Vehicles 'are becoming more eco-friendly'

Date: 24/6/2011

Today's vehicles are becoming steadily greener.

Such is the finding of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, which has revealed that 14 per cent of all CO2 emissions come from cars - slightly less than in 2000.

This is despite the revelation that in the last decade the total number of motors on the country's roads has risen by four million.

And while carbon emissions from all other forms of road transport increased during this period, the rate produced by cars fell between 1997 and 2008 from 196 grams to 174 grams.

IAM Director of Policy and Research Neil Greig said: "Drivers are shifting to greener engines and have embraced incentives like cheaper vehicle excise duty for more fuel-efficient models."

He claimed that manufacturers are also doing their bit by producing vehicles that are both greener and more affordable.

However, Mr Greig added that motoring style is also crucial in keeping harmful emissions down, noting that maintaining a constant and steady speed is better for the environment than a lot of acceleration and braking.

Elsewhere, Dr Ben Lane, Managing Editor at nextgreencar.com, recently claimed that the popularity of eco cars will "undoubtedly" continue to increase in line with rising petrol prices.

Posted by Nick Anderson