Fuel efficiency drives automobile sales surge

Britons are cutting their motoring expenses by investing in fuel-effective vehicles with lower emissions.

The number of alternatively-fuelled vehicles – such as hybrids such as the Toyota Prius and the Vauxhall Ampera – purchased in the first 6 months of this year shot up by 51.3% on the very same period in 2013.

And according to the Society of Motor Makers and Traders (SMMT), registrations of pure-electric automobiles such as the Nissan Leaf have a lot more than doubled – rocketing an incredible 143.9% year on year.

Let’s take a closer look at what these figures mean…

Exhaustive detail

The SMMT figures reveal that the average new car purchased between April and June this year has CO2 emissions of 125.8g/km, down from134.6g/km at the start of 2012.

That indicates standard new automobile emissions in the UK are heading in the correct path to meet a European Union CO2 target of 95g/km by 2020.

We’re nevertheless not as eco as some of our European neighbours, though.

Going Dutch

In the Netherlands, for instance, the typical new automobile bought in 2013 had CO2 emissions of just 109g/km, whilst in Greece and Portugal typical new automobiles put out 111g/km of CO2.

And even if we all switch to fuel-effective cars, we nonetheless want to make some big changes to the way we get around to have any actual impact on the atmosphere.

Hans Bruyninckx, executive director of the European Atmosphere Agency, stated: “Passenger transport nevertheless generates a important element of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU so we require to feel about more sustainable transport systems – the vehicle can’;t resolve all our problems in the 21st century.”

The government not too long ago announced that a £5 million Clean Automobile Technology Fund has been created accessible to 17 nearby councils to pay for green technology to be fitted to 1,080 buses, fire engines, ambulances and taxis.

Pump down the volume

Automobiles with reduce CO2 emissions not only benefit the atmosphere, they also mean significant savings for drivers.

In truth, decrease running charges is probably one particular of the major reasons Britons are steering clear of heavily polluting autos in favour of cleaner, greener ones

The typical new vehicle registered so far this year does 57.4 miles to the gallon, compared to 54.5 for these purchased in the initial 3 months of 2012.

According to the SMMT, a common new family vehicle nowadays is some 27% a lot more fuel-effective than a single built just 6 years ago.

Fuel speed ahead

The total number of new vehicles registered in the 1st half of 2014 is 1,287,265, up 10.6% on last year. The growing appetite for fuel-efficient automobiles is clearly driving this statistic.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, mentioned, “Improving economic conditions have helped the powerful 1st half-year performance.

“But key to attracting shoppers is the ever-improving efficiency of new cars, an crucial element that is highlighted by the 51.3% increase in alternatively-fuelled car registrations so far this year.”

Charge of the Leaf brigade

Pure electric vehicles have also become considerably more well-liked.

Some 1,200 Nissan Leafs had been sold in Europe in August alone.

And in the US, more than 3,000 Leafs were sold in the identical period – an boost of 31.7% on August 2013.

Nissan’s Brendan Jones thinks the car’s accomplishment is down to word-of-mouth: “It’s what we contact the ‘cul-de-sac phenomenon.’ As soon as someone in a neighborhood buys a Leaf, buddies, loved ones, co-workers and neighbours see the benefits and are sold on the concept of going electric,” he mentioned.

More than to you – would you trade down to a fuel-efficient motor, or get a hybrid or electric, to save on operating expenses? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter using the hashtag #FocusonFuel

Fuel efficiency drives automobile sales surge