Department for Transport
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New car resolutions for smarter drivers
New car buyers in England are being urged to ACT on CO2 to save fuel and money when searching for New Year deals.
The Department for Transport (DfT), working with wider Government and the motoring industry, will be helping motorists to make a more informed choice for their next new car.
From today the ACT ON CO2 website will provide a car search tool that can be used to compare CO2 emissions and annual running costs on all current editions of each make and model: giving buyers all the facts before making their purchase.
Transport Minister Andrew Adonis said:
"This campaign shows how the choices we make when buying a new car can have a big impact on future fuel costs and emissions, as well as the road tax we pay.
"By using the ACT ON CO2 search tool, buyers can choose the most fuel efficient cars and see the savings on the screen in front of them. I hope this will encourage individuals and businesses to look for an economical car whilst supporting the industry and stimulating widespread environmental change."
Matching buyers with cars will help to boost the market in the run up to new car registrations in March: showing that it is possible to save money and reduce CO2 emissions when buying a new car. At a difficult time for the economy this will give a much needed boost to both drivers and the motor industry.
The new tool highlights the annual running cost savings that can be made by comparing editions with the most fuel efficient car in that specific category. It has been created with significant input from the people who will be using and maintaining the site, and reflects the suggestions made in a recent consultation.
Drivers could potentially save up to 3 months' worth of fuel each every year, simply by taking time to choose their next car. When combined with smarter driving techniques, this could make a significant contribution to family budgets.
The ACT ON CO2 website highlights a number of tips for smarter driving, which enable drivers to save money, fuel and reduce CO2 emissions. These include driving at a measured speed, not overloading car boots and keeping tyres pumped up. In addition the site shows how to limit fuel wastage, by not leaving engines idles and not over revving.
With the search tool, DfT is also launching a new advertising campaign to promote ACT ON CO2's 'save money, save fuel' message. The campaign will highlight the CO2 and financial savings that can be made by choosing a more fuel efficient new car.
Notes to Editors:
1. ACT ON CO2 aims to help people save money, save fuel/ energy and reduce their CO2 emissions, highlighting how individuals can act to make a difference. ACT ON CO2 is a cross-government initiative, currently involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
The campaign website site is available by searching online for ACT ON CO2 or at this URL: http://www.direct.gov.uk/actonco2
2. The campaign demonstrates the government's commitment to taking action on climate change, working with businesses and individuals in order to reduce CO2 emissions. The advice on the campaign site is designed to help members of the public reduce their carbon footprint and do their bit to help tackle climate change.
3. The new car search tool is available from the 'on the move' section of the campaign website:
4. The tool lists new cars based on their CO2 emissions and also the total cost per annum: calculated using the current year's road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) plus the fuel cost of driving 12,000 miles. This is explained to users in the Glossary of terms within the tool.
5. The TV and press ads (labelled 'Car') from the new campaign are available from the 'Campaign Advertising' section of the campaign website.
6. There is a direct relationship between fuel efficiency savings and reduction in CO2 emissions. The 'save up to 3 months' worth of fuel a year' was calculated by taking the average CO2 emissions of all cars sold in each of the 14 What Car? categories. This figure was compared to what CO2 emissions would have been if someone bought the car with the lowest emissions in that category. An average figure was then calculated for all What Car? categories.
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Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
