That is a great idea. Anything that adds to the personal 'rewards' for taking a more sustainable approach is worth pursuing. The potential for hybrids to gain acceptance will be improved if benefits, above purely "environmental" concerns, are also evident. For the busy commuter any time saving is a bonus. We could even add "prioriy" parking to the list of inducements.

If you force larger vehicles onto the top floors, won't that increase emissions?

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Incentives-for-fuelefficient-cars/2007/06/05/1180809482704.html

Drivers of fuel-sipping cars should get special privileges such as priority parking and special lanes on highways, a leading climate change expert says.

Those who insist on driving petrol guzzlers should be shamed through the adoption of a coloured number plate system to show which cars used more fuel, said the professor of Environmental Studies at Standford University, Stephen Schneider.

Prof Schneider said the imperative to cut greenhouse emissions and the world's limited oil supply meant it would soon become illogical to drive the kids to school or travel to the shops in three-tonne four-wheel-drives.

"In 50 years' time we will look back at our inefficient or inappropriate vehicles as four-wheeled dinosaurs - infamous for their excessive use of fossil fuels for the services they provided," he said.

Those cars would also carry a green number plate allowing them parking privileges, including access to lower levels in multi-storey carparks and green parking zones throughout the city.

"Failure to recognise that a change towards fuel-efficient vehicles is inevitable will result in long-term harm to the automotive industry," he said.

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Chrysler commits to new hybrid cars

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Chrysler-commits-to-new-hybrid-cars/2007/06/22/1182019315563.html

Chrysler Group says it will roll out new hybrid vehicles, streamline its cars and trucks and introduce more diesel engines to improve fuel economy in the face of high petrol prices and tougher US regulations.

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Sydney launches trial car-share parking

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Sydney-launches-trial-carshare-parking/2007/11/27/1196036855659.html

A trial parking program for car-sharers has been launched in inner Sydney in a bid to ease traffic congestion.

Under the program, 90 car spaces will be set aside for the dedicated use of residents using car-sharing schemes, which are set up for people who don't want to own their own vehicles but need the use of a car.

The schemes allow people to pay a membership fee to a private company and use a network of cars for as little as an hour or for up to a week at a time.

Car-sharing companies already operate in Sydney, but this is the first time designated parking spaces will be set aside for car-sharers in the city.

The system, which is also popular in other countries such as Italy and Switzerland, is often cheaper than using hire cars.

"Research shows that each car-share vehicle can be used by up to 10 people, reducing the need for people to buy and use vehicles unnecessarily," she told reporters at Sydney's Town Hall.

"This is a real breakthrough, it's a new way of living in Sydney.

"We really hope it's going to take off."

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Germany begins ban on polluting cars in city centres

http://news.smh.com.au/germany-begins-ban-on-polluting-cars-in-city-centres/20080102-1ju5.html

Three German cities, including the capital Berlin, began implementing a new air pollution system on Tuesday that bans the dirtiest vehicles from their centres.

Drivers in Berlin, Cologne and Hanover are now required to display a coloured badge showing the level of pollution caused by their vehicle, with a scale of red, yellow and green.

Some vehicles, notably an estimated 1.7 million old diesel cars and vans, will not qualify for even the most polluting red badge and will be prohibited from driving in central areas.

Drivers without a badge caught in the city centre will face a 40-euro (60-dollar) fine and will be docked a point on their driving license.