Car emissions hit new low

The green revolution is starting to take a firm hold on the nation’s roads, with emission levels from new cars reaching an all-time low.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed that the carbon tailpipe emissions from new cars in the UK has fell to 124.6g per km, significantly less than the EU-wide target of 130g/km.

The improvement in emission levels has been credited to an increasing market for electric and hybrid vehicles as well as an overall push to make more petrol and diesel cars economically friendly - a move which has been facilitated by a lack of road tax for such vehicles.

The battle is not yet won, however, as from 2020 the EU will be revising the target emission level to 95g/km.

Commenting on the emissions data, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "The UK automotive sector has made enormous strides in cutting emissions across the board and should be proud of its achievements.

"However, there is a long way to go, and meeting ambitious targets in 2020 will require ongoing support and investment."

He went on: "Striking the delicate balance between influencing buying behaviour, encouraging investment and maintaining critical tax income will be a big challenge.”

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