Today we have some of the greenest vehicles of any manufacturer achieved through product innovation and continual refinement, however while we have made great strides in reducing the carbon footprint of our vehicles, you can also play your part.
Making sure that your vehicle is maintained correctly to the manufacturer’s standard is very important for best efficiency – but your own driving style can have a marked effect on emissions too.
Tips include:
Keep your tyres at the correct pressures
Lighter loads mean less CO2
Drive at the correct speed
Drive at a consistent speed – and accelerate gently
Revving-up wastes fuel and increases emissions
Prolonged stationary periods with the engine running is wasteful too – if you anticipate being stationary for more than three minutes, turn the engine off
Click on the tabs below to see our latest moves in emissions reduction.
Due in UK showrooms in Spring 2012 after its European launch, Ampera will break new ground in being the first extended-range electric vehicle, suitable for everyday use – and with no anxiety over its range.
The wheels are always electrically driven: powered by its 150PS Voltec propulsion system giving the Ampera up to 50 miles*1 of driving from its lithium-ion battery pack – which independent research shows will meet the needs of 85% of UK commuters*2.
For longer journeys, the system engages a range extender: a small (1.4-litre) ECOTEC petrol engine provides current to the electric motor, extending the Ampera’s range by a further 310 miles*3.
Making a significant contribution to lowering CO2 emissions and fuel economy, our innovative system automatically switches the engine off when you stop at the lights or in traffic, then restarts it on depressing the clutch.
Naturally, there’s a huge range of built-in checks to ensure passenger and vehicle safety, and the system can be deactivated manually simply by pressing the ECO button.
Images shown are for illustrative purposes only, and may show optional equipment.
* excludes fuel & lubricants; congestion charges; parking and speeding fines and the £250 insurance excess (if applicable)
*1. The range achievable in battery modus with a fully charged battery under typical everyday driving conditions, modest use of engine performance and in average weather conditions (without use of additional electrical consumers). The range is substantially influenced by the driving style. *2. CCB EcoAuto Research, May 2010. *3. Cumulated range from battery electric and range-extender operation, based on the respective official combined consumption figures according to regulation R (EC) No.715/2007 (in the version respectively applicable). The figures for fuel consumption, electrical consumption, range and CO2 emissions do not relate to a specific vehicle and are not part of an offer. They are provided only for the purpose of comparison between different vehicle variants. Additional equipment may increase the weight of the vehicle when empty, which may lead to a reduction in top speed and increased acceleration time. The published performance figures assume a 75 kg driver plus 125 kg load.
