03 September 2010

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Environmental Impact – information, tips and incentives on becoming a green car driver

Since the turn of the century, more drivers have become embroiled in green issues thanks to the success of hybrid cars and the expansion of electric vehicles. With an increase in demand for green cars, other manufacturers have been forced to consider fuel consumption and emissions at the design stage in order to give the car buying public of the UK what they want.

However, just what steps can you take to become a green driver? And why should you bother? This article will explain.

Quick links:

Environmental impact
Tips to reduce the environmental impact of driving
Incentives for going green
How to get behind the wheel of a green car

Environmental impact

Since the introduction of catalytic converters, vehicle emissions of carbon monoxide and other harmful air pollutants have been reduced. However, statistics show that there are now more people driving and making longer trips meaning that air quality has only improved marginally.

The environmental impact of driving conventional cars as opposed to greener alternatives such as electric cars and hybrid cars is huge. Here are some of the effects of our day-to-day driving:

Global warming – When a gallon of petrol is burned it combines with oxygen to produce nearly 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2). By moving from a conventional car to a green car, you can literally reduce the number of greenhouse gases emitted by several tons.
Health effects – Vehicle air pollution contributes to a number of health issues and common diseases. It can increase a person’s risk of cancer, impair the body’s immune system and cause many respiratory problems. It is also commonly linked to asthma and is believed to be a contributor to birth defects.
Other pollutants – Oil and other car fluids contribute to water pollution while noise from car traffic adds to a general reduction in our quality of life and causes stress and high blood pressure. Air and water pollution also effects the environment around us, compromising the growth of plants and harming animals.

Clearly the environmental impact of driving conventional vehicles is huge, which is why more and more of us are turning to green cars.

How do electric cars work?

In the majority of electric cars, there is a single electric motor connected to the wheels through a transmission, although some electric cars use an electric motor in each of the wheels themselves. All of the power to run the vehicle comes from an external source charging a battery. Electric motors are used to slow the vehicle and pass energy back to the battery. When the electric motors are used within the wheels there is no transmission making the car lighter and more fuel efficient.

Tips to reduce the environmental impact of driving

Some would argue that the best thing a green driver can do to help the environment would be to sell the car! However, for the vast majority of us coping without a car simply isn’t possible if we are to maintain our lifestyles, which is why we have put together a list of tips to help reduce the impact of your journeys:

Some critics argue that electric cars merely displace the environmental problem and while they might not be direct pollutants, the energy they rely on from power stations negates their advantages. However, this argument is easily dismissed as electric cars are manufactured to become more reliant on renewable sources of energy. Indeed the majority of electric car owners are highly environmentally conscious and will already be using a green energy source in their homes. The issue of battery disposal is also being addressed with the introduction of more Lithium batteries with longer life-spans.

Drive a green car – Make sure you’re not driving a gas guzzler with high fuel emissions. Consider hybrid cars and electric cars as alternatives. Otherwise, check out our top ten green cars to find out about some of the UK’s most environmentally friendly vehicles.
Seek alternatives – While you might not be able to cast your car aside altogether, consider using public transport where possible or walk/cycle for short journeys.
Car sharing – Reduce the number of cars on the road by car sharing with a colleague on your way to work.
Car preparation – You can cut fuel consumption by reducing the weight of your car – such as by removing unnecessary items that don’t need to be there. Also remove roof racks as wind resistance increases fuel consumption and ensure your car is well maintained to improve performance.
Tyre pressure – Fuel consumption increases by 1% in correlation with every 6psi a tyre is under-inflated.
Journey planning – Avoid travelling in rush hour if possible to reduce congestion and plan as many jobs as possible in one trip.
Watch your speed – Driving at 70mph can consume almost 25% more fuel than driving at 50mph. By contrast however, travelling at less than 15mph creates the most pollution. 56mph is roughly the optimum speed to reduce fuel consumption in most vehicles.
Avoid harsh acceleration – Revving your car will use more fuel and add to wear and tear.
Air conditioning – Limit your use of air conditioning and where possible drive with the windows up to reduce drag.
Green driving products – Look into green driving products such as fuel saving tyres and environmentally friendly batteries.

Incentives for going green

When electric and hybrid cars were first introduced, the majority of drivers were priced out of the market. However, now not only is it beneficial to the environment to ‘go green’ when you drive – it’s also good for your wallet too.

Reduced tax (or even none at all!) – Beginning in 2006, the UK Government introduced car tax bands that link directly to your car’s environmental impact – meaning the less you pollute, the less you pay. Drivers of cars that fit into tax band A, such as many electric vehicles, do not pay any road tax while drivers of cars in tax band B, such as the hybrid Toyota Prius pay a mere £30-£40/year. By contrast, if your car fits into tax bands F or G, such as the Freelander 2.0 diesel (band F) and the Jaguar X type 2.0 (band G) you could be paying anything from £200-£400/year in road tax.
No congestion charges – Electric cars are also exempt from the London Congestion Charge. As a result, most electric cars are trialled in the London area before availability is stretched across the UK.
Reduced price at the pump – Perhaps the biggest financial incentive of driving a green car is to reduce the price you pay at the pump. While petrol prices in the UK peak around £1/litre, driving an electric car will cost you around one penny per mile. Hybrid cars also benefit from excellent miles per gallon, with the Toyota Prius achieving around 66mpg.

How to get behind the wheel of a green car

At TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk we have links directly through to the cheapest online car leasing deals for electric cars, hybrid cars and green cars. Use our listings to find the best deal available and to get behind the wheel of a green car as soon as possible.

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