| For some people, the notion of green motoring is a | | | | its CO2 emissions. If the car was first registered |
| contradiction in terms. With some very rare exceptions, | | | | before 1973, for example, you pay no tax at all (but |
| all cars consume fossil fuels - and even | | | | this is hardly a solution for green motoring and will |
| electrically-powered vehicles use energy that has | | | | probably cost you more in terms of maintenance). For |
| probably been generated through the consumption of | | | | cars first registered between 1973 and 2001, there are |
| unsustainable fuel resources. Nevertheless, it's not only | | | | two categories of tax based on engine size (those |
| possible to be "greener" in our motoring habits, but - | | | | above and below 1,549 cc). For cars registered after |
| with governments and manufacturers around the | | | | 2001, the tax will fall into one of 9 bands (labelled A to |
| world encouraging all manner of green motoring - it | | | | G), according to their exhaust emissions of CO2. Cars |
| could actually save the long-suffering driver quite a bit | | | | with the very lowest emissions (band A) are |
| of money. | | | | completely free of tax, whilst those gas-guzzlers in |
| The car | | | | band G, with the highest emissions of CO2, pay the |
| If you're starting from scratch and thinking of buying a | | | | maximum annual rate of tax. |
| new car with green credentials, then the choice is | | | | The drive |
| wider now than it has ever been. Nevertheless, | | | | Even if you're not starting from scratch by buying a |
| manufacturers are focusing on the development of | | | | new "green" car, it's still possible to strive for green |
| greener and more efficiently green machines probably | | | | motoring - or at least greener motoring - simply in the |
| more than any other aspect of car development. In | | | | way that you drive. This is largely a question of driving |
| striving for green motoring, the individual motorist is | | | | habits of course. |
| likely to make a choice that attempts to balance the | | | | Anticipating your moves by braking slowly and well |
| price of the car with such green indicators as CO2 | | | | before the hazard is one way of reducing fuel |
| emissions, miles per gallon, fuel type and tax band. | | | | consumption and moving towards your green motoring |
| At the current stage of development, the "compact" | | | | goals. Changing gears at the correct time will also help |
| class of smaller car and super-mini appears to offer | | | | you drive more "greenly" - neither too soon, nor too |
| some of the best green choices, thanks to their lighter | | | | late, but when the engine revs are between 2,000 and |
| weight and modest thirst for fuel. They are also | | | | 3,000 rpm. Remember, too, that the faster you drive |
| cheaper to buy and generally attract a lower rate of | | | | the more harmful CO2 emissions your car will make |
| tax. | | | | and the more expensive fuel you'll consume. In terms |
| The tax | | | | of energy saving, you might try using the |
| Probably one of the biggest savings in going green is | | | | air-conditioning rather less and making sure that |
| the potential saving on tax. Currently, car tax is based | | | | whenever the car is parked, and it's safe to do so, you |
| on the age of the vehicle, its engine size and, crucially, | | | | switch off all the lights. |