Motorists want a clear idea about the environmental impact of the cars they drive, according to the latest research from TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.
Current economy labels detail CO2 emissions only, for emissions released at the tailpipe of the car.
But according to the latest poll from TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, 89 per cent* of us would like to see environmental rating on new cars highlight all emissions and not just CO2.
Emissions of NOx, HC and particulates are currently left off the labels despite the fact that these emissions are an immediate threat** to human health.
It would seem that many drivers are fully aware that CO2 emissions are not actually considered air pollutants, and are being tackled within the transport sector as part of wider measures to reduce the climate changing effect of human activity. Meanwhile other emissions from transport have been linked to respiratory diseases, reduced life expectancy, suppressed immune systems and heart disease.
Volvo is one car maker striving to readdress the imbalance within the transport sector by running a campaign to persuade the Government to launch an automotive air pollutants environmental label to sit alongside the already established CO2 label.
Focusing on CO2 emissions alone distorts the real environmental credentials of the latest car models available on the road and a wholesale approach would encourage car makers to ensure their models produced as little of all pollutants as possible, helping to improve the UK’s air quality, which currently breaks EU regulations***.
TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk supports the idea of altering environmental labels on new cars to foster a market for the most environmentally-considerate cars possible.
Says the website’s editor, Faye Sunderland: “Although the CO2 emission label does give some indication of overall emission level; it is not clear cut. Consumers should have easy access to the full data so they can make informed choices about the type of car they are buying.
“The threat that air pollution poses to health is well documented and genuinely people are concerned for the effect it has their health.
“Household products containing potentially dangerous chemicals are clearly labelled-why should cars be treated differently?”
