Fiat Attempting to Grasp the Low Hanging Fruit with Advanced ICE

I was browsing the internet the other day when I came across this interesting advertisement by Fiat concerning its new Panda model. Usually these sorts of commercials get unconsciously blocked out but what drew my attention to this particular one was the combination of lower CO2 emissions with lower costs. This concept is referred to in environmental circles as the “Low Hanging Fruit” and is the topic of many bogus green business books often titled “How to Win Big by Going Green” or “Guaranteed Financial Success with the Environment”. Having said that I don’t believe this concept is bogus, just because it is used a little over exuberantly in some books. Win-Win opportunities are always out there for those of us who are smart or fortunate enough to spot them.

As the advert perked my interest I decided to take a closer look at the technical statistics of the Panda to see if there claims are legitimate or are another example of corporate green washing. Fiat has indeed been busy and has revealed numerous Panda concepts aimed at reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency. I try not to take too much notice regarding concept models unless they’re truly groundbreaking, after all its the road models that will be the ones making the difference. The Active Eco and Dynamic Eco models of the Panda were released in 2009 featuring engines that offer CO2 emissions as low as 119grams per km meaning they’ll qualify for the low £35 road tax band.

£5000 Incentive Grant to be Offered to Electric Vehicle Consumers

The UK Government has recently announced that it plans to put its money where its mouth is concerning the environmental intensity of personal vehicles and will be offering a 25% discount (up to £5000) for consumers purchasing an electric vehicle (or plug-in hybrid) from the start of 2011. This policy complements the investment it is putting into research, development and deployment of low emissions transport technology in an attempt to decarbonise the transport sector. The incentive should come online with the roll out of mass market EVs in the UK such as the Nissan Leaf and also the Renault ZE range which is earmarked for a 2011 launch.

Perhaps one of the biggest concerns consumers have expressed regarding EVs is both their limited range but also the high upfront costs associated with the battery technology. This will be recouped in reduced operating costs throughout the vehicle lifespan but the initial price premium (in comparison with conventional cars) is likely to be a significant barrier to uptake. Better Place has attempted to get around this obstacle by partnering with vehicle manufacturers who will sell the EVs without the battery pack which is instead leased by Better Place to the consumer. This will decrease the upfront costs and incorporate the battery price into operating costs that are heavily discounted by the consumer.

Motorsports as a Source of Automotive Innovation

With the start of the new Formula One season kicking off in Bahrain last weekend the debate on whether the rule changes will have a positive effect on the overall sporting spectacle is buzzing around the paddock and the news rooms. In the 2010/2011 season race cars will not be allowed to be refuelled during the race itself, thus must start the race fully laden with the fuel they will require to complete all the designated laps. This rule is complemented by other challenging regulations such as the restriction on the total quantity of tyres a driver may use at any one event along with the limit on the number of engines and gearboxes that may be used throughout a championship season.

Perhaps the primary objective of these rules and regulations is an attempt to level the playing field for teams competing within the championship. Some of the larger teams (such as Ferrari and McLaren) have vast budgets to draw on whilst the smaller and newer teams do not have such extensive financial reserves. These rules will help establish some form of competitive balance in an effort to ensure that the team with the biggest chequebook does not necessarily guarantee themselves the championship.