In 2023, there is a lot of talk around vehicles on the road and the impact they have on the environment. The UK government are banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030 in a bid to help tackle climate change and reach net zero by 2050. With the petrol and diesel ban looming, now can be a good time for drivers to consider how much their current cars are affecting the environment and look to make the switch to something a little eco-friendlier. The blog below looks at eco-friendly cars in more detail and how they could benefit your lifestyle for the better.
What does eco-friendly actually mean?
Simply put, eco-friendly means environmentally friendly. Petrol and diesel cars aren’t classed as eco-friendly as they have a harmful impact on the environment. Diesel cars produce more CO2 than petrol cars, but petrol vehicles still have a negative impact on air quality too. Both fuel types give off carbon dioxide whilst driving which speed up the rate of global warming, damages air quality and increase climate change. A green vehicle or a clean vehicle is one that is eco-friendly and has a less harmful impact on the environment.
Which cars are eco-friendly?
Some petrol cars can be classes as eco-friendly as manufactures have worked hard to try to reduce the number of emissions released. However, when it comes to cars that are better for the environment, it can be much better to opt for a hybrid or electric car instead.
Electric cars
An electric car is one that replaces a traditional combustion engine with an electric motor. Electric cars are eco-friendly because they don’t have a tailpipe which means they can’t produce emissions. Electric cars instead get their power from rechargeable electric batteries inside the electric motor. They can’t be refuelled with petrol or diesel and instead can be recharged at home using a home charging point or you can charge them at a public charging point when you’re on the go.
Hybrid cars
Hybrid cars are ones that use two forms of propulsion. Hybrid cars aren’t as eco-friendly as fully electric cars, but they can be if you opt for a plug-in hybrid. Hybrid cars combine a small electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine. There are a number of types of hybrid cars to choose from but the best hybrid car to buy tends to be a plug-in hybrid because the electric motor can be used independently. Hybrid cars have a smaller ranger as the batteries tend to be smaller, but you can benefit from a full EV without the price tag if you travel within the electric range of your hybrid each day.
Why should you get an eco-friendly car?
For many drivers, the benefits of getting an environmentally friendly car are clear and the popularity of EVs has grown massively in recent years. However, if you’re still on the fence, here are the top 5 advantages of eco-friendly cars.
1. Better for the environment
The number one reason why you should get an eco-friendly car is to reduce your carbon footprint. Environmentally friendly cars don’t produce emissions or if they do, they do so at a much lower rate than combustion engine vehicles. Environmentally friendly vehicles are just one way in which drivers can help to reduce the effects of climate change, improve air quality, and provide better environmental and human health.
2. Reduce fuel consumption
Both electric and hybrid cars can benefit from lower fuel consumption and help to save you money. It costs considerably less to recharge your electric or hybrid car at home when compared to fuelling a car with petrol or diesel.
3. Spread the cost
Electric and hybrid cars use more advanced technology which means their price to purchase can be higher than other options. However, they have been round for a number of years now which means there’s more availability on the used car market. If you also want to spread the cost, you can choose to finance an electric or hybrid car into affordable monthly payments over a term that suits you.
4. Exempt from congestion charges
More cities than ever are adopting clean air zones or ultra-low emissions zones. These areas have been identified as hotspots for pollution and usually have a lot of moving traffic through each day. To help tackle the amount of pollution, drivers in a non-compliant vehicle will be charged a fee to drive through these zones. Electric cars tend to be fully exempt from these charges and most hybrid cars are exempt too.
5. Lower maintenance fees
Eco-friendly card drivers can also benefit from lower maintenance cost. This is because the battery and motor require less maintenance and there are fewer fluids that need changing such as engine oil. Combustion engines have hundreds of moving parts, and anything can need repairing at any time. However, electric motors don’t need the same level of care and have fewer parts.