How to Choose a Green Car
The automobile is seen by many people as the single biggest contributor to global warming. The past century was all about carbon-emitting vehicles that traveled through every road, street, and highway on the planet. If you plan to buy a new car and you want to go green, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Fuel and Power Sources
The good news is that many automakers and car manufacturers have designed many environmentally-friendly vehicles over the years. A car used to run only on petroleum and petroleum-based fuel; today, more and more vehicles powered by alternative fuels are available from showrooms and dealerships. Here are some of the new ways to power cars on the road:
green car
Hybrid cars refer to vehicles that are still powered by gasoline or diesel, but have a secondary means to power the vehicle on the road. There are many power sources used for hybrid cars, including solar energy, electricity, rechargeable energy, and hydrogen fuel cells. Most “green cars” sold today are hybrids. Some examples of popular hybrid models on the market include the Toyota Prius, the GMC Yukon, and some models of the Ford Escape.
Biofuel. Before environmentally-friendly cars, motorized vehicles have always been powered by petroleum products. Petroleum is a non-renewable fuel source, and the world is now suffering from a serious shortage of it. Ethanol, alcohol fuel, and biodiesel are some of the most common alternatives to gasoline and diesel.
Electric. Cars completely powered by electricity have long been considered to be weak, slow alternatives to gas-guzzling SUVs and roadsters, but advanced engineering has brought the electric engine from the train tracks to the open road. The Tesla Roadster, for example, is a fully-electric car that can reach speeds up to 125 miles per hour.
Performance
If you plan to buy a green car, you should consider performance first before asking how “green” it is. If you plan to buy an environmentally-friendly vehicle for daily driving purposes, then the car should match the specifications and the performance statistics of an equivalent vehicle that does not run on green fuel. Thanks to advanced technology, many environmentally-friendly cars can now go mile-for-mile with the most powerful and fastest cars on the road.
Cost
To attract more customers, many auto manufacturers offer environmentally-friendly automobiles at competitive prices. Here are things you should keep in mind when buying a green car:
Actual cost. The technology for green cars are still expensive, so don’t be surprised if an environmentally friendly vehicle may cost more than a car powered by conventional fuel.
Running costs are where green cars beat conventional cars hands-down. Alternative fuels are less expensive in the long run compared to cars powered by fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel, which means that you can save more money running the car than buying it.
With all the stresses and strains the car has put on the environment for the past century, it’s time for people to seriously consider what they can do for nature. With the right choice for a green car that’s just for you, you can help do your part to save the earth, while not giving up on the convenience and joy of driving.