Ten big green ideas from the Geneva Motor Show

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/mar/04/geneva-motor-show-green-cars-hybrids


Ten big green ideas from the Geneva Motor Show

Car makers may be in trouble, but that's not stopping them rolling out new green ideas at the Geneva Motor Show, writes motoring journalist Richard Aucock

1. GM hasn't killed the electric car

In 2006, a documentary film Called Who Killed the Electric Car alleged that American automakers, including General Motors, had limited the technology. But GM has actually given it life. The Opel Ampera "extended range electric vehicle" – E-REV – is massively significant. If the company survives, it will take this off the shelf and, from 2011, start selling it mass-market. It may even be built here in the UK, where it will be badged Vauxhall (it's also known as the Chevrolet Volt). So does it cure "range anxiety"? Well, yes. It runs for 40 miles under electric power alone. Then a tiny petrol motor provides backup. Even by the EU's official tests, it does 176mpg, and emits 40g/km of CO2. Most of the time, it emits no emissions whatsoever. Yours for around £23k in two years' time. Of course, there's an obvious irony here. The electric car's life depends on GM not being killed. Over to you, Barack.

2. Volvo prefers to work better with what we already have

With no expensive hybrid technology, Volvo has produced a conventional diesel that matches the CO2 emissions of today's Toyota Prius. The C30 DRIVe is much cheaper, will sell more, and lead to a far greater cumulative CO2 reduction. This "optimisation approach" has also yielded an SUV that does 47mpg, and a big estate car that emits less CO2 than a Fiesta. All are on sale in a few months. Hybrids may be better for headline statistics, says the company's CO2 chief, Peter Ewerstrand but for everyday driving, today's technology still holds the upper hand. "Improvements can be made for investment as low as EU 20k," he said. In today's cash-strapped climate the company's decision to squeeze every last drop from what they have makes sense.

3. Blue Volkswagen turns the best-selling car sector green

Thirty-five per cent of all the new cars sold in Britain are superminis. A new version of a best-seller, the Volkswagen Polo, is out this winter, including one that does 74mpg and emits 96g/km of CO2. Next year, we'll get the Bluemotion II variant, which will do 85mpg and emit just 87g/km of CO2. It will still cost around £12k, seat five and have decent performance from its 1.2-litre 75hp turbodiesel. VW has made it lighter and designed the new eco engine from scratch. Tellingly, it costs many thousands less than a Prius, yet does more to the gallon, has similar interior bells and whistles, and seats the same number of passengers.


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