Motoring is cheaper than ten years ago thanks to improvements in fuel efficiency, according to product comparison site Sust-it, which has found Kia, BMW, Hyundai, Volvo, Toyota, Mercedes, Fiat, Honda, Peugeot and Subaru make up the top ten most improved manufacturers in terms of energy efficiency. Sust-it also notes that electric vehicles are significantly cheaper than diesel but warns that drivers may be misled over carbon emissions claims.

22 October 2013 – Motoring is cheaper today than it was a decade ago. In real terms travelling in a new car costs 13p per mile in fuel, compared to 15p back in 2000 (inflation adjusted). Sust-it’s analysis of the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) emissions testing data reveals a 34 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency across car manufacturers ranges. In the last thirteen years the average miles per gallon for new petrol cars has jumped from 32 to 43 mpg and diesels from 43 to 58 mpg.

Sust-it has examined the energy efficiency, between 2000 and 2013, of manufacturers with 500 or more UK model variants, and found that the top ten most improved brands are Kia, BMW, Hyundai, Volvo, Toyota, Mercedes, Fiat, Honda, Peugeot and Subaru. Kia’s model range is top with a 46 per cent more fuel-efficient range in 2013 versus 2000. Premium brand BMW is chasing hard with fuel-efficiency improvements of 42 per cent. Unsurprisingly, small car manufacturer Fiat has the most fuel-efficient model range – with Seat, Skoda, Citroen and Peugeot in pursuit.

In addition Sust-it has delved into the recently published electric vehicle testing data and found that the running cost of these vehicles is less than half that of even the most fuel efficient diesel cars. The Renault Clio 4 dCi 90 ECO diesel costs around 7.5p per mile, compared to 3p mile for the electric BMW i3; that’s 56 per cent cheaper to run. In environmental terms, electric cars have zero emissions whilst moving – reducing pollution in towns and cities. However, if you factor in the power station CO2 emissions in electricity generation required to charge the batteries, the green benefits become less clear. The diesel powered Clio 4 dCi 90 ECO emits 83 CO2g/km, whilst the power station emissions to charge the electric BMW i3 are 69 CO2g/km, based on the average UK mains electricity supply.

Ross from Sust-it said, “My concern is that electric vehicles are being promoted as a greener option than they actually are. Zero tail pipe emissions are only half the story. It would be more realistic to include the CO2 emissions produced in electricity generation, required to power these vehicles, on the showroom energy labels and in advertising.”

The Sust-it website displays electricity costs of charging electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, plus associated CO2 emissions produced in electricity generation. Running cost calculations show the real cost of running an electric car, and their emissions. The energy usage figures are based on VCA testing data and average UK energy costs.

For further information, please visit www.sust-it.net