Go Green and Save Money
If you are concerned for the environment, you may be thinking of switching over to one of the many eco-friendly cars on the market today. With most of the leading manufacturers continually revealing new designs incorporating ultra-modern technology designed to lower fuel bills and be kinder to the environment, it seems that eco-friendly driving is the way forward. The process may seem bewildering to the uninitiated, but with a bit of research, you could soon be driving away in a car that is kind to the environment and your wallet.
Know Your Options
A hybrid car combines a petrol engine with an electric motor. This combination significantly reduces both harmful emissions and fuel costs. The engine is the main power source in a hybrid, meaning that all you are required to do is fill up with fuel. As the name suggests, an electric car is powered with electricity alone, so will need to be regularly charged at a designated charging station. A further incentive to go down the electric route is that many hybrid cars (and all electric ones) are exempt from Road Tax and also the London Congestion Charge. When weighing up the pros and cons of your green car options, your first consideration should be how you intend to use it. If you will be making long journeys, it makes sense to choose a hybrid, as they don’t need to be charged. If you are largely city based, an electric car could fit the bill perfectly as you will have access to plenty of charging stations and are unlikely to be traveling at high speeds.
Cutting Edge
At first glance, it may feel like you are paying an awful lot of money for a finished product that is constructed on a smaller scale and seems flimsier to that which you are used to. Rest assured, though, that the blueprint of the latest green vehicles, particularly electric cars, cuts out the requirement for all sorts of items associated with more traditional designs. For example, combustion engines are extremely weighty, bulky and complex. In comparison, the simple electric motor required by the electric car is far smaller and lighter. In addition, electric models are increasingly being either partly or fully manufactured from carbon reinforced plastic (CFRP) – a new material which is incredibly tough but also very light. This benefits the electric car owner in two ways: a car that weighs less will be cheaper to run and will benefit from an enhanced safety profile.
Reducing Costs
Whatever option you go for, try to follow a few basic guidelines that can reduce the way that the vehicle impacts on our environment and the cost of running it. Travel light – the greater the weight, the higher the fuel required and therefore the fuel bills. One great way to save money is to carpool for work or even for dropping the kids off at school. Avoid constant starting and stopping as this will inevitably have a knock-on effect on your fuel efficiency. If you are stationary in heavy traffic, get into the habit of killing the engine. Driving at a consistent pace, avoiding unnecessary acceleration/deceleration, is the best way to keep your fuel usage to an absolute minimum.