Streetcar's World Green Car Award Winner - Drive a BMW and save £2,000 a year
Submitted by Streetcar on 16 July, 2010 - 20:44
Most city-folk can go for weeks without needing a car, but when we do, we like to treat ourselves. Streetcar is currently the UK's biggest car club and one of their strengths is their attractive, low-emission vehicle range. In 2007 they teamed up with VW to launch the 2007 Polo BlueMotion in the UK. Now all their VW cars and vans carry the Bluemotion badge, plus they now stock BMWs with Efficient Dynamics, including the 118d - 2008 World Green Car of the Year.
The Ultimate Driving Machine?
Despite the handy iPhone App and offering the 'Ultimate Driving Machine' (BMW), plus Europe's best-selling car (VW Golf), members tend to drive 70% less after joining Streetcar - instead choosing the most appropriate means for each journey. To date, the company has saved more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 through reduced driving alone.
Every Streetcar takes an average of 26 privately-owned cars off the roads of the UK, because members often sell (or don't replace) a car when they join. This means Streetcar has already taken over 20,000 cars off the streets. The AA has said the average car club member saves around £2,000 per year by not owning a car. It's easy to register and reserve your car or van from 30 minutes up to 6 months.
World Green Car of the Year 2008
A jury consisting of 47 motor journalists from 24 countries praised BMW and its 118d for offering buyers a model with a range of innovative technologies that reduce fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions as standard – putting it into the affordable Band B category for Vehicle Excise Duty.
To help it achieve these impressive figures, EfficientDynamics technologies such as Active Aerodynamics, Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop and Electric Power Steering are employed to cut fuel bills and emissions. An optimum gearshift change indicator is included to encourage economical motoring. Runner-up in that year was another Eco-Rally entrant, the Mercedes Benz Smart ForTwo cdi.
