A COUPLE of years ago, the environment was right at the top of the agenda when it came to vehicle decisions.
However, in the current economic climate, I’m asking myself - where has it gone?
Generally, the focus has moved on to cost, and the perception is that sustainability has taken a back seat.
But while its profile has reduced, I strongly believe that drivers are taking the necessary steps to be more eco-friendly - often without even realising it.
Selecting the most cost effective vehicles often means going for those that have low emissions and high mpg performance.
Reducing fuel expenditure also means reducing emissions at the same time. Reducing the tax burden means selecting the cleanest and ‘greenest’ cars.
So what we have seen is a shift as the environment has moved from a distinct area, to something that falls into ‘business as usual’.
With the full range of vehicle taxation now directly linked to the environment, high fuel costs and the need to save money, any driver effectively managing cost will also be effectively managing their environmental impact as a result.
The unavoidable link between cost and environment has resulted in many drivers doing the right things for the environment, without actively trying to – but from a sustainable angle, does it matter?
Well, if individuals are reducing their impact and acting responsibly I don’t think that it does.
Whether the motivation is a deep rooted commitment to the environment or the desire to reduce costs, the impact is the same - you don’t need to campaign for the environment to make a positive difference.
A combination of technological and manufacturer developments, taxation and economic conditions means that while we might not always recognise it, the focus on the environment has far from gone away and is now a deep seated feature of the automotive landscape.
Mike Waters is director of market insight at Arval, Europe's leading operational leasing and fuel management company.