LOW-CO2 CARS: Emissions regime tightens, although choices still plentiful

Date: 13 June 2013

This sector is still compromised by the practicalities of running plug-in vehicles, and only 10 carmakers currently have an offering in the low-emissions category, but its influence and the availability of models will only grow so we're looking at the fledgling period of an important sector. At present, it's split between two types of vehicle that both need recharging via the mains electricity: pure electric vehicles (Renault's Zoe and Fluence, the Nissan Leaf, Smart Fortwo Electric and the trio of Mitsubishi i-Miev, Citroen C-zero and Peugeot Ion sister vehicles) and range-extenders that use electric power but can switch to petrol or diesel when that runs out (Vauxhall's Ampera, the Chevrolet Volt, Volvo V60 and Toyota Prius Plug-in).

We looked at the sub-95g/km sector last year, and the number of cars on sale here has grown from 102 to 127, with notable new arrivals such as the Honda Civic and Volvo V40.

There's a big jump to the third emissions area we're analysing, with the 130g/km boundary taking on significance from a writing-down allowance perspective for any outright-purchase fleets from the beginning of the current tax year on 6 April 2013. Most sectors of the market are now represented at below 130g/km, from crossover and 4x4-style models to sporting diesel coupes and executive saloons and estates, and at the time of writing, there was a grand total of 2224 individual models on manufacturers' price lists.

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