For more information please contact:

Barry Bredenkamp
National Energy Efficiency Agency (NEEA)
Mobile: 083 655 6891

In what is dubbed the Coast2Coast Challenge, Peugeot are preparing to showcase the ultra efficiency of their latest model, the 308 HDI, by driving it nearly 1,800km with less than R 680* of diesel in the tank.

The 1.6 litre Peugeot 308 HDI will leave the coastal town of Port Noloth in the Northern Cape on Monday, October 13th and arrive in Durban, KZN, on Wednesday, October 15th – 1,760km later.

Despite the recent announcement of a fuel price reduction, economists predict oil prices are on an upward trend. It means motorists will be forced to watch the fuel price continue to rise in the medium to long term.

Peugeot devised the Coast2Coast Challenge to highlight the crucial need to curb Greenhouse Gases from exhaust emissions and demonstrate how technology and efficient driving behaviour can help motorists reduce the cost of high fuel prices.

The National Energy Efficiency Agency (NEEA), which is a division of CEF (Pty) Ltd,  and Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) - organisations promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability are supporting the Coast2Coast Challenge because of the issues it emphasises to South Africans.

TOTAL South Africa is the co-sponsor and will supply its latest ultra low sulphur diesel, Ecodiesel Premium plus, for the challenge. Fuel will play a critical role and the 308 HDI will be filled with 50 parts per million sulphur content diesel, available in the South African market at selected service stations.

The 308HDI will be driven by Andrew Carter and Spotti Woodhead, both ex-rally drivers who have honed their fuel efficient driving skills in the Total Economy Run, South Africa's premier fuel efficient driving competition.

The car used in the challenge is standard – the only changes to the showroom model are nitrogen filled, energy saving tyres. Despite the simple changes, the car will still produce just 120g CO2/km, making it one of the greenest traditional engine cars on the market.

To emphasise the environmental theme, Peugeot will have the footprint of the Coast2Coast Challenge measured by carbon auditing company, Global Carbon Exchange. The wide-ranging audit, which takes into account Carbon Dioxide producing paper use, flights, the welcoming event into Durban and of course fuel use, means Peugeot will be able to quantify how many trees should be planted to neutralise carbon dioxide emitted during the challenge.

Peugeot will offset the Coast2Coast Carbon Footprint by planting the requisite, but as yet unknown, number of trees at its Corporate Social Investment project in Orange Farm, South of Johannesburg in late November.

The R680 figure is based on a diesel price of R9.84 p/litre.