Volkswagen And The National Trust: Helping Motorists Make A Difference

Volkswagen has joined forces with The National Trust to encourage eco-friendly, fuel-efficient driving.  The company has been holding a series of roadshows at National Trust properties across the UK, demonstrating to visitors how best to minimise their impact on the environment by making changes to their vehicle and driving style.

The roadshows have so far covered North Yorkshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Wiltshire.  Two further events are scheduled at Lanhydrock in Cornwall (21-23 September 2007) and Polesden Lacey in Surrey (28-30 September 2007).

At each of the locations, a team of experts from Volkswagen will check drivers’ cars and offer advice on how to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency.  Tips include checking tyre pressures; reducing a car’s weight; reducing speed and heavy braking; planning journeys to avoid jams and unnecessary detours; cutting down on in-car electrical systems; and regular servicing to ensure optimum performance.  By following the simple tips, it’s estimated that the UK’s motorists could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by eight per cent and so collectively cut more than 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 – and save themselves over £2 billion a year in fuel costs*.

Visitors to the events will also have the opportunity to test drive Volkswagen’s new Polo BlueMotion, which has an official combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 74.3 mpg, and a CO2 figure of 99 gm per km.  It is also fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) as standard equipment, meaning it produces fewer harmful emissions.

Rob Jarman, Head of Sustainability at The National Trust says: ‘The National Trust hopes that people can enjoy the amazing natural beauty and historic interest of our sites whilst causing minimum damage to the environment in the process. Our ideal is for people to enjoy our properties whilst using minimum fuel and this is the first step towards achieving this ideal as it will at least help our visitors to reduce their emissions, aid our work on preventing pollution and climate change, while conserving our national heritage.’

Peter Stokes, Environment Manager at Volkswagen says: ‘With the Polo BlueMotion we have what is currently one of the most fuel efficient cars available.  We are therefore delighted to be provided with a new opportunity through this initiative with The National Trust to pass on advice on efficient use of vehicles to its visitors.  Drivers can have an enormous impact on reducing fuel consumption and emissions whatever vehicle they drive.  At Volkswagen we work hard to improve the technology in our products to reduce carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency, and we are delighted to pass on our expertise and knowledge to The National Trust’s visitors.’