Could BMW's eco-efforts make a difference to the planet?
There is nothing that the team here at the Hoot Car Insurance Services HQ, where the young driver car insurance experts hang out, like better than to jump in our cars and go for a blast on the roads. However, with the environment being in the tenuous state that it is, such frivolous behaviour could these days be regarded as irresponsible. This is precisely why investing in motors with shrewd safety and performance features as well as an eco-friendly focus is the way to go. BMW and some of their counterparts will be attending the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) event to demonstrate just how far motor manufacturers have improved specifications over recent years and showcase the cars that could make a difference to our futures. With so many prestigious awards up for grabs these days such as the What Car? Car of the Year and much sought after safety ratings given by Euro NCAP, it can be seen why safety and performance have become so important when selecting which model to buy.
Euro NCAP provide motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars available, the star rating of which can be accessed on their website for those wishing to make an informed choice before making a purchase. www.euroncap.com.
Another element that will be considered is how eco-friendly the cars are, a very prominent issue right now. This will be measured by looking at whether they have increased fuel economy and reduced carbon dioxide emissions when compared to older models. Car manufacturers are competing heavily at the moment to introduce cars that will ease up impact on the environment. Some of the most common examples of this are the new hybrid cars that run off both petrol and electricity. These cars may even be eligible for cheaper motor insurance because of the rewards they offer to the planet. Those manufacturers taking part in the event include BMW, Citroen, Mercedes, Ford, Jaguar, Toyota, Vauxhall and VW, each of which will provide one car from years ago and one from their current range to be compared in test drives. BMW chose to send the 1986 M635i to be compared to the brand new 635D. Some notable observations were that the older BMW did an average of 18 miles per gallon when it was first introduced and the newer model achieves 40 mpg. While there was no CO2 emissions data available for comparison from the M635i, the high fuel consumption suggests that it would not be the most environmentally sound car to drive. Media relations manager at BMW UK, Duncan Forrester, believes that the car industry has been made a scapegoat by the environmental lobby and has commented, "We get kicked from all sides over emissions, as we are an easy target." But if you actually look at how we are responding to the challenge, we are leaps and bounds ahead of other industries." By "responding to the challenge" Forrester is referring to the German car manufacturer's "efficient dynamics" programme, by which its most recently launched models have increased performance, achieved 17% less emissions and shown 23% better fuel economy, when compared to their predecessors. However, environmental groups affirm that even though manufacturers such as BMW have made advances when it comes to making cars this is not enough. Specifically, the Energy Saving Trust has observed that manufacturers are not easily meeting CO2 reduction targets that they have agreed with the European Union (EU). The EU's aim is that new cars sold in 2008/09 will emit no more than 149g of CO2 per kilometre. But during 2005 the total was 162g and in 2006 it was 167g so achieving an 18g reduction this year will be some feat. Caroline Watson, transport policy manager at the Energy Saving Trust, says, "We welcome industry achievements in reducing overall energy use, as well as the steady reduction in CO2 emissions per vehicle," "However, the UK industry still has far to go. "We will fail to meet the EU Voluntary Agreement for average new car emissions by 2008/09, and on the current path it will take more than 10 years to meet the proposed 2012 target of 130 per km." So it remains to be seen whether BMW and the other contenders at the SMMT will raise enough awareness about their new models. Showcasing cars with improved safety and performance features should help to reduce the amount of people harmed in car accidents, helping again to bring down the cost of car insurance premiums. Also, introducing eco-friendly models should go that extra distance to help reach government targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
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