We are all aware that our dependence on oil should be reduced, petrol prices are high and the environmental impact of cars is severe. The major car manufacturers are now responding to the demands for greener cars and the CO2 emissions of new cars are now much lower than previous generations. However, petrol free cars are seen as the real future. Car manufacturers are currently experimenting with a variety of fuels, from hydropower to vegetable oils and LPG. Electric powered cars are also now being seriously considered as the cars of tomorrow and Vauxhall, one of the largest UK car manufacturers, has recently revealed plans to launch a range of electric cars.
The first production car will be called the Ampera. The UK government are keen for Vauxhall to choose their Ellesmere Port plant as the main European manufacturing base for this and all subsequent electric powered cars.
The plant currently employs over 2000 workers and the recent sale of Vauxhall by parent company GM to Canadian parts manufacturer Magnus has thrown the future of the UK Vauxhall sites into doubt. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson are currently in talks with Magnus about a significant loan amount in order to secure the future of the sites, and the Prime Minister is quoted as saying that he “hopes the (Vauxhall) plant will become one of the leading electric car makers in Europe”. Read the rest of this entry »