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Auto Express Car Reviews
Safety law threat to eco models
Green cars set to lose eco-friendly status under new rules.
By Julie Sinclair
29th April 2008
Nearly two out of three low-emission cars will be robbed of their green status under plans to boost safety standards. And among the demands set out by the new rules are that models get five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests.
Government officials at the Swedish Road Administration (SRA) will launch the stricter definitions for environment-ally friendly vehicles next year. But the SRA warns the changes could knock up to 60 per cent of Europe’s green line-up off its planet-saving pedestal.
And the move could have implications for buyers in the UK. A spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders told us that it will back any move which “encourages responsible buying”.
From January, eco cars bought by the Swedish Government will only be considered green if they have also achieved the full five-star rating for adult occupant protection, plus a two-star Euro NCAP score for pedestrian protection. They will have to feature ESP stability control as standard, too.
The move automatically excludes cars such as Honda’s Civic Hybrid, which only achieved a four-star adult protection rating. Our table lists some of the other models that will be reclassified, such as the Saab 9-3 BioPower. While the reclassification will initially affect only vehicles bought by the Government, officials running the scheme say drivers across Sweden could be forced to follow suit. That would leave thousands of green car owners missing out on a 10,000 SKr (£850) subsidy they currently enjoy for driving these models.
Government officials at the Swedish Road Administration (SRA) will launch the stricter definitions for environment-ally friendly vehicles next year. But the SRA warns the changes could knock up to 60 per cent of Europe’s green line-up off its planet-saving pedestal.
And the move could have implications for buyers in the UK. A spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders told us that it will back any move which “encourages responsible buying”.
From January, eco cars bought by the Swedish Government will only be considered green if they have also achieved the full five-star rating for adult occupant protection, plus a two-star Euro NCAP score for pedestrian protection. They will have to feature ESP stability control as standard, too.
The move automatically excludes cars such as Honda’s Civic Hybrid, which only achieved a four-star adult protection rating. Our table lists some of the other models that will be reclassified, such as the Saab 9-3 BioPower. While the reclassification will initially affect only vehicles bought by the Government, officials running the scheme say drivers across Sweden could be forced to follow suit. That would leave thousands of green car owners missing out on a 10,000 SKr (£850) subsidy they currently enjoy for driving these models.
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