Original article by Susan Ballard. Find out how to assess the environmental impact of your car, and read some tips on how to improve its performance.

Introduction

More than a quarter of the UK's Carbon Dioxide emissions come from transport according to researchers at Oxford University's Transport Studies Unit. Take a long hard look at your car. What can you do to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions? You might consider a more fuel-efficient model or what about a hybrid model? Susan Ballard recommends a government website designed to help find a more environmentally friendly replacement vehicle.

"In 6000 miles a car will produce roughly its own weight in CO₂ " (Vehicle Certification Agency)

Sections in this article

• Comparing fuel efficiency

• Some tips on improving performance

• Where next?

Comparing fuel efficiency

"The fuel consumption of similar sized cars can vary as much as 45%"

Before you buy a new car it is well worth visiting the Vehicle Certification Agency website. The information on it will help you make a more informed choice if you're buying a car in the UK. For instance, you can easily find out which model uses least fuel, and which emits least Carbon Dioxide and other harmful gases. To do this you will need to click on the database section and fill in a simple search form.  You can also see at a glance the top ten petrol and diesel cars for fuel efficiency and other performance measures.

The proud owner of a Toyota Prius showing off its fuel-efficient hybrid engine.

Some Tips from the Vehicle Certification Agency

• Make sure that your vehicle is regularly serviced. A properly tuned car reduces pollution and can improve fuel efficiency by 5%.

• Drive for fuel efficiency - driving at 70mph uses 25% more fuel than driving at 50 mph

• When purchasing a new car, look for fuel efficiency and an appropriate engine size - if most of your journeys are only around town you probably don't need a car with a powerful engine.

Where Next?

External links

Visit the Vehicle Certification Agency website for background information to help you in choosing a more carbon-efficient car.