Gina Inman investigates some greener driving options.

Green taxi travel

Alternative Cars is a car and courier service offering an environmentally-friendly travel option. All their cars run on bio-diesel, derived from vegetable rather than crude oil. This means no new C02, making it a virtually carbon neutral fuel. All journeys are a set price (minimum fare of £10). You can phone for immediate pick up but booking ahead is recommended. £1 from all airport trips is donated to tree-planting green charities so at least part of your journey is carbon neutral.
Tel 020 8991 2400
www.alternative-cars.co.uk

Congestion charge news and how to pay it

It is here, and making life for many of us considerably more expensive. You can pay up to 90 days in advance but there are no plans for a ‘pay as you go’ Oyster card-type system, so beware if you find yourself in the extended zone unexpectedly and forget to pay. The easiest way to pay is via a mobile phone; once registered, you just have to text the last four digits of your debit/credit card – less fuss than logging on to the website or finding a newsagent. It is possible to get bulk discounts: booking monthly (20 consecutive working days) gives you a discount of 3 free days – so, £136 rather than £160 – or an annual booking (252 consecutive working days) gives you 40 free days.
www.cclondon.com

Plans to increase the charge to £25 for Band G cars (post 2006 cars emitting over 225g of C02 per km) are under way. The increased charge should be in place by 2010, although TfL is “examining whether this could be brought about sooner … ” – watch this space! You can log on to www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk to check whether your car will be clobbered. As well as the 4x4s, Band G cars include the Renault Espace, the Mercedes E class and the Audi A6.

It’s got to be: ELECTRICITY!

The NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine- picture above) Mega City was originally a petrol car so looks very normal, but the engine has now gone, replaced by a huge lead (as opposed to acid) battery. No dipstick or fan belt to worry about, just the windscreen washer fluid. Insert the key, the dashboard lights up and you’re ready to go: Drive or Reverse. Hi or Lo speed for extra uumph or to save your battery. Brakes take getting used to, but great fun to drive and park. No assisted steering but it’s so light you don’t need it, nor airbags – a car seat can go in the front. CD player and Sat Nav included, plus 12 months’ roadside recovery in the unlikely event you need a recharge! Rumours of a larger version, which will be great. No emissions, so no congestion charge, no road tax, free or reduced parking, charge up at home on a 13amp socket or at one of 100 park and charge points around London.
You can now see the Mega City at NICE’s showroom at 332 Ladbroke Grove, W10.
From £9,995
Tel 0845 6423227
www.nicecarcompany.co.uk

Driving the G-Wiz makes you smile. You’re doing your bit, people smile at you. It looks and feels like a toy car. Inside I stroked my passenger as I reached for the non-existent gear stick. Not built for comfort but when were healthy things ever better than their non-healthy equivalents? Leather looking inside, sliding windows, minimalist interior. In the new AC in boost mode‚ I was able to zoom over the Euston Road confidently. Nothing under the bonnet save a bucket for your shopping, battery under the seat. Drum brakes take getting used to. Room for Mum and 3 kids.

The G-Wiz AC costs £8,299, top speed 45mph, up to 48 miles on one charge. You can recoup the cost in a year on congestion charge and parking. Later this year, it will be upgradeable to high-performance lithium ion batteries, upping your speed to 50-60mph and range to 60–70 miles.
www.goingreen.co.uk

Eco-friendly driving tips

HROwen offers some suggestions to help you make a difference

Do I need to drive? Short journeys burn more fuel. A cold engine produces 60% more pollution than a warm one.

Check-ups Ensure tyres are at the correct pressure (check at least once a month).
Get your car serviced on schedule.

Turn off the engine in a traffic jam or when stopped for more than a few minutes.

Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by 8–10%. Use vents instead.

Cold starts Drive off immediately when starting from cold – idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes engine wear.

Extra weight If not in use, remove bike-racks and roof-racks. They create drag and increase fuel consumption.

Size matters The smaller the car (and engine), the better the fuel economy. This is also true for new cars. As technology evolves, engines become more efficient; if you do have to go large, go new.

Buying a new car

What to ask

Fuel: Are any hybrid, dual fuel and biodiesel options available? What materials are used in the manufacture of the vehicle? Paint, car seat belts, dashboards, carpets, seats – it’s not just the engine which produces harmful emissions.

Are there any environment-friendly upgrades or features? Examples include the Volvo PremAir® system, which helps turn polluted ozone back into oxygen.

Useful websites

www.carbonneutral.com
www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk
www.volvocars.com/epi