tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110631952011-04-21T21:39:29.773+01:00We are working towards visionary and sustainable transport solutions, and pushing for an end to old, tired designs like the 4x4. Visit our new website www.wearefutureproof.org.ukBlake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comBlogger1701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-22998243602184072342009-03-13T18:56:00.005Z2009-03-13T19:10:16.291Z

Recently, local residents responded by more than three to one in favour of an initiative designed to encourage the use of more climate friendly vehicles and discourage gas guzzlers. After several years of effort, We Are Futureproof has helped to push through CO2-based parking charges in Scotland's capital. Permit holders with the most polluting vehicles will see their charges double from the

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-36921079860389083292009-01-07T16:17:00.003Z2009-01-07T16:36:16.471Z

In a welcome move, Richmond has extended it's variable CO2-based parking charges to all car parks and parking spaces in the London borough.Charges will rise by 25% for vehicles producing more than 180g of CO2 per km, and reduced for the cleanest cars.BBC News transport correspondent Tom Symonds said the move "is the most radical attempt so far to link parking charges to carbon emissions. "In a

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-42739895873491326182009-01-07T15:45:00.002Z2009-01-07T16:16:11.125Z

View our new video of Sindy - A Climate Criminal.Many people will remember the UK version of the Barbie Doll. In this video, Sindy drives a pink Land Rover. Watch to see how she responds when she is confronted with facts about her 4x4.Blake, for the Alliance

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-37245279725731698782008-11-06T13:14:00.003Z2008-11-06T14:30:09.907Z

Today, in a counter-intuitive stunt, members of the Alliance handed out free money to car drivers at a central London petrol station.  Our 'Fivers for Drivers' campaign symbolises the money that car drivers would save if Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, supported the EU's original CO2 emissions targets for new cars.Activists wearing Geoff Hoon masks, holding a briefcase full of (fake) money,

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-87757545599724472552008-10-25T18:25:00.000+01:002008-10-25T18:31:48.642+01:00

According to our friends at ETA, the iconic London black cab may soon go electric. Chinese car maker Geely, which owns a large stake of taxi-manufacturer LTI vehicles, is currently developing its own plug-in hybrid and electric cars and is examining the feasibility of converting the diesel-engined cabs to run on battery power.Apparently, a London TX4 taxi emits a whopping 226g CO2 per km, which

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-91243383399065123732008-10-15T20:50:00.000+01:002008-10-15T20:56:39.580+01:00

Our friends at Greenpeace EU passed on a leaked memo last week to the Guardian, which reveals that our ministers care more about protecting Land Rover and Jaguar and jobs in Germany than they do about action on climate change.According to the story, "The government is lobbying to weaken new European laws to force car manufacturers to build cleaner vehicles, leaked documents have revealed.The UK

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-18316461904664139352008-10-03T17:05:00.000+01:002008-10-03T17:15:51.640+01:00

Everyone knows that most males seen driving around in large blacked out luxury4x4s have one thing on their minds.Insecurity.We were sent this photo from an anti-SUV guerrilla action in Brussels.The text reads: A penis enlargement would be more climate-friendly than this show off car.

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-91126145057713556342008-10-02T19:16:00.000+01:002008-10-02T19:45:02.179+01:00

It's pretty well recognized today that human-induced climate change is the greatest long-term threat to humans and wildlife. In fact, you would think everyone but the loonies would support measures that decrease our dependency on oil and help to reduce CO2 emissions. But that isn't the case. Our Conservative MEPs are working hard to help scupper new fuel-saving targets for the car industry. We

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-37537694191745746282008-09-27T15:49:00.001+01:002008-09-29T10:28:52.307+01:00

In a stunning turn of events last Thursday, MEPs in the European Parliament today voted to make carmakers play a much greater role in tackling climate change and rejected car industry attempts to weaken proposed legislation on the fuel efficiency of new cars.With an overwhelming majority, the Parliament's Environment Committee endorsed the European Commission's proposal to cut average emissions

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-58228334052945048542008-09-22T10:58:00.000+01:002008-09-22T12:02:45.509+01:00

In a startling (yet unfortunately not uncommon) news story this week, a toddler in a pushchair was killed by a yummy mummy driving a 4x4 on the school run when she mounted the curb outside the school gates. According to the article, "Fifteen-month-old Finlay Woods was out with his mother and grandmother when the black Toyota 4x4 crashed into his buggy, outside Selwyn junior and infant school in

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-74471857732543727382008-09-22T10:05:00.000+01:002008-09-22T10:11:10.397+01:00

According to a news piece by Reuters, "Uncertainty in oil prices and environmental concerns are denting the prestige of SUVs or 4x4s for city drivers in the UK. After a shock rise in oil to a record 147 U.S. dollars a barrel in mid-July, prices have recently dropped to a six-month low of less than $ 100 US dollars. With consumers increasingly switching to low emissions cars, it's uncertain

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-76568891687208064832008-09-17T14:23:00.001+01:002008-09-17T14:48:09.823+01:00

The Liberal Democrats have called for higher taxes on large 4x4s in order to help provide fiscal incentives for people purchasing smaller efficient cars. According to Norman Baker, buyers would get £1,000 from the government when they drove new Band A cars — which include the VW Polo BlueMotion, the Seat Ibiza EcoMotion and electric vehicles which emit 100g per CO2/km or less. Buying one of the

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-49453038250789718392008-09-17T14:23:00.000+01:002008-09-17T14:28:56.894+01:00

According to an article by Automotive News Europe, "sales volumes for large SUVs fell 44.4 percent. Sales of large cars and large minivans also dropped steeply.""Large premium cars and premium SUVs also had double-digit declines in volume compared with the same period last year, according to an Automotive News Europe analysis of sales data from UK-based market researcher JATO Dynamics."No thanks!

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-74669760000281461832008-09-14T16:23:00.000+01:002008-09-14T16:34:26.359+01:00

This is the time to take action for less polluting carsThe European Parliament is set to cast a decisive vote on 25 September 2008 on a bill to reduce the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of new cars.The Industry Committee voted on 01 September, producing an opinion which could significantly weaken this bill a great deal. Their vote is in stark contrast with public opinion, which seems to be

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-41740530841143659702008-09-05T20:32:00.000+01:002008-09-05T20:41:16.214+01:00

This news comes from ETA: Fewer cars were sold in the month of August than at any time since 1966. The drop in sales has been especially hard on British-made luxury brands such as Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover.This time of year has traditionally been a strong time for new car sales because new registration plates were issued, but despite the fact the plates are now released in March and

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-41407429350009609662008-09-03T09:58:00.000+01:002008-09-03T10:00:02.196+01:00

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-40164498446940961152008-08-29T07:41:00.001+01:002008-09-01T17:59:45.791+01:00

The results of an opinion poll out today show an overwhelming 87 per cent of people in the UK think measures to force car manufacturers to make smarter cars that use 25 per cent less fuel should be introduced urgently.Two-thirds of respondents thought that requiring car manufacturers to reduce the fuel consumption of their vehicles by a quarter would boost the UK economy - because people would

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-83721491626501547222008-08-25T13:06:00.000+01:002008-08-25T13:20:51.767+01:00

In the wake of the economic downturn, consumer demand for new cars is falling. As a consequence, car makers across the USA and Europe are canceling or postponing plans to introduce new car models, including 4x4s.According to Automotive News Europe, Renault, Opel and BMW are among car companies stopping or delaying planned new models due to difficult economic conditions. Most notably, BMW has axed

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-65444721157188117762008-08-18T18:10:00.000+01:002008-08-18T18:29:33.860+01:00

Rising fuel prices are helping to secure the fate of 4x4s as a hugely undesirable car for the future. A recent article in the Daily Mail reported that car dealers are refusing to take gas-guzzling 4x4s as a trade in towards new car purchases as the values for secondhand cars fall.According to the article, 'There is no appetite at present for thirsty 4x4s that would typically cost £100 or more to

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-76439315579606201282008-08-03T13:28:00.000+01:002008-08-03T14:40:06.075+01:00

Today we received welcome news from our friends in the Swiss Young Greens, who are gaining support for a federal popular initiative to ban large heavy and polluting luxury 4x4s from the Swiss market.In Swiss law, Swiss citizens can freely form an association and propose a modification to the Swiss Federal Constitution. The association collects signatures of Swiss citizens who support the proposal

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-21416686380766334292008-07-31T17:46:00.001+01:002008-07-31T19:02:50.163+01:00

Today I caught up with Damon Hill as he was driving a black Tesla Roadster around London for the Greenfleet fuel challenge. The model is based on the Lotus Elise, and is in fact assembled by Lotus for Tesla in the UK.Q: Good morning Damon. Can you tell us a bit about the Tesla, and what you think about it so far?DH: Well, it's a sports car. It's designed on the model of a small sports car, so I

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-7848657820388763942008-07-20T19:40:00.000+01:002008-07-20T20:39:31.993+01:00

Last Friday we launched Mundo Cars in the UK. The Alliance is encouraging MEPs and MPs to get involved.Jean Lambert MEP came and gave a great speech, and even helped us push for new fuel efficient cars.According to Jean, "Londoners are forced to live with poor air quality on a daily basis and suffer the health effects of road transport pollution. Enough is enough. There is no place for highly

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-21921163641481314682008-07-20T19:08:00.000+01:002008-07-20T19:35:06.509+01:00

You know, back in 2003 when we started ticketing 4x4s in Camden, I never thought we'd be launching a car company. But that's where we've come to out of necessity. 25% of our UK carbon emissions come from transport.Now, cars aren't going to disappear in the short term, as much as some of the green activists would like, so we need aspirational cars now more than ever. But we need cars that don't

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-8985744654127676902008-07-09T22:38:00.000+01:002008-07-09T23:06:14.043+01:00

Move over Porsche. The futuristic sports cars for the 21st Century are being developed by Tesla, RiverSimple, and now, the Lightning Motor Company. According to reports, "the Electric Lightning GT appears to have everything an ecoconscious lover of British sports cars could want: a luxury interior, a top speed of 130mph and acceleration that would put a Porsche to shame." The Lightning GT will

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-31607530047172783762008-07-09T16:52:00.000+01:002008-07-09T17:02:12.785+01:00

We were sent this cool article from the Independent today abut tagging cars so that everyone can see the actual carbon footprint of the vehicle. We had a similar idea to tag band G cars with a red label and band A&B cars with Green labels. The red tag idea was for the Hester Prynne effect, taken from the novel the Scarlet Letter. I print the article in full:'As if sky-rocketing petrol prices

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-63452670962566850242008-07-08T12:54:00.000+01:002008-07-08T13:08:42.723+01:00

Well, thanks to our new mayor, the car maker Porsche will carry on building and selling luxury gas guzzling sports cars without addressing the problem of rising carbon emissions from London's road transport. Early this year Porsche announced it would take Mayor Livingstone to court over charging drivers of the most polluting types of vehicles (VED Band G) £25 each time they entered central London

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-25047091595322252732008-07-03T22:58:00.000+01:002008-07-03T23:07:55.114+01:00

The Alliance joined green campaigners today in urging the European Union to 'push for fuel efficiency' and agree tough targets for reducing the fuel consumption of cars.As European officials come under mounting pressure from car manufacturers to weaken proposed legislation, Friends of the Earth Europe and other environment groups pushed vehicles around European capital cities and called on

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-74603563013416260552008-06-23T17:55:00.000+01:002008-06-23T18:42:35.314+01:00

I came across an interesting article by Iain Carson in the Guardian. He argues that "manufacturers will only deliver improvements when they are forced to."Giving us a brief history lesson, he cites that "One hundred years ago this October Henry Ford's Model T launched the mass motor industry. Simple and rugged enough for country tracks, it was also the world's first flex-fuel vehicle. Its engine

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-7686416340250433062008-06-19T10:49:00.000+01:002008-06-19T11:06:04.269+01:00

Car adverts on billboards and in magazines will now be emblazoned with the car’s climate impacts, after the Government yesterday agreed to change its advertising guidelines in response to the threat of legal proceedings by the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s.The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of vehicle will now have to be prominently displayed, arming consumers with the information they need to

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-78184559103193710292008-06-11T23:13:00.000+01:002008-06-11T23:31:41.848+01:00

The recent economic downturn has been the trigger for the first wave of stories prophesying the end of the environmental agenda, according to the Green Alliance. We have been hearing about hauliers protests and new petitions by motorists calling for scrapping the fuel duty and cancelling the increases in VED. According to the Green Alliance, "the media analysis of these issues has been based on

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-32804882613462065762008-06-08T15:55:00.000+01:002008-06-08T16:10:53.491+01:00

Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies and the EU Environmental Committee have started a move that may see 20% of all car ads covered with health warnings similar to the one pictured. According to Mr. Davies, "I want to encourage a shift in consumer behaviour which will communicate to car manufacturers in a financial way that it's in their interests to reduce emissions. Manufacturers of high emission cars hate

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-34204164552949341922008-06-07T14:35:00.000+01:002008-06-07T14:52:05.815+01:00

Last week came the welcome news that sales of 4x4s has fallen last month by 18% compared to sales in May 2007. At the same time sales of smarter 'greener' cars have soared by 120%, according to new SMMT figures. According to the SMMT, "sales of 4x4s fell from 13,617 in May last year to 11,126 this May, a drop of 18.3%. Even sales of smaller off-roaders to which many drivers have already '

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-91383053476532951082008-05-19T12:52:00.001+01:002008-05-19T13:28:47.276+01:00

We came across two interesting articles in the national press. Lewis Smith argues in The Times that the emissions data that consumers rely on to make more environmentally sound choices is usually completely inaccurate. Car companies are accused of jumping on the “eco” bandwagon to make their brand seem greener, even though the figures don’t back them up. The article refers to independent

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-76037031412118316982008-05-15T13:49:00.006+01:002008-05-19T13:11:47.690+01:00

We don't always want to talk about boring politics and what manufacturers and the government isn't doing - so we thought we'd mention our friend Miranda, over at the Accidental EcoManiacIntroducing her blog she writes: "I never wanted to become an EcoManiac. I was busy living the good life, complete with retail therapy and long-haul flights. In fact, when I moved back to London in 1999, I thought

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-9433947526895988982008-05-08T11:22:00.000+01:002008-05-08T12:11:58.228+01:00

Today I received an email about how to protest the rising price of oil in the UK. In case you haven't noticed (or just don't drive), the recent price of petrol is up to near £1.30 per litreI read the email suggesting that motorists boycott Esso and BP garages and realised that the sender didn't really get it, as probably most drivers don't.. the era of cheap oil is over.Now, we do sympathetically

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-547115838430983652008-05-08T10:29:00.001+01:002008-05-08T16:57:07.385+01:00

Well, the mayoral contest has come and gone and Boris is in. What this means for Londoners will become apparent over time.One of our supporters, Nick, sent this along with his order for a T Shirt: 'Hi there - I completely agree with what you are trying to do, and am fed up with seeing these pointless vehicles around the streets of London. Its sad that the new mayor clearly doesnt understand how

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-50812412022142325282008-05-02T17:03:00.001+01:002008-05-02T17:09:12.585+01:00

We all aspire to have a new car when we grow up, right? Fast, independent, status...Well, apparently not.Japanese car makers are worried the downturn over the past decade is part of a deeper generational shift among their young consumers. Unlike their parents' generation, which viewed cars as the passport to freedom and higher social status, it appears web-savvy

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-5990374145986758832008-04-28T17:26:00.000+01:002008-04-28T18:49:06.260+01:00

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-21787418861760062652008-04-21T12:07:00.000+01:002008-04-21T12:18:51.198+01:00

In another ground breaking move by Richmond Council, cars on the school run are to pay for temporary council parking permits which will vary in price according to the CO2 emissions level of the car. The pilot is scheduled to start in September.According to the Telegraph article, 'Parents are to be charged up to £75 a year by councils to drop their children off on the school run.''Richmond

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-84885848867595193302008-04-20T18:16:00.001+01:002008-04-21T12:37:57.315+01:00

In a clear example of greenwashing, Land Rover’s global green campaign, launched last month, boasts about the car’s unique relationship with the planet. The ads focus on research into biodiesel engines, a new carbon off-setting scheme, and sustainable technology, all set in stunning landscapes. Unfortunately, this company, now owned by Tata, is great at selling an enviable lifestyle

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-11566311893598233602008-04-19T14:42:00.000+01:002008-04-19T14:49:03.962+01:00

In a new poll conducted by FoE EWNI, 78% of those questioned agreed that, in order to tackle climate change, European governments should make vehicle manufacturers double the fuel efficiency of new cars by 2020 (40% agreed strongly and 38% agreed).The YouGov poll also showed that, of those who knew what biofuels are, three quarters would prefer the Government to curb emissions by improving

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-66266728139425109862008-04-19T13:27:00.001+01:002008-05-01T23:30:54.125+01:00

If Londoners would like to personally communicate with the Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking, CEO of Porsche in Germany, about Porsche and the way they are behaving like the ugly German in the UK, then please use this email address. Always be sure to be formal and polite.dr.wendelin.wiedeking@porsche.de

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-88734563027810190352008-04-18T20:59:00.001+01:002008-04-19T13:24:36.589+01:00

Reprinted from an article in the New Statesman by Tony Bosworth at Friends of the Earth:"The mayoral candidates need to consider global warming when discussing the congestion and emission charges. Car ads sell us a particularly seductive modern day fantasy. We are promised open roads cutting through sweeping panoramic landscapes, speed, freedom, and excitement. But

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-60575884759277089112008-04-09T17:07:00.000+01:002008-04-09T17:31:11.082+01:00

Today, campaigners from the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s led a dinosaur hunt through Berkeley Square to the Porsche dealership in Mayfair, exposing Porsche as a dinosaur company petrified by a changing climate. Unless Porsche adapts their business model they will become extinct.Adorned in pith helmets and hiking boots, equipped with binoculars and dinosaur field guides, campaigners lead members of

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-82793600687004714502008-04-01T10:11:00.001+01:002008-04-01T10:26:55.273+01:00

Today, in a breathtaking turnaround, the German sports car maker Porsche made a startling public apology to Londoners, and Mayor Ken Livingstone's Office!According to Managing Director Andy Goss, Porsche apologized: “For being so pigheaded in pushing for a judicial review of the recent changes in the congestion charge. A bit rash we know! Sorry. But now that we think about it, the change does

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-85905350701587050882008-03-21T17:14:00.001Z2008-03-22T09:52:16.724Z

Today Europe's environment chief Stavros Dimas said that he personally sympathised with a plea made on the BBC recently by the former Shell boss Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. In a Green Room article he urged the EU to set minimum standards for car efficiency in the same way they set minimum standards for fridges. He suggested totally banning cars that manage less than 35 mpg. That would mean big

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-38109595522214416192008-03-20T16:11:00.002Z2008-03-20T16:43:23.759Z

Today we launched our new UK website to enable people across the UK to make complaints about car adverts that either have no CO2 info, or font type so small no one can read it. According to the new website www.AdvertiseCO2.co.uk, most billboards look like this one. The font size should be large enough to read easily from a passing car. Here you hardly see the information at all, so it is highly

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-28039265411064154002008-03-17T11:05:00.000Z2008-03-17T11:09:31.659Z

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-33323687165863496242008-03-17T10:18:00.000Z2008-03-17T11:03:30.639Z

Drivers of luxury 4x4s and other gas guzzlers are to be shamed into buying less polluting vehicles under new plans by the Chancellor. In a shakeup of car taxation, buyers of VED band G cars will be landed with a new first year 'registration' charge of £950, before it reverts to £400. Other cars would be charged on a sliding scale. Cars below the threshold of 130 gm CO2/km will not be charged a

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-64344529642765466912008-03-17T09:57:00.000Z2008-03-17T10:09:00.277Z

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone and Transport for London (TfL) rejected a demand by luxury and sports car manufacturer Porsche to scrap plans for a higher £25 Congestion Charge for the very highest CO2 emitting cars, including many of the so-called Chelsea Tractors, the most powerful sports cars and some luxury executive cars, as part of the capital's plans to tackle climate change and cut

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-61426997213112357472008-03-10T22:48:00.001Z2008-03-10T23:25:09.908Z

A new report from Belgium claims that 99% of car adverts published in newspapers and magazines and on roadside hoardings in the European Union are illegal, because they fail to comply with European Directive 1999/94/EC, which stipulates that a vehicle’s fuel consumption and its CO2 emissions must be "easy to read and no less prominent than the main part of the information provided in the [advert]

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-64110515780857590722008-03-10T14:35:00.001Z2008-03-10T14:56:23.123Z

General Motors, manufacturers of the controversial Hummer H3 4x4, was told to remove any claims of fuel efficiency from their advertising materials. This follows a complaint to the Advertising Standards Agency by Friends of the Earth Scotland, members of the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s, and several NGOs. The motor giant's newspaper adverts claimed the H3 was a fuel efficient vehicle. However, the

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-77916153747522561642008-03-03T12:29:00.000Z2008-03-03T13:21:43.521Z

Nobody could have imagined the PR disaster that sports car maker Porsche would stir when they publicly challenged London mayor Ken Livingstone's new C Charge proposals. And they couldn't have provided a better launchpad for our new campaign to push for tighter CO2 emissions standards for all car manufacturers. First Dom Joly wrote a piece all about Porsche envy: "Weirdly, I don't actually mind

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-31317377478165224732008-02-26T17:12:00.001Z2008-02-26T17:21:45.534Z

Last week Porsche said it intended to judicially challenge the Mayor of London's plans to increase the London congestion charge to £25 for gas guzzlers.Watch the Sky News Interview as Tony Juniper, Executive Director for Friends of the Earth, takes on Andy Goss, Managing Director of Porsche UK in Mayfair. (video in the toolbar)The result is quite entertaining. Dance like a butterfly, sting like a

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-44720133680516275062008-02-24T08:41:00.000Z2008-02-24T08:49:37.097Z

On Saturday we launched our new petition, addressed to Porsche in Mayfair as well as their CEO Wendelin Wiedeking. We think that policy on tackling pollution in London is a matter for Londoners, not car companies. We support the CO2 Charge and demand Porsche drop their court action.We've joined forces with Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, and London Assembly members.

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-40379094172378357352008-02-21T23:44:00.000Z2008-02-21T23:48:14.733Z

New vehicle registration figures released by ACEA this week prove that stronger EU intervention is required to shift the market. In their February 2008 economic report, ACEA states the 4x4 segment saw a steady increase in demand (+22% in 2007 compared to 2006), accounting for 9.9% of new registrations in 2007 against 3.5% in 1998. Registrations of the cars emitting less than 120g of CO2 per

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-2257985209534122952008-02-19T11:43:00.001Z2008-02-19T11:49:12.164Z

Porsche’s legal challenge today over new Congestion Charge plans highlights how polluting their cars actually are. Porsche only produce gas guzzling and high-carbon emitting sports cars and SUV’s falling in VED tax bands F & G. In fact – rather than focusing on the C Charge, the spotlight should be on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. It is one of the most polluting 4x4s, with 378gCO2/km - that's nearly

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-38054093811364084272008-02-18T19:24:00.002Z2008-02-19T11:49:47.595Z

I'd like to set the record straight. We're not anti-car.Unlike some of our green colleagues who want only to rid the city of cars altogether, we've always understood that some may need a car. What we do find more interesting is redirecting the current trajectory of personal mobility away from large gas-guzzling, clumsy and poorly designed vehicles to something new, graceful and a harmonius part

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-18806355310185846442008-02-13T01:05:00.000Z2008-02-13T01:12:17.707Z

The Alliance Against Urban 4x4s is celebrating victory today after Mayor Ken Livingstone confirmed a scheme to levy a higher congestion charge on gas-guzzling cars in London.The Mayor outlined the results of a three-month public consultation in late 2007. The new emissions-based Congestion Charge will create a sliding scale of charges for cars emitting higher and lower levels of carbon dioxide

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-40564308494624406752008-02-13T00:36:00.000Z2008-02-13T01:03:19.115Z

Today marked a victory for our campaign. Since 2004 we have campaigned for a higher congestion charge in London for 4x4s and other gas guzzlers.

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-13063251005288412112008-02-06T15:37:00.000Z2008-02-06T15:43:39.644Z

Our caravaning correspondent keeps us posted on the latest news from the caravaning world. She writes, "This month's C&C Club magazine features an article on lightweight caravans (in fact it's their cover feature). They are being quite clever as they are not directly criticizing 4x4's as they no doubt realize many of their members own them, but focus on their higher CO2 emissions and higher fuel

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-45011068503356966822008-02-06T15:26:00.000Z2008-02-06T15:47:33.133Z

We received this blogger entry from Waltham Forest exposing the Council's latest Climate Change Strategy:"This house on The Risings E17 has a drive and a garage. The Council has cleared the way for the acquisition of up to three more vehicles by permitting footway parking. And naturally if you bow down to the 4 X 4 brigade, they will take even more space than they are allocated...The Council

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-60969227923296691782008-02-04T17:10:00.000Z2008-02-04T18:31:22.490Z

Ahhh. It's music to our ears. The sweet sound of common sense from a businessman. Finally. Today, BBC news reported the ex-Chairman of Shell felt the EU really ought to ban inefficient cars (cars that get below 35 miles per gallon), and he believes industry will follow stricter environmental guidelines. "Nobody needs a car that does 10-15 mpg (miles per gallon, 19-28 litres per 100 kilometres),"

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-46384482153992332282008-01-31T22:14:00.000Z2008-01-31T22:48:19.918Z

Land Rover is offering to offset the buyer's carbon emissions for the first 45,000 miles. By paying money to Climate Care consumers can help promote energy saving projects in developing countries. These projects include installing clean energy systems to communities that otherwise may never enjoy the benefit of a coal or nuclear power station. This financial act then offsets your guilt for

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-11853870669449100842008-01-31T15:40:00.000Z2008-02-01T17:48:20.505Z

Members of the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s recently visited car showrooms across the UK. We wanted to see if the dealerships are complying with UK law that requires all showrooms (and places of trade) to display the vehicle's fuel efficiency as well as the CO2 emissions. They are also required to have a comparative poster centrally located that lists all of their models for sale and ranks them

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-76887341948674613642008-01-21T11:33:00.000Z2008-01-21T17:28:29.145Z

Greenwash Alert: Jeep (Chrysler UK) is actively misleading consumers with their new advertisements for their 'green 4x4 range of the year'. The new ads claims that the jeeps pictured are from the 'green' 4x4 range of the year. However, if you scrutinize the small text at the bottom, nowhere is the claim substantiated. Hmm... There is a tiny golden logo with a 'shimmer' on it, which is not easily

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-58952328364091936982008-01-15T18:47:00.001Z2008-01-15T19:03:23.132Z

In 2005 we started our campaign along with Greenpeace to charge the most polluting vehicles more (£20) to enter London's Congestion Charge. This includes most luxury 4x4s. We prepared a report to show how this new scheme could work, overcame TfL's obstacles and we handed it to the GLA. The consultation period period ended late last year, and while there has been some backtracking on offering

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-60769799085299165292008-01-12T14:23:00.000Z2008-01-12T14:44:49.814Z

Often the green movement and transport NGOs lobby for higher petrol prices. They argue that the escalating prices at the gas pump will decrease car usage. Witness the reaction by Greenpeace in light of the petrol protests by the hauliers in 2003. They held reactive protests asking the government for higher petrol prices. In the USA, where the price at the pump is rising, consumers are now turning

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-7728446641626681912008-01-09T18:18:00.000Z2008-01-09T18:26:59.589Z

Apparently, Landrover landed themselves in some deep *mud* with their PR firm Trimedia, winning them the award for the most counterproductive green press release of the year in December 2007. Harrison Cowley, from Trimedia, sent a press release to environmental journalists inviting them to a tour of Land Rover’s facilities in the west of England. Although there was nothing wrong with the idea in

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-54411374506058355952008-01-07T15:25:00.000Z2008-01-07T16:42:11.264Z

The SMMT announced the 2006 sales weighted figures today for the UK. The figures show that the average emissions have fallen by a mere 1.4% to 164.9g/kmShocking, but not surprising. This means that 10 years into an 11 year agreement, the average automobile emissions in the UK have fallen by exactly half of what the industry agreed to. According to Tony Bosworth, senior FoE transport campaigner, “

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-54703879135086708852008-01-07T13:13:00.000Z2008-01-07T13:24:17.875Z

Road Rage - The Battle for Britain’s Roads will be transmitting on Monday 7th January at 9pm – Don’t miss it! Featuring our Crash Test Dummies action in Highgate and the London Naked Bike Ride 2007.

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-3058441404766411332008-01-06T23:27:00.000Z2008-01-06T23:32:57.324Z

Recent polling shows that two thirds of Londoners support proposals to charge cars with the highest greenhouse gas emissions £25 a day to drive in the central London congestion charge zone and introduce a zero charge for the lowest emitting vehicles.The results, announced late December by Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, come from polling carried out by Ipsos Mori as part of the recent

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-48499302919402555312008-01-02T14:21:00.000Z2008-01-02T14:36:58.800Z

When we started our campaign, SUV's were all the rage in America. And the trend was sweeping across the UK into Europe. But the trend has been shifting. Through our campaign and the media, it's hard to hear of a conversation about 4x4s without some argument about their high carbon emissions, poor fuel economy or lack of usefulness in a city environment. Well, now Alex Taylor III, a senior editor

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-59986236278379939882008-01-02T12:38:00.000Z2008-01-02T12:43:05.761Z

Newcastle has become the latest council to propose the introduction of increased parking charges for high carbon vehicles in the city centre. The development follows moves to differentiate parking charges between high and low carbon vehicles in London and Manchester.The BBC reported on 11 December that Newcastle City planners are considering proposals for drivers to pay higher parking charges

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-7259642783606195032007-12-12T23:17:00.000Z2007-12-12T23:40:37.669Z

A federal judge in California today rebuked the auto industry's attempt to block California and 16 other states from setting tough new limits on global warming pollution from automobiles, calling these efforts "the very definition of folly."Meanwhile, the head of ACEA, the car group in Europe wrote this in Financial Times: "Sir, As the chief executives of 13 auto companies producing and marketing

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-72860863732211729852007-12-05T19:59:00.000Z2007-12-05T20:16:17.550Z

Serves them right! If you want to know what cynacism looks like, follow Volkswagen, Porsche and Daimer as they fight against any meaningful CO2 emissions regulations by the EU. They were named winners of a public poll for the 'Worst EU Lobbying' Award 2007 at a ceremony in Brussels hosted by the award organizers Corporate Europe Observatory, Friends of the Earth Europe, LobbyControl and

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-82432640808831649942007-11-26T13:25:00.000Z2007-12-12T23:15:32.888Z

Our friend Jeroen from the group 4x4Info Action in Belgium wrote us recently about an awareness raising activity they did recently, which has received a lot of press attention. "11 people were dressed as football referee and handed out red cards to SUV drivers. We had a team of 6 cheerleaders which created a party-like atmosphere."What did the anti-4x4 activists want to express? Here's their list

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-80429398477750820162007-11-25T10:22:00.000Z2007-11-25T10:33:24.984Z

We received this photo this week, from one of our MySpace supporters. He wrote: 'I see what you mean! spotted this specimen in my town, owner was a young mum with no visible disability or sticker on car, she gave me a mouthful for taking this pic!'Well, this isn't the first time we've heard of lousy or fraudulent parking. We regularly see 4x4s hogging two parking bays (to protect their baby) or

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-83733140388986203152007-11-25T10:10:00.000Z2008-01-07T10:47:35.799Z

As the winter cold takes over activists need warmer gear for ticketing those arrogant and obsessive luxury 4x4s. So we have designed a few hooded sweatshirts. Here, Olivia sports one of the best selling designs, available from our shop.

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-22383943131959278862007-11-08T09:06:00.000Z2007-11-08T11:26:31.306Z

We get a lot of complaints from disgruntled owners of large urban luxury 4x4s who drive diesel models or who have converted their old Landie to LPG. Diesel cars in general burn 'hotter' and so are more 'fuel efficient'. They also emit less CO2. So, should we be congratulating drivers for 'going green' by buying diesel and using LPG?Well, our friend Simon Birkett over at the Campaign for Clean Air

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-77558834458138293882007-10-25T15:01:00.000+01:002007-10-25T15:25:11.470+01:00

According to the Times (20 Oct 2007), 'all advertising for new cars will have to carry cigarette-style “health warnings” about their environmental impact, under a European plan to force manufacturers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.''Advertisements in newspapers and magazines, will have to devote at least 20 per cent of the space to details about fuel economy and CO2 emissions. At the moment

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-15522463314887469572007-10-09T13:53:00.000+01:002007-10-09T14:01:50.934+01:00

Our friends at the Belgian anti 4x4 Alliance planted this very 'green car' for mobility week in Brussels. According to Jeroen Verhoeven, "We transformed a car into a kitchen garden, a symbolic image. The message we gave to the people during the action we did around the kitchen garden car on the car free day, was basically "feed people not cars", referring to agrofuels and the need to reduce the

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-12986230093559817062007-09-15T14:15:00.001+01:002007-09-15T14:32:37.529+01:00

A supporter recently wrote us questioning why people insisted they 'needed' a 4x4 to tow a caravan. She writes:"My husband and I recently joined the Camping & Carvanning Club. Their newsletter carries a letters page, and in the one we received with our joining pack was a response page to a previous post - the jist of it appeared to be that a gentleman driving a Mondeo was complaining that many

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-21490099390362254862007-09-12T11:19:00.000+01:002007-09-15T13:47:10.550+01:00

If you travel around London, it's not uncommon to see motorists chatting away on the mobile phones whilst driving. Our friend Arvind has been busy starting a new campaign to try and help reduce the trend. His new bright yellow car sticker warns drivers to Zap their phone not people. “I got so frustrated at seeing so many motorists continuing to use mobile phones whilst driving that I thought I

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-89401954384280132452007-09-10T19:03:00.000+01:002007-09-10T19:33:58.451+01:00

It seems to be a sign of the times, and a sensible way to reduce pollution in our crowded cities. For all of the harrumph we hear from the Conservatives in the UK over the Congestion Charge, the idea is spreading like wildfire across the planet. Maybe the Tories are just a bit behind the times?Already there is a charging zone set up in Singapore, Toronto, and the state of Oregon, and recently in

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-38096240067433861502007-09-10T11:20:00.000+01:002007-09-10T15:35:30.062+01:00

A view from a child's bicycle seat.Cycling my son to and from school is brilliant. On the way, we wave at people who wave and smile at us. On the way home, children often invite my son to stop and play with them on the swing-park or in their dens made of old tyres and bits of broken fence. At the school gates, almost every child seems to know us and the bike is seen as an engine of wonder. We’re

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-78991480041638593182007-08-23T23:38:00.000+01:002007-08-24T00:01:04.448+01:00

You know, we are always on the lookout for more songs about SUVs. We've posted a few on our myspace page, sent by friends who find the large gas-guzzlers equally insane. The latest is sent by Russ Buchanan and is titled 'Me and My SUV'. We like his style - he writes about his encounter over dinner with a couple who were proud of buying a Hummer:"...so I'm eating dinner at a friend's house when

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-55137131450326044332007-08-15T13:50:00.000+01:002007-08-15T13:59:51.824+01:00

You may have seen / read an article over the weekend, or in yesterday's Evening Standard about the new Emissions-influenced Congestion Charge Proposal for London.At the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s, we wholeheartedly support this proposal. We submitted a report to the GLA last summer recommending this move to CO2 emissions, rather than try to pick out 4x4s alone. We also believe there is strong

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-34281169437420968662007-08-08T10:46:00.000+01:002007-08-08T10:57:02.596+01:00

4x4 Volumes lead to reduced demand and faster depreciation.30th July 2007 (Source: CAP )Retail demand for used 4x4s is flagging, while new figures show that depreciation has been significantly steeper than in other vehicle sectors over the past two years, according to new research by CAP.It means that the typical 'heavy' off-roader registered three years ago has lost an average 33 per cent of its

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-45035678480887790522007-07-16T12:08:00.000+01:002007-07-16T12:19:22.733+01:00

A supporter in Canada wrote to us today. He's been inspired by our campaign , and designed his own ticket for Vancouver. He writes: "I loved the parking ticked idea so much that I made fake parking tickets for the city. I live in (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada). I based the tickets on yours, but updated the language and statistics to reflect a Canadian world view." We think they look great.

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-19104571532850511132007-07-16T11:01:00.000+01:002007-07-16T11:07:20.130+01:00

A supporter sent us this email today: 'I just wrote to you to register my protest against 4x4s sparked off by the new Citroen C Crosser. To find you, I googled anti 4x4s. The first result was for the new Citroen, just beyond the pale!'Well, we thought the French were only producing economical vehicles. It seems that they too feel the urge for some short term profits. It's a pity - sort of like

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-90138657478038388532007-07-04T15:47:00.000+01:002007-07-04T16:14:47.647+01:00

An angry owner of a Lexus RX400 hybrid 4x4 wrote to us today: "dear bunch off offensive, chippy, clearly nothing better to do tossers. i have just returned to my lexus rx400h to find a rather bitter note on my car suggesting that i am an offender,' conned or just overexcited when i saw an advert for a shiny 4 x 4'. if you lot weren't so thick you would realise that 'h' stands for hybrid. a

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-63412959203567152442007-07-02T16:57:00.000+01:002007-07-02T17:03:28.711+01:00

We received the following letter from a supporter in Wilmslow, just to illuminate us on the mentality of some 4x4 owners: "Where exactly in Wilmslow does a driver of a 4x4 need 4-wheel-drive? Whilst negotiating the speed bumps at Sainsbury's? Or mounting the kerb near the primary school so that I have to walk in the road to get past with my little boy walking home from school..Hmmmmm This kind

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-12580209187228452522007-06-19T17:59:00.000+01:002007-09-28T16:49:28.164+01:00

Today, members of the Alliance dressed as crash test dummies and vehicle safety test engineers to educate parents driving their children in large 4x4s to their Highgate schools. The 'engineers' passed out 'test results' to 4x4 drivers to highlight the dangerous reality of their car choice. Each test result showed the EuroNCAP pedestrian safety test scores of their model.A member of Roadpeace

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-15756589380154191562007-06-16T16:59:00.000+01:002007-06-17T12:27:17.708+01:00

The Independent today posted the results of a competition for new collective nouns.One of them is: A guzzle of 4x4 drivers. As in: "The narrow road beside the school was entirely blocked by a guzzle of 4x4 drivers picking up their children." (Winner: Matthew Balmforth)Explaining further about 4x4 drivers, the Independent states,'These are today's latest villains, and many people are keen to

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-44994457272718472732007-06-12T00:27:00.000+01:002007-06-12T00:34:31.796+01:00

   

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-65357147589753359242007-06-05T18:19:00.000+01:002007-06-05T18:25:56.845+01:00

Well, it seems that the old Land Rovers aren't up to the challenge in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now they are stopping soldiers using Land Rovers in combat after reports that the 4x4 vehicles have overturned 100 times - without being in a collision.

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-73438402342806447062007-06-05T11:55:00.000+01:002007-06-05T12:00:59.106+01:00

We have been receiving complaints from legitimate 4x4 owners for a while now. In fact, a lot of farmers actually support our campaign. This letter arrived this morning:"Dear 4x4,The majority of these vehicles are driven by agressive females aged 30-50, of which the tractor forms part of the bling lifestyle along with food shopping at M&S & Waitrose. The one thing I do notice however is that well

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-40846377237020328912007-05-17T20:13:00.000+01:002007-05-17T20:38:06.169+01:00

We received this letter from a student nurse in Manchester today: 'I am writing in support of your website which I have just been informed of. I write this as I watch John Sergeants "Driving me Crazy" which highlights the monstrosity that is the 4x4.As a mini driver I find these vehicles extremely intimidating and fear for my own safety when being followed by a 4x4.As a student nurse I have also

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11063195.post-75216311270236675202007-05-14T15:00:00.000+01:002007-05-14T15:07:40.702+01:00

We received this letter from a supporter in York:"Morning! I've just found your website. I have a 17 year old Land Rover that I use to travel the Sahara and the African bush, and as a founder of two environmental charities with an MSc in Environmental Science I consider myself an environmentalist as I practice minimal car use (I walk to work and the shops, for example, and cycle longer distances)

Blake Ludwignoreply@blogger.com