Caravan Insurance

An Astra caravan is helping researchers in the battle to reduce carbon emissions.

Researchers from Opel, Bosch and the University of Stuttgart are working on a compressed natural gas hybrid system and have used the Astra caravan to host a prototype - caravan insurance holders may be interested to read.

The hybrid consists of a regular combustion engine but also includes an electric motor as well.

Opel reports that the prototype, which contains a start-stop system, has a carbon dioxide emission figure of 90 grams per kilometre.

The three-litre combustion engine provides output of 71kW/97hp but Bosch's electric motor, can brings an additional 35kW to the power of the combined system.

Vauxhall claims to be committed to environmental sustainability and is presently working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its vehicles.

The company says renewable fuels such as E85 can reduce emissions by over 70 per cent compared to regular petrol.

And Franz Fehrenbach, chairman of Bosch, recently called on businesses to do more to protect the climate, regardless of the global financial crisis.

More than 40 percent of the Bosch's 2008 research and development budget of €3.9 billion (£3.5 billion) went into environmentally friendly products.

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