With the subject of global warming taking on international significance in recent years, unsurprisingly the emphasis has fallen squarely on vehicle owners, since cars are regarded as one of the major contributors of global warming and climate change. Green cars have been proposed to be a potential solution –a solution all motorists should embrace.
A green car is unlike any other vehicle, in that it includes numerous benefits – particularly towards the environment. Except for the environmental benefits, there are numerous other advantages in terms of fuel efficiency and taxes.
So, are green cars actually green?
To begin with, let’s have a look at electric cars. Contrary to common belief, electric cars are far from good for the environment. The electricity that electric cars run on is mostly produced in coal-powered power stations, which are very wasteful in the way they produce electricity. Transferring this electricity along power cables then results in a 35% loss in the form of heat energy.
Therefore, by the time the electricity reaches an electric car, a vast amount of the energy has already been spent. Electric vehicles are great for cutting down on inner-city pollution, but efficient it certainly isn’t. If we could find a way to cheaply produce electricity by means of geothermal sources or any other alternative sources – electric cars would certainly be the way to go. But, until then – we are stuck with the internal combustion engine as our best option.
In recent times, Hybrid cars have been preferred by green car enthusiasts. A Hybrid is a car which contains both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The vehicle’s battery is powered by the energy generated from driving. When it comes to being green, these cars offer numerous environmental benefits.
Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily the case. A renowned consumer magazine tested 4 hybrid cars by driving them throughout the Greater London. The results were disappointing to say the least. This is without mentioning how to dispose of the hazardous electronic batteries used in these vehicles.
Last but not least, you gain more when you buy green car insurance. You are able to buy green insurance at a much lower price than any other car insurance types. The cost is usually lower, because green insurance is used as a tool to entice more individuals to purchase green cars. Most people buy green cars to save more money, with having the environment in mind as well.
Secondly, we need to point out the cost of hybrid cars. The Toyota Prius is the most popular hybrid car and can be bought for approximately $25 000. In spite of this, most people believe that green cars are too expensive. Consequently, there is still social growth needed before green cars will be available on a large scale.
So, the fact remains that green cars use more energy to charge, are harder to dispose of, their fuel economy claims are in doubt, and they are still way too expensive. For the reasons stated above, the age of green cars have not arrived as yet.
Muun-unit is a hippie, eco-warrior, and nature-loving kind of guy – who enjoys travelling the world and cooking gourmet dishes. He is passionate about everything “green” or eco-friendly, and believes that everyone should do their part in conserving our beautiful environment. Muun-unit wrote this article for a green car brand which recently launched their environmentally friendly
Chevrolet Optra.