Nissan LEAF

RCS, a Nottinghamshire based printer, is reducing its transport emissions with fleet of six new Nissan LEAF EVs and using the new ABB rapid charger, this allows the LEAF to be charged to 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes. The company is also using solar panels and other energy reduction strategies to reduce their annual energy bill by £78k, thereby charging the LEAFs for free

“The environment forms a key part of our company ethos and our fleet of Nissan LEAFs build on our vision of becoming the UK’s most environmentally friendly printer,” explained Michael Todd, MD of RCS. “The LEAF is the first practical five door, five seat EV on the UK market and our staff have embraced all aspects of the car which is why we kept adding them to our fleet.”

Octavia Green E Line

SKODA has just started road testing the new Octavia Green E Line, their first pure electric vehicle, and is working closely with the Volkswagen Group to gain practical experience with electric propulsion.

The Octavia Green E Line test fleet is based on the Octavia Combi as the chassis from the Combi is ideal for holding the battery, electronic controllers and electric motor. The Octavia Green E line is ideal for inner-city driving and will reach 0-62mph in 12 seconds and onto a top speed of just under 84mph.

The battery pack is situated under the middle and rear floor panel and in part of the boot so is well hidden, allowing the car to seat five adults, plus it has a range of around 93 miles. It takes around 8 hours to fully charge at 230V (single-phase AC) and 2 hours at 400 V (three-phase AC).

In addition to developing its first electric vehicle, SKODA is also continue to bring cars to the market that offer fuel-efficient economical engines with low CO2 emissions. The brand has seven models that manage an average CO2 of less than 100g/km and a total of 63 models that emit less than 130g/km.

If you are interested in finding some of the lowest CO2 cars on the market today, have a go on our Vehicle Type shopper. Just select the type of car (or van) you are looking for and set the range of CO2. You can also see the latest business contract hire (or personal) prices too.

Kia Rio diesel returns 88.3 combined mpg

The driver training specialist IAM Drive & Survive is offering weekly motoring tips to drivers from its head of training, Simon Elstow. This week, Simon is advising on saving fuel and money and how green driving will save you up to 15% on your fuel bills:

• Keep your vehicle moving for as long as possible, even in traffic queues. This is far more fuel efficient than stopping and starting your vehicle, so slow down earlier, to avoid braking harshly and too often.
• Your cruising speed has a major impact on the fuel economy of your car or van so stick to the speed limit. This offers a good compromise between economy and getting somewhere on time. There’s a significant saving made by doing 70 instead of 80 – and you also avoid any risk of speeding fines.
• Reverse into parking bays when parking. If you do all the manoeuvring with a hot engine you can drive straight off when you come back and warm the engine up more quickly, thereby saving fuel.
• Check your vehicle regularly to ensure it operates efficiently and in particular check the condition of your tyres, and measure tyre pressures when they’re cold.
• Remove all unnecessary weight from your vehicle, including roof racks, car clutter and heavy items in the boot. The more weight you carry in the car, the more fuel your vehicle will burn.
• Keep the inside of the front and rear windscreens squeaky clean. Traffic fumes form a film on the glass which attracts moisture and makes them mist up easily – a clean screen will rarely mist up, so you won’t be using the heater and air-conditioning to clear them.

Elstow said: “We’ve all got better things to spend our money on than petrol. This will help you save cash and reduce your carbon emissions.”

Great advice from the IAM’s Drive & Survive, however choosing a fuel efficient car can also save you hundreds of pounds in fuel bills annually.

For example the new Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi 1 EcoDynamics 5-door hatchback returns a staggering 88.3 combined mpg and only emits 85g/km of CO2. The combined mpg of 88.3 is a remarkable performance and you can search for the most fuel efficient new cars using our Vehicle Type Shopper and see the vehicle lease rentals too.

New Mazda3

Fleet operators and company car drivers will benefit from financial savings when the new Mazda3 goes on UK sale early in 2012. The upgraded Mazda3 range features 16 standard models with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines (with three power outputs) and for the first time the line-up includes a Mazda3 1.6 Sport Diesel. This is the model that Mazda believes will find favour with fleet operators and company car drivers alike.

Combined CO₂ emissions are cut by up to 3.5 percent depending on model, alongside improvements in fuel consumption, mean reduced petrol and diesel bills and savings in benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax for company car drivers. And of course for fleet operators this means lower Vehicle Excise Duty and National Insurance payments.

The 1.6 Sport Diesel and 1.6 Sport Nav Diesel offer competitive CO₂ emissions (115g/km), combined cycle fuel economy of 65.7mpg and a standard vehicle specification that includes a Bose audio system, heated sports seats, 17-inch alloy wheels and side skirts.

The new Mazda3 range offers a choice of six trim levels – S, TS, TS², TS² Nav, Sport and Sport Nav – as well as from launch the special edition 1.6 Tamura and 1.6D Tamura. The range has more muscular visual appeal with a new front end design, a revised rear bumper and new twist-spoke alloy wheel designs. Inside, you get new materials and colours, improved ease-of-use for the driver and a quieter cabin.

Mazda reduces emissions

Mazda has announced that emission cuts on the Mazda6 and Mazda2 models will benefit fleets and company car drivers, with a reduced benefit-in-kind liability and a reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). The Mazda6 2.2-litre 5-door Diesel 163ps and 180ps models drop from 142g/km to 140g/km, while the 129ps model drops even further  from 138g/km to 133g/km.

On the Mazda2 1.5-litre manual petrol model, the reduction is 135g/km to 132g/km and in addition on all 1.3-litre models, the reduction is from 119g/km to 115g/km, while the 1.5-litre automatic falls from 146g/km to 145g/km.

Steve Jelliss, Mazda Fleet and Remarketing Director,said,”At a time when corporate and personal budgets are being squeezed, Mazda customers are able to benefit from cash savings through these emission cuts. The Mazda range is already well-known for its style, specification, and reliability, and this development further enhances our value for money credentials”.

SEAT electric car

SEAT, the sporty Spanish car manufacturer, has just released details of the new Altea XL Electric Ecomotive, its first electric car, In addition they have also produced a plug-in hybrid Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive and SEAT envisages full hybrid and electric car production by 2015.

Electric car charging

The SEAT Altea XL Electric Ecomotive engine produces 115hp and this translates into a top speed of 135kph. The batteries are located under the rear seats and the boot, so there is plenty of space and legroom for passengers. When the Altea XL is parked in the sun, rooftop photovoltaic cells recirculate fresh air throughout the passenger compartment, reducing the need for energy when setting off, by reducing the need to turn on the climate control to cool the car.

The SEAT Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive plug-in hybrid has a top speed of 120kph and a range of 52 kilometres in full electric mode. When switching to the combined mode (electric plus combustion) the top speed extends to 170 kph and CO2 emissions are just 39g/km.

Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine

Ford has unveiled their new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that will debut in the UK in the all-new Ford Focus next year, giving the Focus class-leading fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. The new 1.0-litre,  three-cylinder EcoBoost is Ford’s smallest petrol engine and delivers 125PS with 114g/km CO2 with turbo-charged direct injection plus this unit returns 56.5 combined mpg.

The same engine, with 100PS and 109g/km CO2, will feature in the all-new Ford Focus, Ford C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and the new B-MAX which enters into full production in the middle of 2012.  The new engine will be built in Craiova in Romania, and capacity for Europe will be up to 700,000 units per year with annual production of up to 1.5 million worldwide. 

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost delivers a performance  more akin to a 1.6-litre engine but with significantly improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. Stephen Odell, Ford chairman and CEO Ford of Europe, said,”The new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is a true collaboration from start to finish, with expertise from Ford specialists  across Europe leveraged in designing both the engine and the cutting-edge facility in which it will be produced”.

Mr Odell went onto to say,”This will be reflected in the class-leading European CO2 emissions of the new 1.0-litre EcoBoost Ford Focus when it debuts in early 2012; low emissions that will be achieved alongside the spirited and refined performance that customers expect from Ford”.

Citroen C3 e-HDI 70 Airdream EGS VTR+

Citroen has just announced the launch of the new Citroen C3 e-HDI 70 Airdream EGS VTR+, which is its most CO2 efficient conventionally powered model to date offering CO2 emissions of just 87g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 83.1mpg.

This new low CO2, fuel efficient version of the C3 was first displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and the highly specified e-HDI 70 Airdream EGS VTR+ is now available to order and comes with the C3′s renowned panoramic Zenith windscreen. This new model of car also uses Citroen’s innovative e-HDI micro-hybrid Stop & Start technology coupled to a 68bhp HDi diesel engine, to offer its stunning green credentials.

Citroen’s UK Marketing Director, Jules Tilstone, said,”Citroen is committed to driving down the cost of motoring and this new model is a perfect example of that. With impressive fuel economy, low CO2 emissions, a BIK rate at just 13%, free VED and the benefit of no London Congestion Charge, this stylish model is a financially and environmentally attractive addition to the Citroen range” .

New Peugeot 208

Peugeot has revealed first details about the launch of its new “B” (Supermini) segment model, the new Peugeot 208. The new Peugeot 208 will be available in 3-and 5-door and Peugeot is promising increased occupant space, with more room in the rear seats (+5 cm at the knees) and a more generous boot (+15 dm3 in volume).

The new Peugeot 208 also offers lower CO2 emissions of 34g/km lower than the 207 and will take the CO2 lead in its segment. It will also use the latest generation engine technology plus the e-HDi micro-hybrid system on nearly all versions.

There will be five models, four of which will be equipped with the Start & Start System (e-HDi) and most importantly the diesel range starts at 87g/km of CO2 (fuel economy of 83.1mpg) and no diesel model will emit more than 99g/km of CO2 which is pretty impressive.

The petrol range introduces new 3-cylinder engines, the 1.0- and 1.2-litre VTi which are efficient too, starting at 99g/km and 65.7mpg. The Peugeot 208 will be launched in Europe in the spring and should reach UK shores by the summer next year.

California Beach Camper

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched the new entry-level Volkswagen California Beach Camper offering even greater value and seating for up to seven people, with prices starting at £34,970 RRP on-the-road. The California Beach Camper has all the appeal of the standard California, plus the versatility of the Caravelle and has sleeping accomodation for four people.

You get a choice of two 2.0-litre TDI engines and making its debut is the 114 PS BlueMotion Technology model offering a combined mpg of 40.4 and CO2 emissions of 184g/km (five-speed manual). Or you can opt for the more powerful 140 PS unit, mated to a six-speed manual, which returns 36.7mpg and has CO2 emissions of 203g/km.

This newcomer to the California range is well equipped and comes with 16-inch “Miyato” alloy wheels, climatic air conditioning, CD/radio with eight speakers and the choice of Sunny Yellow exterior paint and “Takato” upholstery are exclusive to Beach models.