Business cars on contract hire are getting cleaner.
The cars being leased are reducing the amount of CO2 emitted; and the miles being driven are fewer, reports the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).
BVRLA leasing members, operating nearly two million cars, saw the average CO2 emissions of vehicles coming onto contract fall to 149.9g/km in 2008. In 2007 the average contract hire vehicle had emissions of 157.4g/km.
The average reductions by business are greater than those from new retail cars. Official figures say average new car emissions in 2008 fell to 158g/km.
The average mileage for a contract hire agreement is also falling.
The average in 2007 was 21,643 miles. In 2008 it fell to 19,617 miles.
The BVRLA suggests this has been due to high fuel prices. Fuel cost has forced drivers to cut down on both business and private mileage.
“These figures show that drivers are choosing low emitting cars to optimise their personal tax. Companies are also encouraging them to take more fuel-efficient cars to save on running costs,” said BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis.
“The average business car now has fuel consumption of around 50mpg. This can only be good news when you consider that these vehicles will be feeding into the used market in a few years.”
However, with more businesses extending contract hire leases during the recession, future emission reductions are less sure said Lewis.
Surge in demand for cleaner contract hire vehicles
