British Motorists Seeing Green as Fuel Costs Climb

British Motorists Seeing Green as Fuel Costs Climb

Toyota Aygo city car is typical of low-emission cars selling well in Britain.

Overcome by rising fuel prices and growing environmental concerns, British car buyers are selecting fuel-efficient models in record numbers. 

So much so, according to a report from the nation's automakers, that cars with the lowest emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are set to outsell gas guzzlers for the first time in modern history.

The Brits tax cars according to greenhouse gas emissions – which are directly related to fuel economy – with cars in the least efficient groups charged a so-called road tax of  ₤300 pounds (almost $600 at current exchange rates) and those in the most efficient groups taxed at ₤35 or less. For 2007, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said this week, sales of cars in the two lowest tax groups jumped 17 percent while sales of those in the highest tax bracket fell by 15 percent.

The group said it expects the low-emission cars such as the Toyota Aygo and Honda Civic hybrids to outsell high-emission models such as the BMW 7 Series this year, according to the online financial magazine ThisIsMoney.

British automakers and car dealers also are developing advertising plans that would make it easier for consumers to find a vehicle's carbon-dioxide emissions rating.

"A vehicle's green credentials are fast becoming a major selling point when it comes to buying a new car," a spokesman for research firm uswitch.com told the magazine.
 
In London, where the city imposes stiff  daily "congestion" fees on cars with higher CO₂ emissions, about 40,000 cars a day enter the city center exempt from the fees because of their low emissions. A year of such fees can cost a driver ₤2,080.

In addition to boosting sales of hybrids and low-emission, fuel-efficient small cars, Britain's fuel costs and congestion fees also are expected to increase interest in electric cars such as the battery-powered Smart being tested there now and a version of the Mini that a company called Future Cars is converting to run on battery power.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.