Environmental Benefits

Working towards a greener future

Our ecoFLEX vehicles are very efficient. They use less fuel more efficiently, which means they emit less CO2, helping decrease the impact on the environment. GM's most economical vehicle is the new Vauxhall Corsa ecoflex which emits CO2 at only 94g/km.

That's not all; ecoFLEX is part of a much wider range of our green automotive initiatives. We have dramatically reduced manufacturing emissions and our new vehicles use more recycled materials and recyclable parts than ever before. All of our vehicles are at least 85% recyclable and 95% recoverable as per GM's End of Life Vehicle Directive. No more than 15% of an 'end-of-life' vehicles weight is sent to landfill, with the intention to reduce to 10% by 2015.

In addition, our alternative fuel vehicles such as the Ampera our EREV which is constantly driven by an electric motor will emit less than 40g CO2/km under the current European Test Cycle. Other alternative fuels include Hydrogen fuel cell technology which emits zero petroleum and zero tailpipe emissions.

At present the US lead the way within GM's usage of renewable energies, with the Californian distribution centre producing 50% of required electricity through solar panels. Since 2000 the UK's Ellesmere Port Plant has seen a 47% reduction in both electricity and water use, and a 52% reduction in natural gas usage. GMM Luton saw a reduced energy waste by 33% per van, and 31.6% water reduction per van between 2002 and 2006. Their CO2 emissions were also reduced by 21.5% over the same period.

GM's UK Corporate site Griffin House won the EU Energy Trophy for reducing its energy usage by 6.9% between September 2007/2008. Previously the Luton produced Vauxhall Vivaro has twice won the UK commercial vehicle MPG fuel economy marathon. The Ellesmere Port plant has also been awarded the most improved Energy Conservation Award by EON - Power, for reducing the energy necessary to produce each Astra by 50% since 2003.