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Green machines set to overtake gas guzzlers as environmental taxes begin to bite
Last updated at 00:07am on 30.01.08Rising fuel prices and environmental concerns will see the sales of green cars overtake gas guzzlers for the first time this year.
New figures show that the number of highly polluting cars sold last year fell by 15 per cent to a record low. In contrast, sales of low-emission cars increased by 17 per cent.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders predicts a continued fall in sales of high-emission band G cars which attract £300-a-year road tax, such as the BMW 7-series and Range Rover 4.4 V8 petrol.
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Carbon gap: the Range Rover 4.4 V8 petrol attracts £300-a-year road tax but the diesel VW Polo Blue Motion is in a much lower bracket
The majority of 128,646 low-emission cars sold last year were not the much-hyped hybrid cars - which combine a petrol engine with an electric motor - but more efficient diesel cars.
The diesel VW Polo Blue Motion, launched last year, is the least polluting conventional car on the road, able to deliver an average of 72 miles per gallon while emitting less than 160g of CO2 per mile.
Government plans to encourage greener driving could mean road-pricing schemes, tax breaks for energy-efficient cars and penalties for those with high emissions.
Under measures already announced, the Vehicle Excise Duty rate is to be raised up by £5 a year for all but the cleanest cars, and from £300 to £400 for the biggest gas-guzzlers.
The European Commission is considering forcing manufacturers to reduce the carbon emissions of the average new car from 256g per mile (160g/km) to 208g per mile (130g/km) by 2012.
But the Government has signalled it will postpone the reduction in the limit until 2015 to protect British car makers such as Jaguar and Land Rover.
SMMT chief Paul Everitt said: "We would be setting ourselves to fail if the target was 2012. We believe 2015 is more realistic because it gives is a practical timescale to develop the right mix of cars."
Stephen Joseph, the director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "The SMMT figures show people are already changing their car-buying habits and that we should not believe the doom and gloom from car manufacturers about the impact of tough CO2 targets. The market will adapt."
Reader views (3)
Tsk! Tsk! This will never, ever do. Yes, it may be good for the environment, but grasping Gordon won't be happy with the tax take going down (yes, I know Darling's Chancellor now, but we all know who holds the purse strings!) Just as diesel got more expensive when people were switching to it for better consumption, rest assured that there will be a bigger tax price to pay once ownership of 'greener' cars reaches critical mass.
- Paul, London
Congratulations for actually pointing out - albeit briefly - it is not just 4x4s that are in Band G. However, given the choice between a Polo and a Range Rover for travelling hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles, at a time with a family, the Polo is not an option.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
I doubt it'll make much difference here in Chelsea, they'll all still be driving their Cayennes with mobile in hand nattering to a mate whilst driving the kids to school.
- Tarquin Olay, London
