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Are you currently
in the market to change your current car and you don't want a CO2-spewing
monster, but you do want to drive in style and comfort? If the answer
is yes, the next question is, which type of environmentally friendly 'green'
car is most suitable? There is a wide choice from which to choose, from
city runarounds to sports cars, that won't destroy the planet.
Lastly you need to
decide on the type of 'green technology' that the vehicle will use. To
help with this last question we have provided a useful guide below. If
you have already made your purchase and looking for Eco-friendly
Car Insurance, you can obtain that through HomeApproved also:
Hybrid
A conventional combustion engine is used to charge an electric
battery. The battery drives an electric motor at low speeds. The petrol/diesel
kicks in as the car reaches higher speeds, allowing the combustion engine
to work more efficiently. Current model examples include the Toyota Prius;
Lexus RX and Honda Civic.
Electric
A pre-Tesla battery charged via an external source, such as a
household socket, can currently run car between 30 and 60 miles. Quite
low speeds, but particularly suitable for city driving. Examples include
the G-wiz, Sakura Maranello4; Nice Mega City; Smart ForTwo EV.
Fuel Cell
Like a battery-electric car in that it does have a combustion
engine. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert the energy
stored in chemical form directly into electrical energy, water and heat.
Examples include Mercedes-Benz 'F-Cell' A-Class; Reva; GM/Vauxhall HydroGen3;
Ford Focus FCV.
Biofuels
Are made from renewable plant sources which absorb more CO2 than
the fuels emit. There are three main types: bio-diesel; bio ethanol, made
solely from plants; and compressed natural gas (CNG), which burns cleaner
than petrol. Models include Saab 9-5 BioFuel, Volvo V70 CNG Biofuel and
the Ford Focus 1.8 FFV.
LPG
LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) produces far less CO2 than petrol
and fewer particulates than diesel. Most engines can be converted to run
on LPG.
Fuel efficient
conventional cars can be green (or greener) if they are fuel-efficient
and therefore use less petrol/diesel to get from A to B, creating less
emissions. So check the miles-per-gallon before you buy.
Environmental
Transport Association (ETA)
Founded in 1990, the Environmental
Transport Association (ETA) aims to raise awareness of the impact
of excessive car use and help individuals and organisation's to make positive
changes in their travel habits. ETA's mission is to be the ethical alternative
to other motoring organisation's, by providing high quality services to
everyone concerned about the impact of transport on the environment.
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