60% of motorists would choose green car

There could be a leap in green car insurance, as a new survey has shown that 60 per cent of motorists would consider buying an environmentally-friendly vehicle over a petrol-powered one.

Synovate Motoresearch conducted a global survey of 13,500 city dwellers in 18 countries and discovered that respondents are keen to modify their travel means in order to lower their carbon footprint.

When asked to forget about cost and make the choice between "green or dream", i.e. an electric or hybrid vehicle verses a luxury car, respondents opted for the low-carbon auto.

Furthermore, 40 per cent of those surveyed said that when money was no object the green car would be their motor of choice, with 20 per cent revealing an electric or hybrid vehicle was their ideal vehicle.

Scott Miller, chief executive officer of Synovate Motoresearch, said: "Cars are freedom, and people value freedom.

"If they continue to enjoy guilt-free freedom, the car will stay a large part of daily lives for many people."

The survey was conducted in March in countries including China and the United States, two of the world's largest car markets.

In China, 70 per cent of those surveyed said they would buy a green car - 32 per cent more than their American counterparts.

Tim Englehart, US-based vice-president of Synovate Motoresearch, stressed to potential green car insurance customers that an auto can still be "very cool" while also being cost-effective and practical.

"Success in the auto business comes from understanding people well enough to meet their emotional needs as well as practical ones," he explained.

Meanwhile, Ford has revealed that the government's car scrappage scheme has boosted sales of its small autos the Fiesta and Ka.