Welcome to Low CO2 Cars
Climate change is held by many as the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today. Today, cars on our roads contribute to climate change due to their engines burning fuel and therefore produce carbon dioxide (CO2) every time we drive.
You can easily reduce these emissions and save money too, by following a few simple tips and suggestions you can reduce your engine's workload, burn less fuel and therefore produce less CO2.
Firstly you can help by choosing a new car with a more fuel efficient engine, one of those things where the effect adds up is making sure your tyres are pumped up correctly to reduce resistance and thereby workload on your engine, even travelling a bit lighter can help.
Are you concerned about low CO2 emissions and currently considering purchasing a car? Our advice is to look at smaller cars, in general they tend to be more fuel efficient and emit less CO2. We have listed a number of ow CO2 cars in the right hand panel which might help you make up your mind.
It's worth asking yourself questions about what you need your car for; If you have six or more seats do you really need them? what size engine do you have and is that essential? Could you make do with a smaller boot?
Once you've decided on the type of car look at the different makes, models and engines available. Most models offer a range of engines that often vary in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.
Consider whether you require a petrol or diesel engine, each has a different effect on the environment. Diesel engines generally produce less CO2, however they emit more air quality pollutants than a typical petrol engine. But which one should you choose? Generally speaking if most of the driving you do is long distance or motorway driving then we strongly suggest you consider a diesel engine due to it's increased fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. Conversely if the majority of your journeys are short trips or around the town, where air quality is a greater consideration, then a petrol engine is a better solution for the environment. However with the latest cars being released shoppers need not limit their choices to hybrids and diesels. Many smaller petrol-powered cars provide fuel-efficient travel, too..
Most new vehicles have a colour-coded fuel efficiency rating like fridges and washing machines. The coding is from band A to band G, with bands A and B representing cars that emit the least CO2. The lower the emission band, the lower the tax you'll pay and the more environmentally friendly. The label is also a guide to the running costs you can expect for that car over 12,000 miles, this will allow you to compare the running costs of different cars.
Remember, every little bit helps. You can help. Join the drive to reduce CO2 emissions.