Efficient car use

Travel Choice

Before making a journey, it is worth considering whether it is really necessary. Face-to-face meetings can often be replaced by tele-conferencing or video-conferencing.

Nearly 40% of journeys of less than 2 miles are made by car. Short trips result in significantly higher levels of harmful emissions, since engines are not operating at their optimum temperature. Many of these journeys can easily be made on foot, by bike or on the bus, often with little or no time penalty.

Many longer trips can readily be made by public transport. Travel by coach or train frees up productive time that would otherwise be lost while driving.

Car sharing can also be appropriate for business travel, as well as for everyday journeys such as commuting. Not only will this help to cut emissions, it will also help to reduce travel costs.

Journey Planning

Traveline and Transport Direct offer door-to-door journey planner functions for public transport trips, while the AA and RAC offer similar tools for car journeys. These tools find the shortest or quickest routes for a particular journey, as well as highlighting congestion hot spots and the locations of planned roadworks.

In-car navigation systems perform a similar function, with spoken navigation commands to guide the driver to their destination. These can also provide real-time traffic reports, as well as advice on alternative routes to avoid the jams.

When travelling by car, try to make trips off-peak wherever possible. Doing so will help to reduce congestion and air pollution.

Fuel Use

Efficient use of gears - Drive in the highest gear that is possible without labouring the engine. A vehicle travelling at a speed of 37 mph in third gear uses 25% more fuel than when at the same speed in fifth gear.

Smooth driving techniques -Think ahead to avoid excess braking and acceleration. Smooth driving techniques can increase fuel efficiency by as much as 30%.

Switching off the engine - When stuck in stationary traffic for more than a few minutes, switch off the engine. This will help to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Drive off immediately - Leaving the engine running before setting off increases the time it takes to warm up to optimum operating temperature. This results in increased levels of harmful emissions. Instead, drive off as soon as possible (ensuring first that windows are clear of ice and condensation), but drive gently until the engine has reached its normal operating temperature.

Lighten the load - Carrying unnecessary loads increases fuel consumption and emissions. Remove roof racks if they are not necessary for the journey, since they add weight and increase air resistance.

Service the vehicle regularly - Poorly maintained cars pollute the environment significantly more than well-maintained ones. Research suggests that 50% of pollution from cars is caused by just 10%-20% of them.

Carry out everyday maintenance - Regularly check oil and water levels and check tyres for pressure and tread depth. About 50% of tyres on the road are under-inflated increasing the rate of wear, while reducing fuel efficiency.

Choice of Vehicle

Before buying or leasing a car, it is worth considering how it will be used. Most car trips are made with just one or two occupants. If a large vehicle is required only for occasional trips, it may be more cost effective to hire one when required and have a smaller, more efficient car for everyday use.

Company car tax is based on emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), which is the main greenhouse gas. Cars producing the lowest levels of CO2 attract the lowest tax rates.

The choice of vehicle can make a considerable difference in terms of its impact on the environment and its running costs. Compared with a fuel-efficient city car, a large 4x4 with a V8 petrol engine will emit up to 3½ times as much CO2. The difference in running costs is even greater, due to the increased tax, insurance and depreciation costs of the larger vehicle.

Fuel type is closely linked to emissions. Diesel engines generally produce lower levels of CO2 emissions than petrol engines. Similarly, vehicles powered by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) emit less CO2 than equivalent petrol engines.

A colour-coded environmental labelling scheme has been introduced for new cars sold in UK car showrooms to illustrate the climate change impacts of different cars. It also emphasises the link between better environmental performance and lower road tax and lower running costs.

The labelling system mirrors important aspects of the energy efficiency labels that appear on 'white goods', such as refrigerators and washing machines. Cars are given a rating from A through to G, with A-rated cars having the lowest emissions.

The categories used are consistent with the CO2 bandings used for Vehicle Excise Duty ('road tax') to ensure that the environmental message is backed up by a clear fiscal signal: lower carbon emissions = lower road tax. The label also provides clear running cost information showing that lower emission vehicles are cheaper to run.

For further information on the environmental labelling scheme, please refer to the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) website.

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