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EcoVelocity
EcoVelocity , a green motorshow, took place at Battersea Power Station, London, from 8-11 September 2011; these are the green car highlights that were on show.
Citroen C-Zero
The electric Citroen C-Zero
is essentially a Mitsubishi i-MiEV. It’s based on a petrol car rather than being a clean-sheet electric design. It’s almost as refined to drive as the Nissan LEAF, but it’s not as big; its narrow width makes it great for driving in urban areas, but doesn’t make it ideal for family use. However it can still seat four people, can reach 81 mph, and has a range of 93 miles. It’s priced at £23,990 (after the £5,000 government electric car grant).
Fiat
Fiat 500 Twin Air
The Fiat 500 Twin Air
has an 875cc twin-cylinder turbo engine, resulting in 30 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2 output. This means 69 mpg and 95 g/km CO2 with a manual gearbox, or 92 g/km with the Dualogic automated manual. It also delivers similar performance to the 1.4 (a top speed of 108 mph and a 0-62 mph time of 11.0 seconds). The 500 TwinAir features a standard stop-start system, and because the engine is so small, there is little internal friction, making it highly efficient.
Ford
The new Ford Focus
has emissions as low as 109 g/km CO2, but you’ll have to wait until next year for the ultra-low CO2 Focus ECOnetic model – and for the Focus Electric. The Focus is the first Ford model to standardise Auto-Start-Stop technology across a significant part of the range. All vehicles with the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost petrol engine and the 1.6-litre TDCi diesel engine are equipped with Auto-Start-Stop. The new 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost is one of a completely new generation of global, downsized, high-efficiency, low-CO2 petrol engines. Despite an improvement in performance, CO2 emissions have been cut by 18 per cent compared to the previous 2.0-litre model – with the 150 PS engine, the new Focus achieves combined fuel economy of 47 mpg and CO2 emissions of 139 g/km. The 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi with Auto-Start-Stop has CO2 emissions from 109 g/km, and average fuel consumption from 67 mpg.
Honda
Honda Jazz hybrid
The H
onda Jazz hybrid
features the same 1.3 litre i-VTEC as the current Insight hybrid and has the same CO2 emissions of 104 g/km – 21 g/km less than the current lowest-emitting 1.2-litre petrol Jazz (although the Insight is due to drop to 96 g/km CO2 in 2012). Like the Insight and Civic Hybrid models, the hybrid version of the Jazz is capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions and this contributes to a combined fuel consumption figure of 62.8 mpg.
Hyundai
Hyundai i10 1.0 Blue
The new Hyundai i10 1.0 Blu
e
can manage 67.3 mpg along with just 99 g/km CO2, it costs only £9,195, and it offers a much better driving experience than you might expect.
Kia
Kia Rio
The new Kia Rio
range will be available with four engines – two petrol and two diesel – including a three-cylinder turbodiesel 1.1 CRDi which will emit just 85 g/km CO2, along with managing 88 mpg, making it one of the UK’s most economical cars.
Lexus
Lexus CT 200h
The new Lexus CT 200h
delivers low CO2 emissions of just 94 g/km and combined cycle fuel economy of 68.9 mpg thanks to the efficiency of its full hybrid powertrain.
Mia
Mia Electric MicroBus
The French-German Mia Electric MicroBus
is available as a three or four-seater. It has a central driver’s seat enabling the driver to get in and out of the car on both sides. There are three models of the vehicle, the Mia, Mia L, and Mia box van. The four-seat Mia L has three back seats. The three-seat model weighs only 750 kg including the standard 8kWh battery and has a top speed of around 66 mph. The standard lithium ion phosphate battery is capable of covering a distance of around 50 miles and it can be fully charged in three hours using a regular household power outlet. As an option, a more powerful 12 kWh battery is also available.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
The electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV
has been around for a while. It’s based on a petrol car rather than being a clean-sheet electric design. It’s almost as refined to drive as the Nissan LEAF, but it’s smaller. Its narrow width makes it great for driving in urban areas, but not ideal for family use. However it can still seat four people, can reach 81 mph, and has a range of 93 miles. It’s priced at £23,990 (after the £5,000 government electric car grant).
Nissan
Nissan LEAF
The all-electric Nissan LEAF
hatchback costs less than £2 to fully charge, which gives a potential range of over 100 miles – this compares to well over £10 for the fuel for an average petrol or diesel vehicle for this distance. The LEAF is also exempt from road tax, company car tax and the London Congestion Charge, and enjoys a £5000 government discount on its purchase price.
Nissan Micra DIG-S
The brand new Nissan Micra DIG-S
, with its efficient, supercharged three-cylinder petrol engine, emits just 95 g/km CO2 and achieves 68.9 mpg in base model form – and all for an affordable price.
Peugeot
Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4
The new Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 , the world’s first full diesel hybrid, is now on sale, with 99 g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy of 74 mpg – along with 200 bhp and four-wheel drive, as well as a zero-emission mode. There’s a 99 g/km CO2 model priced at £26,995, and a 104 g/km CO2 model at £28,495. Read our road test coming soon.
Peugeot iOn
The electric Peugeot iOn
is essentially a Mitsubishi i-MiEV. It’s based on a petrol car rather than being a clean-sheet electric design. It’s almost as refined to drive as the Nissan LEAF, but it’s smaller. Its narrow width makes it great for driving in urban areas, but not ideal for family use. However it can still seat four people, can reach 81 mph, and has a range of 93 miles. It’s priced at £23,990 (after the £5,000 government electric car grant).
Renault
Renault Fluence
The Renault Fluence ZE
is a four-door, five-seat saloon that goes on sale in the UK during the first half of 2012, priced from £17,850, after the deduction of the £5,000 Plug-In Car Grant. There’s also a lithium-ion battery monthly hire cost of £69.60 per month including VAT, based on 9,000 miles per year and a three-year agreement.
Renault Kangoo
The electric Renault Kangoo ZE
(two-seater) and Kangoo Maxi ZE (five-seater) van will be on sale from November 2011 in the UK, from £16,990 excluding VAT, with monthly battery hire from £60.00 based on 6,000 miles per year and a three-year agreement.
SEAT
SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive
The SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive
can achieve 80.7 mpg from its 74 bhp 1.2 litre turbodiesel engine. It’s available in both three-door (SC) and five-door formats.
SEAT Leon Ecomotive
The SEAT Leon Ecomotive
offers a good-sized, sporty-looking car with low emissions, good fuel economy, and for a competitive price. It offers another choice for buyers who want a 99 g/km CO2 five-seat, five-door car, and something a bit different.
Toyota
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius
is seen as the original hybrid, offering low emissions and high miles per gallon in a decent-sized family hatchback thanks to its full hybrid system.
Toyota Auris Hybrid
The Toyota Auris Hybrid
offers hybrid technology in a smaller package than a Prius. The result is 74.3 mpg and 89 g/km CO2 for models with 15-inch wheels, or 70.6 mpg and 93 g/km and for versions with 17-inch wheels.
Vauxhall
Vauxhall Ampera
The Vauxhall Ampera
, which goes on sale in the UK early in 2012, will be the first electric car in Europe to offer zero emission potential and zero range anxiety. Thanks to its unique Voltec propulsion system, the Ampera allows drivers to travel up to 50 miles on a full charge while emitting zero CO2 tailpipe emissions. For longer journeys of up to 310 miles the system engages a range extender to generate electricity to power the electric motor.
Volvo
Volvo C30 DRIVe
Volvo has made significant reductions in the CO2 emissions of its models over the last few years; for instance the Volvo C30 DRIVe
emits just 99 g/km, which equates to 74.3 mpg.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion
Volkswagen has introduced many models with low CO2 over recent years, thanks to its BlueMotion technology. One such car is the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion
, which is an extremely refined family hatchback, yet it can also achieve 74.3 mpg – with no compromises in the driving experience.
Green supercars
iRACER
The iRACER is a track-focused electric vehicle, designed and engineered from the ground up as a pure race car. With 660 Nm of torque per rear wheel it can achieve 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds. The iRACER is the result of a collaborative project between Westfield Sportscars, and Niche Vehicle Network partners Potenza Technology, Delta Motorsport, RDM Automotive, and Coventry University.
Delta Motorsport E-4 Coupe
Delta Motorsport’s battery-electric Delta E-4 Coupé has a top speed of 150 mph and a range of 200 miles. The lightweight, two-door E-4 Coupé can also accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds. The E-4 Coupé has a carbon composite chassis, designed by Delta and manufactured by KS Composites, which weighs just 85 kg – two-thirds less than a comparable steel structure, despite being designed to pass EU crash tests. The car features high performance direct-drive electric motors, designed in partnership with Oxford University and spin-out Oxford YASA Motors. They produce well over 600 Nm of torque and over 120 hp each, while only weighing 23 kg. The car is designed around the low, floor-mounted batteries, which helps to improve handling and reduce the frontal area and therefore drag.
Evelio
The Evelio is a British-built electric supercar with a 0-60 mph of 3.2 seconds. The car is powered by supercharged lithium ion phosphate batteries with an average range of 150 miles and a recharge time of just 1 hour – with an 80% charge possible in 20 minutes (with a 30 amp socket). It also has Vehicle-to-Grid technology that allows electric vehicles to power, as well as be powered by, the grid.
Lightning GT
The Lightning GT features lithium titanate batteries, which provide a range of over 150 miles in standard specification, and in excess of 225 miles with the optional range-extender pack. The advanced battery technology enables a superfast recharge in as little as 10 minutes and also a stable operating temperature band of -40c to + 55c. Battery life is also exceptionally long at over 10,000 cycles. The 400 hp twin motor powertrain results in a 0-60 time of under 5 seconds and it has a ‘recommended’ speed limit of 125 mph.
Nemesis
The Nemesis , launched by green energy company Ecotricity, can reach 100 mph in 8.5 seconds, and go on to 170 mph. The Nemesis will be powered entirely by 100% green electricity made by Ecotricity’s UK network of 51 wind turbines. It runs for between 100-150 miles between charges and can be charged in under 2 hours from its fast charger, or 8-9 hours from a regular mains supply.
Westfield Sport E
The electric Westfield Sport E has one motor per rear wheel, giving a 0-60 mph time of 7 seconds, a top speed of 100 mph, and a range of 100 miles.
