14 March 2010

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How to find the right green car for you

If you’re in the market for a new car and you’ve decided to put your environmental concerns at the forefront of your mind you’ll be spoilt for choice by the rapidly expanding range of green cars on the market. So what factors should you bear in mind before you take the plunge and picking a green car that’s right for you? This guide to green car buying will take a look at your options.

Quick links:

Shop around and think of your budget
How environmentally friendly do you want to be?
How suitable is the green car for you?
Just how green is the car?
Other factors to consider

Shop around and think of your budget

Broadly, there’s no reason why buying a green car should be any different to buying a conventional vehicle. As a result it’s important to shop around and consider all the options available to you on the market. This can be done quickly online where you can find an extensive array of listings on websites such as TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk. There are savings to be made online due to the reduced overheads of online dealers but it’s still worth popping along to a local dealer and seeing if it can match your online quote, if only for the sake of convenience and to enjoy a test-drive.

If you don’t have a specific model in mind then make a budget and stick to it. Shop around for a good car finance deal and look at all of the costs of the vehicle. The great thing about green cars is they are typically economical and so your petrol costs will be comparatively low. However, some are more economical than others, some will be exempt from congestion charges, some will have higher depreciation levels and others may cost more to repair or maintain. There are now many green cars that fit into the lowest tax band meaning they are exempt from road tax altogether, while others will appear higher on the list. Factor all of these issues into the equation before you make a decision.

How environmentally friendly do you want to be?

You should think carefully about the type of green vehicle you want. Here you have several options:

Conventional green cars – Picking a conventional vehicle with low CO2 emissions, usually a diesel, will allow you to enjoy your usual driving experience while doing your bit for the environment.
Hybrid cars – Among the most fuel-efficient cars on the market with low emissions, hybrids are much more environmentally friendly than most diesel cars and are growing in popularity. However, choice is still limited so they’re likely to be more expensive.
Electric cars – A great choice for the environment as they usually have zero emissions but are generally limited to low speeds and short distances between charges.
Alternative fuel vehicles – Biodiesel, ethanol and LPG vehicles certainly offer a viable environmentally friendly alternative but re-fuelling can be an issue.
Other concepts – There are many emerging fuel concepts such as hydrogen cell and natural gas or solar powered cars. Currently these are only available to those with big money to spend but may become more popular in the years to come.

How suitable is the green car for you?

One of the most important questions any car buyer can ask is ‘how am I going to use the car?’ This becomes particularly important when choosing a green car because some are more limiting than others.

For example, if you live in the London area and regularly travel in and out of the city you may be willing to opt for an electric car. Not only will it have zero emissions and be exempt from the congestion charges but it will be well-suited to city driving. By contrast, if you travel for an hour down the motorway every day, the limited range and speeds of electrics make them inappropriate at this stage.

Even if you currently drive a ‘Chelsea tractor’ and regularly have to transport your super-sized family there’s no reason why you can’t think green. Look into the emission levels of all the MPVs on the market and look for the most fuel-efficient model.

So consider how many miles you have to travel, the speeds you need to travel at and where and how you will be using the car before making a decision.

Just how green is the car?

The most important consideration for any driver when buying a new car should be to determine how the vehicle suits them – their driving habits, their needs, their budget, etc.

However, once you’ve addressed all those factors consider just how green the car really is. First and foremost this will mean considering factors such as its CO2 emission levels, miles per gallon and whether or not it appears in a low tax band and is exempt from congestion charges.

However, the greenest of green car devotees will look beyond these factors and consider other emission levels. If the manufacturer doesn’t offer this information to you directly then visit the Environmental Protection Agency website to find out more.

Also think about the long-term impact of your car. Is it made of recyclable materials? How much will it cost to dispose of the vehicle?

Other factors to consider

Perhaps the first question an environmentally conscious driver should ask, is whether they need to drive at all? Do you really need a green car, or could you simply walk or cycle to your destinations? If you need a green car purely to commute back and forth to work then is there a colleague who you could pool together with to share the expense – two people in one green car is far better than one person in a green car, and one in a fuel guzzling alternative.

Don’t forget to look into other ways to reduce your environmental impact too – such as by lowering the weight of your vehicle and driving with due care and consideration. Doing your bit for the environment doesn’t stop when you hand over your money – keep driving and keep thinking, green.

Author: Paul Lucas, February 12, 2010

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