing it to generate its own electricity using waste products from the distilling process. Business ...

Britain's most popular economy driving event, the MPG Marathon, returns to Britain's roads again this year – taking place on the 5th and 6th October. Competitors in the MPG Marathon will have the chance to test their economy driving skills around a 380-mile route, which both starts and finishes at the Four Pillars Hotel, South Cerney, near Cirencester. With an ever stronger empha...

Hyundai has embarked on the next stage of its evolution with the launch of the D-segment i40 Tourer, the first of a wave new products expected from the South Korean manufacturer. Over the next 18 months there will be 13 new or revised models brought to the UK market, by which time the ix35 will be the oldest Hyundai in the line-up and that was only introduced in April last year. The i4...

Nissan has released the prices for its new Micra DIG-S – the range starts at £11,150 on the road for the 1.2 DIG-S 98 PS Visia version, available from 1st September 2011. Representing the latest in low-emission engine technology, the DIG-S (Direct Injection Gasoline – Supercharged) offers the performance of a bigger petrol engine but with the fuel economy of a diesel. Th...

Following its debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover is using the RAC Future Car Challenge as the first opportunity to showcase three of its Range_e concept models in the UK. The RAC Future Car Challenge is to take place on Saturday 5 November 2011 – the aim of the event is to travel 60 miles between Brighton and London in a vehicle whilst using the least energy possible...

Following the recent Top Gear feature which highlighted the lack of charging infrastructure in Lincoln, Nissan is to fund the installation of the city's first public electric vehicle charging points. In the television programme, presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May drove a pair of electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, into the centre of Lincoln in an attempt to find somewhere to...

Understanding how electric cars are driven in the real world has taken an important step forward with the release of data from the MINI E field trial in the UK. With 62 public participants and 76 pool users running the battery-powered MINI over two six-month periods, the Government-supported trial is the most in-depth of its kind to publish its findings. An enormous amount of data was ...

President Obama has announced a historic agreement with thirteen major automakers to pursue the next phase in the Administration's national vehicle program, increasing fuel economy to 54.5 miles per US gallon for cars and light-duty trucks by Model Year 2025 – equivalent to 65.4 mpg (UK). The President was joined by Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar/Land Rover, Kia, Mazd...

Nominations are now invited for the LowCVP's second Low Carbon Champions Awards which will be presented at a gala reception to take place on November 14th in London. This year's LowCVP Awards are being held in association with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). The deadline for nominations for these prestigious Awards is Friday 30 September. There are seven categories of ...

Mercedes-Benz Retail Group is reducing its carbon footprint through a new 'Green Dealer' initiative, designed to make its retail sites more environmentally-friendly. The scheme has been pioneered at Mercedes-Benz Watford through a project looking at the lighting, air conditioning and building management system currently in place. Since the Green Dealer project was launched three months...

Electric car owners in the North East are taking advantage of two recently installed rapid chargers – one at the Metrocentre shopping centre and one at Dalton Park outlet store. The 50kw rapid chargers are funded by the North East's Plugged-in-Places programme 'Charge your Car' and installed by SWITCH EV's VINCI Energies engineers. They are capable of recharging cars such as the ...

Next Green Car today announces the winners of the Next Green Car Awards 2011, the most scientifically-based Green Car Awards in the UK. Awards are given for eight vehicle classes and a new 'Next Generation' category, which includes new technology models close to market launch. An overall winner is also awarded the title of Next Green Car 'Gold Award' 2011. The winners of the Next Gre...

Toyota is the world's greenest brand, according to a new global survey from the international brand consultancy Interbrand. The first Best Global Green Brands, published this week, takes into account environmental performance coupled with public perception of a brand’s environmental sustainability to produce a Green Performance Score. Based on data collected from the world's le...

ChargePoint Services has announced a partnership with green energy supplier Ecotricity to install the world's first national network of EV charge points powered solely by natural energy resources. The free-to-use EV charge points are being installed at 27 motorway service stations owned by Welcome Break. Each charge point will provide both 3 pin and 7 pin sockets offering single and 3 phas...

Interim findings from Toyota and EDF Energy's demonstration of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) in London give encouraging, real-world data that show the technology can deliver greatly improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions in urban driving. At the same time, the car's easy-to-drive character and its ability to cover long distance trips is being appreciated by the fleet oper...

Welcome to the Next Green Car Awards 2011, the most scientifically based Green Car Awards in the UK. 27 of the UK's greenest new cars of 2011/12 have been selected for shortlists across nine vehicle categories. The winners will be announced on Monday 1st August 2011. Next Green Car uses its unique Green Car Rating to rank the greenest new cars to come to market, honouring the most inn...

After going into bank-ruptcy last month, Norwegian electric vehicle maker THINK Global has been purchased by an international entrepreneur who is committed to maintaining the company's key role in transport electrification. A court-appointed trustee selected Mr. Boris Zingarevich, whose investment operations are based in St. Petersburg, Russia, as the winning bidder following June's bankrup...

The UK's first privately funded nationwide electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be launched in September, with 4,000 points to be installed in 100 towns and cities by the end of 2012. The network is to be delivered by Chargemaster Plc, through their 'POLAR' project, and will provide a well distributed coverage of charge points across the country. Transport Secretary Philip Ham...

Today, the East of England's electric vehicle charging network, Source East, goes live as part of the Government's Plugged-in-Places scheme. Chargemaster Plc are proud to be a supporting partner to Source East, and plan to deliver 1,200 publically accessible charge points to the region by 2013. As one of eight regions to receive funding to develop an electric vehicle charging infrastru...

On the weekend of 13th/14th August 2011, Don Wales and the Bluebird Electric team will endeavour to break the UK Land Speed Record on the 4-mile stretch of beach at Pendine Sands, South Wales. Last month the attempt was aborted when a vital bespoke component that was being manufactured in Europe was not delivered. Disappointed in the firm, the team sought to find a UK engineering manufactur...

The UK can become a global leader in the development, manufacture and use of low carbon vehicles, but only if there is consistent collaboration and investment from industry, Government and early adopters. This assessment comes from Cenex – the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies – ahead of its annual low carbon vehicle event, LCV2011, w...