From Guest Blogger Emma Joyce: Green Car Guide for an Environmentally-Friendly Ride

When thinking about a new car, most people don’t instantly think about green cars. However, these types of vehicles aren’t as new, unexplored and avant-garde as they were just a decade ago, and you can easily get a great eco-friendly car at a reasonable price. What’s the benefit of this choice, what can you and our planet gain from it and, ultimately, how does this reflect on your everyday life and monthly budget?

Why are eco-friendly cars important?

Since the majority of people in the world today live in cities – or at least close to them – it’s safe to say that we’re all breathing the same bad air our entire lives. However, the problem isn’t that the air we breathe isn’t healthy, but the fact that its quality is constantly dropping, year after year.

And the biggest reason for this aren’t just the factories that release dangerous chemicals into the air – it’s actually all of us as well! What we don’t know is that the cars we drive every single day are, as the recent report claims, in fact “a major source of greenhouse gas pollution in Australian cities,” which means we’re partially to blame for the low air quality. Luckily, the solution comes in the form of green cars and it might be closer than you think.

Types of green cars

Due to amazing technological developments in the car industry in the past couple of decades, the variety and quality of green cars have never been on a higher level than today. This means that these models aren’t just eco-friendly and more sustainable than the alternatives, but that they’re also more versatile than you can imagine. That’s why there are a few types of green cars you can choose from once you decide to switch to this type of vehicle.

Electric and hybrid cars are still the most popular options out there, and it’s easy to understand why: the former run on a set of battery packs you can charge wherever and whenever you want, while the latter combines an electric propulsion system with the traditional standard internal combustion engine, meaning that it’s just as fast and reliable as your traditional car, but uses less gas and power. Solar cars are another idea, especially for people living in hot areas, while hydrogen cars convert hydrogen into mechanic energy in a more efficient way than models that run on diesel or gas.

Hidden costs

People are usually afraid of everything that’s new, and that’s the reason why there’s still a certain stigma surrounding eco-friendly cars. Most of us think these come with a ton of hidden costs that could prove to be too expensive, which means that a switch to a green car might not be the greenest idea for your budget. Nevertheless, that’s not the case, as you’ll spend much less money on a fully-charged electric car than a full tank of gas, and you’re also going to help the environment quite a lot in the process.

Moreover, even the car insurance companies aren’t as strict and expensive with these cars as you’d expect them to be, and some offer special discounts if you’re driving such a car. So, you need to explore all the options, look into the differences between several types of car insurance, and make the right choice for your car – and, of course, don’t forget to mention it’s green to your insurance agent!

Alternative methods

If you’re not in a position to purchase a green car, you can still be green and make a small but significant difference in the environment every time you sit behind the wheel. Slowing down early instead of hitting the breaks suddenly, shifting gears properly, driving at an optimal speed, carpooling to work and removing the trash so that your car is lighter than before are just some of the ways to introduce some eco-friendliness into your driving, so make the most of these ideas and Mother Earth will certainly appreciate it.

Switching to an environmentally-aware car could be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made in your life – these models are more attractive, less noisy and definitely better for our planet, so get one of these as soon as possible and save the environment one ride at a time.