If you’re in the market for a new car in the next few years, consider an eco-friendly option. There are countless reasons to invest in an eco-friendly car, now more than ever before. They allow you to lessen your environmental impact while simultaneously saving you money. It’s a win-win scenario, and there are plenty of options on the market, including hybrid and fully electric vehicles.
While the initial cost of purchasing these vehicles is often higher, you will see your investment return in the long run with fuel savings. You can also protect your investment and reduce depreciation by purchasing a quality, weatherproof car cover. Besides protecting the planet, there are several practical benefits of driving a hybrid or electric vehicle as green technology continues making strides.
1. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Choosing an eco-friendly vehicle is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon emissions and do your part to help meet global climate change targets. Electric cars cause significantly fewer fossil fuel emissions than cars with an internal combustion engine.
However, if you are unable to make the switch to an electric vehicle, you can still reduce your carbon footprint by investing in performance parts that increase fuel efficiency. By upgrading your car’s carburetor, you can increase its fuel economy and reduce its emissions, helping to make a positive impact on the environment. You can do this if you buy Rochester Quadrajet carburetor.
However, the effectiveness of an electric car depends on a country’s commitment to clean energy. Since an electric car requires charging off electric energy, where that energy comes from directly relates to its environmental impact.
2. Lower Costs
Regional variables impact how much money you can save by choosing an electric or hybrid vehicle over a gasoline-powered car. The biggest factor is the gasoline cost in your region, but choosing a fully electric vehicle over one that runs on gasoline can still significantly reduce your costs. In NYC, the city reports an average savings of $1,214 annually per electric car.
Toyota, whose cars currently make up 80% of hybrid vehicles on the road, has announced plans to bring in at least half of its total sales from electric vehicles by 2025. When leading manufacturers make commitments to producing eco-friendly vehicles, they become more accessible to the public.
As eco-friendly vehicles become the norm, the price of charging equipment for them is also likely to drop, making them an even more affordable and accessible option. Many manufacturers are also partnering with companies like Electrify America!, which aims to provide accessible public charging stations across the country that can recharge your vehicle in as little as 30 minutes.
With an electric car, you’ll also save money on service charges. Since they operate on entirely different drivetrains than internal combustion engines, electric vehicles do not require the regular oil changes that most vehicle owners are accustomed to. And for many companies, renting electric 10-passenger vans through online services such as Rental24h.com is also an economic choice.
3. Improved Safety Features
A tremendous benefit of electric cars, like Teslas, is that they have a lower center of gravity, making them less likely to roll if you get into an accident. Teslas have their heaviest components located closest to the car’s center of gravity, stabilizing the vehicle and improving its handling agility.
The likelihood of an electric vehicle catching fire is also less than with a traditional internal combustion engine. This is because of the reduced flammability of their lithium-ion batteries.
4. Lower Insurance Rates
Many insurance companies and banks offer discounts or preferred rates for choosing green vehicles that support the environment. While incentives for choosing cars with lower emissions aren’t new, more have appeared as eco-friendly cars become more accessible.
Many insurance companies allow for multiple discounts, so you could significantly lower your premiums by adding your low emissions discount or using a car cover to protect your vehicle.
5. Independence from Foreign Oil
By choosing a car that requires less gasoline or no gasoline, you gain independence from the foreign oil industry. Energy independence provides greater economic growth and stability within a nation, and it also allows the country to rely less on others. By limiting your need for foreign oil, you are minimally affected by fluctuating oil prices abroad.
6. Better Gas Mileage
A hybrid vehicle can improve gas mileage for city drivers because they use a technology called regenerative braking. This system essentially takes the energy generated through braking and cycles it back into the battery, creating more electrical power and allowing the car to use less gas.
7. Less Noise Pollution
Electric cars are quieter than the engines on a gasoline-powered vehicle, resulting in less noise pollution. The only noise generated from a fully electric vehicle comes from wind resistance or tire noise. This is beneficial for residents of cities and apartments near freeways and drivers who want to enjoy a peaceful journey with music or a podcast.
8. Safer Battery Replacement
Electric cars run on lithium batteries, which are a lot easier to dispose of and pose less environmental risk than lead-acid batteries used in traditional vehicles. Companies like Tesla recycle their lithium batteries so they can incorporate all useful parts into future products. In this way, the lessening of your environmental impact with an eco-friendly car extends well beyond fuel emissions.
The Bottom Line
Choosing an eco-friendly car has never been more affordable than it is today. With so many benefits both financially and environmentally, consider an electric or hybrid vehicle for your next vehicle purchase. As you shop, consider whether a hybrid or electric car is the best choice for you. Hybrid vehicles use both engines to increase the car’s power but often have a lower battery range than an electric vehicle.
In a hybrid, the electrical performance acts as a supplement to the regular fuel power. If you want to go completely electrical, research where your local charging points are located and how much it will cost to charge your car. Hybrids are an excellent choice if you take many road trips through areas with few charging stations, while fully electric cars are ideal for city drivers with convenient access to charging stations.
While it can seem intimidating to make the jump from a gasoline-powered car to an eco-friendly alternative, the transition is worthwhile. See your financial investment returned through your savings on gas, insurance, and the prolonged value of your vehicle with improved gas mileage. We all have a part to play in reducing our carbon footprint, which starts at the individual level with our choices as consumers.
