EcoVelocity is holding a green motoring, low carbon festival show, that will run from the 8th-11th September at Battersea Power Station and they have just released some data about the top postcodes for green motoring. According to their research, Camden, Westminster and Islington are home to the greenest motorists.

They studied vehicle registration data from the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) and found that more than one in four cars (28%) registered in the WC postcode, have CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km or less. Portsmouth is the most environmentally friendly town outside the capital. London however has the highest number EV charging points (93) for electric cars so these results are logical and Wales for example has the least number, with only 3 charging points in the entire country.

Here is the list of top postcodes:

If you want to see an interactive map of the locations of all EV charge points across the UK then EcoVelocity show organisers have complied one. The northernmost electric charge point in the country is in the Isle of Lewis, 750 miles from the most southerly one which is in Exeter.

The EcoVelocity show is a dynamic festival of hi-tech and ultra-low carbon vehicles and some of the leading car manufacturers will be in attendance, showing off their latest green models. Citroen,Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Vauxhall,Volvo, Volkswagen and Mia Electric are just some of the names attending. You will find electric cars, hybrids, low-CO2 models as well as a test drive circuit to try them out and further information can be found at www.ecovelocity.com

Finding a low Co2 car to lease can also be a time consuming exercise so try our Vehicle Type Leasing Shopper as you can select the bodystyle you are looking for, i.e. hatchback, tick all manufacturers, then set the range of Co2, choose business contract hire and all models will appear by the least expensive rental.

EcoVelocity Show 2011

The EcoVelocity UK eco motor show is being held at Battersea Power Station in London from Thursday the 8th to Sunday the 11th September. There will be a number of green low-CO2 cars, electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids on show, with manufacturers being represented including Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

EcoVelocity is going to be a fun interactive day out for all the family with the “SEAT youngs driver programme (11-16 year olds), Honda introducing motorcycling to young children, a Green Supercar paddock and also an Eco-Lab which delves into the science behind eco-motoring.

Gile Brown, Event Founder, commented,”In the absence of the British Motor Show in 2011, EcoVelocity will be the most important and definitely not to be missed motoring event of the year, showcasing the best real-world cars for real-world motorists at a single location”. If you are also thinking of leasing a low CO2 car try the Vehicle Type leasing shopper for a range of the latest models available.

Fiat offers low CO2 cars

Fiat has set new standards in low CO2 emissions having the lowest volume weighted CO2 emissions, according to leading automotive and consulting firm, JATO Dynamics. Fiat Automobiles recorded a CO2 average of just 123.1 g/km placing it at the top off all manufacturer brands for the fourth year running. They are also well ahead of the European target of 130 g/km, which is due to be met by all car manufacturers by 2015.

Fiat also ranked first among the motor groups with a figure of 125.9 g/km and this takes into account all their luxury brands including Ferrari and Maserati. Fiat has had a long-term eco-strategy with technical innovations such as MutliAir, MultiJet and TwinAir engines plus Start&Stop, electronic traction management (Dualogic robotised transmission) and their eco:Drive in-car software. Fiat business contract hire leasing on all Fiat car and van models is on the site now.

The ACEA economic report has announced that European total vehicle production in the EU rose by 15% in the first nine months of 2010, when compared to the same period in 2009. Car production rose by 13%, with vans expanding in all segments, in all three quarters as well.

The ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) was founded in 1991 and represents the interests of the sixteen European car, van, truck and bus manufacturers across Europe. The Association members include some of the major manufacturers, including the BMW Group, FIAT Group, Ford of Europe, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group and Volvo Cars to name just a few.

These figures and other data can be found in the latest ACEA Economic Report published on the ACEA website.

Volkswagen Polo at 91g/km CO2 is a low CO2 car

Clean Green Cars has found that in the second quarter of 2010, average CO2 emitted by new cars was 145.1g/km, compared to 145.6g/km of CO2 in the first quarter. In May and June the actual figures edged back and up and the end of the car scrappage scheme has probably caused the blip.

The mandatory manufacturer CO2 target by the EU is an average of 130g/km by 2012 and Clean Green Cars thinks there could be significant problems ahead for the car industry. Jay Nagley, Publisher of Clean Green Cars said,”Car manufacturers are swimming against the tide now that the scrappage scheme has ended.They are going to have to redouble their efforts to meet what is a reasonable target overall”.

There are three car manufacturers below the overall EU target (four seat models) as follows;

1. Toyota at 124.49 g/km
2. Fiat at 125.05 g/km
3. MINI at 129.33 g/km

Hyundai and Citroen are close to the target as well with both these manufacturers below 132g/km of CO2 and if you want to see the full table you can find it at the Clean Green Cars website. Alternatively if you are searching for a low CO2 car on contract hire then try the Super Shopper. You can choose a body style, then all manufacturers (or a selection), your contract hire budget range and then set the CO2 level to below 130g/km for example.

Mazda

The Northern Ireland Mazda dealers are outperforming UK mainland Mazda dealers, with March year on year sales growing by a record 81%. Motorists in Northern Ireland are switching to Mazda which is outperforming other manufacturers like Audi, Citroen, Honda and Fiat. Mazda is now the third best selling Japanese brand in Northern Ireland after Toyota and Nissan.

The popularity of the Mazda2 and Mazda3 has helped the growth in Northern Ireland, with fewer than one in four car sales being accounted for by the car scrappage scheme. Mark Cameron, sales director for Mazda UK said,”Customers know that we represent really good value for money and as our brand awareness grows in Northern Ireland, more and more customers are switching to us”. Mazda contract hire prices on the whole Mazda range is available now.

Used Car Expert, the leading used car magazine, has undertaken an analysis of the depreciation of small family hatchbacks (1.6-litre petrol or comparable engine) and has discovered some interesting results. They looked at the resale value of three year old values against their new price, with 30,000 miles on the clock.

They found that many new car buyers will have lost up to 50% of their money in this time. Depreciation is never on most people’s minds when they buy a new car and this is why business car leasing is becoming more popular with many small businesses, as the risk around depreciation is with the vehicle leasing company.

• New car prices are an approximate guide price of the price paid for a new car 3 years ago

JATO Dynamics, a leading vehicle information provider, has revealed how small cars are driving down CO2 emissions across Europe. Volume weighted average CO2 emissions across all models and segments fell by 7.9g/km last year, with the three lowest bands increasing market share.

In particular, car manufacturers producing vehicles in the 101-120g/km segment experienced a market share increase of 8.9%, moving from 16.7% to 25.6%. This market trend has been guided by the popularity of small cars in the various car scrappage schemes operated by many European countries.

The most improved brand for reducing CO2 emissions is Ferrari, reducing volume weighted CO2 emissions by 53.6g/km with Porsche coming in at second reducing by 27.5g/km (mainly due to the Cayenne Diesel).

However Fiat remains top of the lowest overall brand for CO2 topping the league with an average 127.8k/km. In second place is Toyota at 130.1g/km with Peugeot in third place at 133.6g/km.

Interestingly in the volume weighted average CO2 emissons league table, Audi is a new entrant at ninth, mainly due to the strong sales of the Audi A3 and reducing CO2 emissions across the range particularly on the high volume A4 2.0-litre TDI. The full league table is below and if you are looking for a low CO2 car try the Super Shopper where you can select by manufacturers and CO2 ranges.

Evo Music Rooms

Fiat has launched Evo Music Rooms, in conjunction with Somethin’ Else productions, which is a new website for signing up undiscovered music artists from across the UK. Aspiring artists can sign up between now and the 17th February at www.evomusicrooms.com and these artists will then be shortlisted to 20.

An influential judging panel, along with the public, will narrow the “Evo unsigned artists” from 20 down to 10 and then six lucky finalists will then be chosen to perform live at a London venue.

Elena Bernadelli,marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK, said ”Punto Evo is leading the way in innovation, so we were thrilled to get involved with a new music initiative that reflected our forward thinking approach. At Fiat we strive to bring forward the future for our customers and we can’t wait to bring them the next big thing”.

The green motoring website, cleangreencars.co.uk, has reported that the average CO2 of all new cars, registered in 2009, fell by 5.6% to 149.8g/km. This is a record 8.9g/km less than a year ago and continues the trend of falling CO2 emissions year on year.

There are now two manufacturers (whose range includes four seat models and not just two seat city cars) who have now met the EU 2012 target of producing all cars with an average CO2 of 130g/km. Both Toyota and (127.9g/km) and Fiat (129.7g/km) are leading the way with MINI in third at 131.7g/km. Hyundai also gets a mention in fourth place and Ford saved over 30,000 tonnes of CO2 in 2009.

Finding all available new production low CO2 cars at one source is always a chore, however try the Super Shopper where you can choose all manufacturers and set the CO2 ranges you are looking for. All models currently available will then be shown. 

The full report from cleangreencars.co.uk can be found at;

www.cleangreencars.co.uk/jsp/cgcmain.jsp?lnk=370