With the new tax legislation which came into affect in April 2009, the government have made it more attractive for companies to lean towards making their fleet of vehicles more 'Green'. Manufacturers have come to the party as well by introducing model lines and special editions where the main aim is to reduce Co2 Emissions and Increase MPG, ie. by making the cars less harmful to the environment and also cutting the time & money spent at the fuel pumps!

So what do manufacturers do to make their cars 'Green'?

Car manufacturers have been researching for a number of years into how to make their cars 'green'. There are a wide range of names used to describe the their green models however the technologies used in each are very similar and can be summarised by the following:

Brake Energy Regeneration - this technology uses the normally wasted energy produced from braking and recycles it back into the car to charge the car's battery which reduces the demand on the car's engine which in turn makes you use less fuel and cuts the Co2 emissions.

Low Resistance Tyres - less resistance means less energy used as the car can roll more freely.

Auto Start-Stop - When the car comes to rest at a junction or set of traffic lights, this technology switches the engine off until you depress the clutch again to move off.

Optimum Gear Shift Indicator - A display on the car's dashboard indicates the correct gear you should be in for economic driving.

Engine Modifications - Longer Gear Ratios to cut the amount of engine revving; new engine management software; Low-friction fluids are now used in engines, this reduces the wear on the engine and the amount of energy wasted as well as making engines run more smoothly; highly efficient DPFs (Diesel Particulate Filters) are used to cut Co2 emissions.

Weight Reduction - lighter materials are used throughout the car, from engine components, to body panels right through to lightweight alloy wheels. Less weight means less energy needed to get the car going therefore less fuel is used.

Aerodynamics - some manufacturers use active aerodynamics such as opening and closing vents behind the cars front grill; these vents are closed to let the car's engine reach its optimum operating temperature then open when cooling is required. Some manufacturers also use specially designed bodykits to cut air resistance and also lowered suspension to reduce the car's Centre of Gravity.

Hybrid Technology - A Hybrid Vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles which combine and internal combustion engine with one or more electric motors.

The 'Green' Badges - what names are used by which Manufacturers: