Pebley Beach encouraging motorists to be eco-friendly

Pebley Beach’s new car sales brand Go Green stocks used cars that emit less than 100 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre. The average car has 121g.

Bosses hope that this initiative will lower the Hyundai and Suzuki dealership’s carbon footprint and help customers reduce their own impact on the environment.

Managing director Dominic Threlfall said: “100 years ago, the industrialist Henry Ford told customers they could have the Model T Ford in any colour so long as it was black.

“The motor industry has taken great strides towards more sustainable motoring, so today we’re able to tell customers they can have a new or used car in any colour – so long as it’s green.”

As cleaner engines, hybrids, and electric vehicles filter into the used car market, the maximum CO2 level needed for cars to be sold as part of Go Green will be lowered.

Earlier this year, the firm ceased its use of screen wash in plastic bottles, opting instead for tablets that can be mixed on premises.

The move will save 5,000 250ml plastic bottles a year.

And the dealership is phasing out the use of printed brochures and pointing customers to its website instead.

It is discontinuing the use of single-use plastic seat protectors when cars come in for a service or MOT, relying on reusable covers instead.

Plus, it is scrapping chemical-based interior protection treatments to a water-based solution.

The company, based in Bridgemead, signed a deal with Haven Power to meet its energy needs with certified wind-generated and solar-generated electricity.

Its new fleet business manager Phil Brodrick is keen to emphasise the benefits of low-emission vehicles.

He said: “There are already significant tax savings to be made by choosing a plug-in vehicle over the equivalent petrol or diesel.

“From next April, savings on pure battery and efficient plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will increase dramatically, from 16 per cent to zero per cent for the equivalent zero-emissions models.”