Together in electric dreams

Gordon Brown has been teasing us with hints on the contents of this months budget. Admittedly this is not the most exciting tease, but it is a tease all the same. Brown is promising a 'green' route to economic recovery.

High on the list are electric cars, roadside power point to charge your car and incentives for 'green' car makers. Evoasis are one of the organisations bidding to become the power point provider, and have some really cool designs for power stations.

The report in today's Independent talks of potential trials in 3 cities for electric cars. These are likely to take place next year, and will no doubt see a scramble by local councils to premiere these initiative.

As drivers we are all feeling the pressure of rising fuel bills and feel we should be doing our bit for the environment - but are we ready to embrace electric cars? The fear by many is that what we will gain in our wallets we will lose in speed. Fear not an electric car has been developed that can out perform its petrol counterparts.



If you are looking for a car now and don't want to wait for the power station to arrive in your town, how do you make sure you are driving greener (for the world and your wallet).

Find green cars with a straightforward green rating score on www.carmony.co.uk, this helps to show you which cars can be more environmentally friendly in your chosen category.

Road Tax

This week has already seen a rise in fuel tax, which will reportedly cost the average driver £54 a year. Broken down per week, this does not seem like a huge amount, but once you start to add this to your service and maintenance costs and your road tax - then the figure is important.

The DVLA website currently lists seven categories for car road tax:

Band CO2 (g/km) 12 month rate 12 month rate
A Up to 100 £0 £0
B 101 -120 £35.00 £15.00
C 121 -150 £120.00 £100.00
D 151 -165 £145.00 £125.00
E 166 - 185 £170.00 £150.00
F Over 185 £210.00 £195.00
G Over 225 £400.00 £385.00

The same webiste has details on the new prices and categories coming into effect next month.

Changes to the system

From 1 May 2009, an increase in the number of bands, bringing the total number to 13

The following year will see the introduction of different vehicle tax rates for new cars in the first year of registration. The aim being to provide an environmental signal for motorist at the time of purchasing a new vehicle. This rule does not apply to people buying used cars.

The increase to Road Tax in May will be no more than a £5 addition. 2010 will see higher emitting cars charged between £20 and £30 more, whilst lower emitting cars will be charged up to £30 less.

With all this in mind Carmony.co.uk provides cars with both running costs and green scores. The running cost information includes road tax costs, estimated fuel costs (allowing you to alter your estimated mileage) and estimated service and maintenance costs. The aim is to provide you with a clearer picture on how much the car will cost to own, not just buy. Green scores are also included, for those looking to be a little greener and for those looking to save on other costs.

Cut your costs and your carbon

I spend more each month on fuel than I do on food, and that includes going out for meals. Sadly I don't get nearly the same satisfaction from a full tank of petrol as I do from a beautiful meal.

The costs associated with motoring are important to most drivers. Filling up, road tax together with service and maintenance all add up and leave many drivers frustrated.

So what can we do to cut our costs and at the same time lower our carbon emissions? The obvious place to start is the car you choose to drive. If you want to ride around in a 4X4, then which is the best option in its class? Carmony.co.uk include green ratings on cars displayed, which help you to easily see the green credentials of the vehicle. We also display running costs for a vehicle, so when choosing a car you can determine which cars on your short list will cost you more or less to run.

Once you have decided on your car - you should spend some time thinking about how you care for it and how you drive it. This will help you to keep your costs down throughout the time of ownership.

Reducing the amount of fuel you burn, will have a huge impact on your monthly outgoings, leaving you with cash to spend on items you will get a lot more enjoyment out of.

Make sure your tyres are pumped.
Close your windows.
Drive smoother.
Swith off your engine.
Choose the right gear.
Drive Less.
Slow Down.
and sweat

For more details on each of these tips click here