More people than ever are investing in electric cars or cars that are better for the environment. With the petrol and diesel ban 2030 looming and the UK governments pledge to help tackle the rate of climate change, getting an eco-friendly car may be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. If you’ve never had an EV before you may be wondering how they work and if they would fit into your lifestyle. Both fully electric cars and hybrid cars can help to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere when compared to traditional petrol or diesel cars. So, with this in mind, should your next car be an eco-friendly one?
What is an eco-friendly car?
An eco-friendly car or a ‘green vehicle’ is one that has a less harmful impact on the environment. When compared to other conventional combustion engines, eco-friendly cars don’t produce as many harmful emissions. These pollutants such as CO2 contribute to the rate of climate change. Drivers can adopt an EV to help reduce their own personal carbon footprint and help to slow climate change. Cleaner air can also contribute to better human and environmental health.
How do electric cars work?
Electric cars don’t have a traditional combustion engine and instead use an electric motor to drive the vehicle. The electric motor uses rechargeable batteries to power the motor and can be charged at home or via a designed charging point. Electric cars take electricity from the national grid and don’t produce any harmful emissions into the environment. The range of an EV can depend on the make and model of the vehicle but generally, large batteries can power the vehicle for longer periods and cover more miles. Many car manufactures have adopted electric cars into their production line already and you can get an electric vehicle from a car dealer with electric car finance or buy a second-hand EV from a dealer or private seller. From 2030, no car manufacturer will be able to sell new petrol or diesel vehicles, so now could be the perfect time to get an EV.
Benefits of electric cars:
There are a whole range of ways driving an electric car can benefit your life financially and reduce your impact on the environment.
- Reduce fuel consumption. Electric cars don’t need to be refuelled which means you can save a lot of money on filling up your vehicle. It is much cheaper to charge and electric vehicle than it is to fill your car with petrol or diesel.
- Better for the environment. Combustion engines are fuelled by harmful fossil fuels which speed up the rate of climate change. By switching to an eco-friendly vehicle, you can help to slow the rate of climate change and improve air quality for everyone.
- More buying options. When electric vehicles first came to the market, many people were out off by their high purchase price. However, now you can finance an electric vehicle and there is more availability on the second-hand EV market.
- Lower maintenance costs. Electric motors don’t use as many moving parts so maintenance and repairs costs can be lower. EVs are easier to maintain as there are no expensive fuel injectors or radiators involved that may need to be replaced.
What about hybrid cars?
If you’re not ready to go fully electric, you may be considering a hybrid vehicle. Hybrid cars or vans are powered by both an electric motor and a combustion engine. Whilst hybrid cars still produce emissions, they have a lesser impact on the environment. Hybrid cars tend to fall into 3 categories. Full and mild hybrids use the electric motor to assist the engine and can be recharged through regenerative braking. Plug in hybrids on the other hand can be charged just lie an electric car. Hybrids tend to have smaller electric ranges as the batteries aren’t as big as full EV but if you only travel within the electric range each day, you could benefit from a full EV without the price tag.
Benefits of hybrid vehicles:
Hybrid cars can be a great choice if you aren’t ready to get a full EV or are worried about range anxiety.
- Less harmful than diesel. Hybrid engines still use fossil fuels but are usually powered by a small petrol engine. Petrol cars release less emissions when compared to diesel engines and driving a hybrid can be better for the environment than other options.
- Financial incentives. You can now spread the cost by getting used hybrid cars on finance or using a government grant to help offset the cost. Many hybrids are also exempt from congestion charges and some model can benefit from free parking in certain areas.
- Built from light material. Hybrid cars tend to be manufactured user lighter material than traditional petrol or diesel cars. This makes them more efficient and cheaper to run.
- Great fuel economy. Just like electric cars, it can be cheaper to recharge a plug-in hybrid than it can be to refuel your vehicle. Full and mild hybrids also benefit from regenerative breaking which charges the battery each time you press the brake down.