Welcome to Green Driving

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Revision as of 16:21, 18 July 2007


Welcome to the GREEN DRIVING web page. The purpose of this site is to provide all drivers & car owners with information which we hope you will find useful in making future car purchase choices and in reducing your environmental footprint.

Contents

First steps to buying a ‘green’ car

When the time comes to buy a new car and you want to drive something ‘greener’ where do you start? Consider the following:­

  • CO2 emissions
  • Fuel consumption figures
  • Buying a smaller engined car
  • Buying or converting to alternative fuels

The new point-of-sale labelling system (like those you see on fridges) should help you to compare cars more easily. It puts the car into bands between A and G which are also consistent with the CO2 bandings used for Vehicle Excise Duty ('road tax'). The label also provides clear running cost information.

VED and emissions information at www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk

What’s the alternative?

  • Electric
  • Hybrid/dual fuel
  • LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas),
  • CNG (Compressed Natural Gas),
  • Bio diesel, bio ethanol, bio gas
  • Hydrogen or fuel cells technology (currently not commercially available)

This link will take you to a more detailed description of these fuel types: http://www.green-car-guide.com/features/petrol-diesel-or-hybrid.htm

Bioethanol is not included in the above link to fuel types so please read the information immediately below:

Bioethanol

What is bioethanol?

Like biodiesel, bioethanol is a liquid biofuel. It is made from starch plants (like corn, wheat and cassava), sugar plants (beet and cane) and sometimes cellulose plants (trees). It is produced first by fermentation, followed by distillation and finally dehydration.

How is bioethanol used

Bioethanol can be used as a fuel in a number of different ways:

  1. As a blend (ranging between 5% and 85%). As a 5% blend it can be used in all petrol engines. However, higher E85 blends require some modifications.
  2. As a direct substitute for petrol in cars with appropriately modified engines.

What are the environmental benefits of bioethanol?

It is generally accepted that on a well to wheel basis, bioethanol gives a 70% carbon dioxide reduction versus petrol. This means that a 5% blend produces 3.5% less carbon emissions, whilst an 85% blend (like E85) would achieve a 50% reduction.

Technical information for bioethanol

  • Manufacture - Made from crops e.g. sugar beet, wheat, wood (cellulosics). Requires chemical plant to convert it to alcohol (ethanol) in the same way as drinking alcohol is made. Additives are put in to stop it being used for drinking purposes.
  • Specification - There is a European specification being developed for E85 (85% ethanol / 15% petrol) blend. Other blends include E10. Current European specification petrol (EN228) can contain up to 5% ethanol without any need to declare it. Motor manufacturers warrant their vehicles to run on EN228. Although some manufacturers are happy for you to use a 10% blend, provided it is obtained from a respected supplier (check before using).
  • Taxes - Gets a 20p/l duty reduction from the current (Oct 2005) rate of 47.1p/l
  • Environment - Depending on the production method and source, it is generally accepted that bioethanol gives a 70% carbon dioxide reduction, which means 3.5% in a 5% blend or 50% in an E85 blend.

All of the above are alternatives to conventional petrol or diesel fuels BUT how do you choose? It depends on your personal needs and circumstances, the length and type of journeys that you make, the ability to refuel locally, whether or not you need to carry loads and passengers and so on.

  • Find out more about alternative fuels and the location of refuelling stations at

www.est.org.uk/fleet/Vehicles/Alt ernativefuels/

  • The Environmental Transport Association have produced a buyers guide to help you choose a new more environmentally friendly car

www.eta.co.uk/tools/car-buyers­guide.asp

  • Another useful website which offers help and advice is

www.green-car-guide.com/

(With thanks to Go Green www.portsmouth.gov.uk )

Some vehicles for you to think about:

HYBRIDS

  • HONDA CIVIC IMA

A five door 5 seater car that combines a 1.4 petrol engine combined with an electric motor to produce a CO2 of 109 and a claimed combined cycle fuel economy of 61.4 MPG. http://www.honda.co.uk/car/

  • TOYOTA PRIUS

A five door 5 seater car that combines a 1.5 petrol engine combined with an electric motor to produce a CO2 of 104 and a claimed combined cycle fuel economy of 65.7 MPG. http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/frame_start.jsp?id=homepage&screenRes=1024x768c32

  • LEXUS RX400H

If you have to have a large 4WD vehicle then Lexus produce this 3.3 petrol engine combined with an electric motor to produce a CO2 of 192. http://www.lexus.co.uk/

BI FUEL

  • SAAB 9.5 BioPower

This car can run on 100% petrol down to 15% petrol/85% Bioethanol with claimed increases in both torque and BHP (enginer power). Two engines sizes curently available 2.0 and 2.3 available in both the saloon and the estate. http://www.saabbiopower.co.uk/

  • FORD FOCUS FLEXIBLE FUEL VEHICLE (FFV)

Ford have introduced the Focus and C MAX FFV models. The cars can run on the renewable fuel bioethanol, made from UK grown crops such as wheat and sugar beet, or normal unleaded petrol in any mix in the same fuel tank. There is no retail price difference between a 1.8 litre Ford Focus or C MAX and its petrol only equivalent. http://www.ford.co.uk/

  • Volvo will shortly be introducing Flexi-fuel within the C30, S40 and V50 ranges, these vehicles being equipped to run on E85 bioethanol.

http://www.volvocars.co.uk/

ECONOMICAL CARS

  • SMART CAR

Small versatile range of petrol driven cars with low emmisions & fuel consumption www.smart.com/uk

  • VW POLO BLUEMOTION

The next generation diesel offerings from German manufacturers are being labelled Blue. The car emits a low 102 CO2 rating (108 CO2 with air conditioning on) and achieves a claimed 72.4 MPG giving the car a range of 700 miles and an added bonus is the car is expected to be insurance rated at only 1E. http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/company/press/sept06_bluemotion

OTHER CARS FOR CONSIDERATION

  • VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT BLUEMOTION

The makers claim this car reduces the carbon footprint of the Passat by over 8% and fuel consumption by 10%. Using the 105 BHP 1.9 diesel engine re-mapped for economy, together with gearing changes, aerodynamic body changes and energy saving tyres the car CO2 reduces to 136g/km and fuel consumption to 55.4 on the combined average. Order bank opens in the autumn and deliveries start December.


Useful Internet Sites

  • http://www.rac.co.uk/ - this site can provide you with information on real time traffic news such as accidents, jams and roadworks. There is also a route planner available.
  • http://www.theaa.com/ - this site also provides you with real time traffic information.There is also a route planner option.
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/travel/jamcars/index.shtml/ - this site provides you with real time traffic information within London. .. Alternative Fuels Site
  • Find supplies of biodiesel fuel near you at :

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/fleet/Vehicles/Alternativefuels/Bioethanol/ http://www.cleangreencars.co.uk - This site reveals the CO2 performance of cars in the UK. It correlates the sales of every car to its official CO2 output and shows the performance of every manufacturer as well as the overall performance of the car industry.

10 Point Greener Motoring Guide for Drivers

  1. Drive smoothly - harsh acceleration and breaking can increase fuel consumption by up to 20%.
  2. Use the correct gear - the wrong gear can mean you are using up to 25% more fuel for your journey.
  3. Cold Engine? - drive off asap ! Idling the engine wastes fuel and increases engine wear.
  4. Tyre pressures - tyres under inflated by 2psi can increase fuel consumption by 13%. Also the wrong pressure will shorten tyre life.
  5. Avoid short journeys - as your engine will be running cold and is not at its most efficient.
  6. Keep to the speed limits - driving at 70mph uses up to 30% more fuel than driving at 50mph.
  7. Save fuel - turn off your engine whilst stuck in traffic jams.
  8. Don't be a drag - ensure that there are no rips or tears on your vehicles as this will increase the wind resistance and increase fuel consumption. For the same reasons also remove unnecessary attachments such as a roof rack and trailers when not in use.
  9. Don't be a drain - turn off equipment when not needed such as heaters, air conditioning and de-misters as these increase fuel consumption.
  10. Plan your journey - try to drive out of peak times if possible to avoid being stuck in jams. If you have access, take a look at the traffic internet sites just before you head off to highlight any jams on the road.

IBM INITIATIVES

IMPLEMENTED

  • Producing this web site
  • Remove the minimum 1400cc engine size limitation from the company car scheme so that employees have a wider choice of more

fuel efficient and lower CO2 producing vehicles.

  • Provision of an all employee satellite navigation affinity scheme offering.
  • Manufacturer support terms on Toyota Prius.

IDEAS UNDER CONSIDERATION

  • Review, enhancement and promotion of the car share database.
  • Review, enhancement and promotion of the green car parking spaces for those who car share.
  • Conduct a review with the Government Energy Savings Trust which would evaluate our road travel practice and potentially identify possible areas for improvement.
  • Develop the WWER tool to be able to capture IBM business travel carbon footprint.
  • Offer employees a voluntary Carbon Offset salary deduction scheme facility.
  • Colour code the company car sample list to grade the cars according to C02/fuel efficiency.
  • Fitment of 'green' low energy tyres to company cars where appropriate.
  • Obtain Manufacturer support terms on Honda IMA.
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