Introduction to Green Cars
Cars are one of the greatest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. To combat this issue, scientists and innovators introduced the concept of green cars. Green cars are those which consume fewer fossil fuels and ultimately reduce the carbon footprint. If you are looking to buy a new car, green cars are the best option for the current times. Green cars have many benefits. They’re environmentally friendly and their fuel efficiency can save you money in the long run.
If you’re looking into buying a green car, here’s what you need to know:
What is a Green Vehicle?
Traditional cars release carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that has a negative impact on climate change and contributes to global warming. When you choose a green car, you are choosing to fight against the global climate change challenge by reducing your carbon footprint.
A car is classified as "green" if it releases significantly less CO2 emissions than conventional vehicles of the same power and size.
Green cars can be highly fuel-efficient petrol engines, or they can be hybrid or electric vehicles. Here are the different types of green cars.
Fuel-Efficient Petrol Engine Cars
Scientists from all over the world are working to develop a highly fuel-efficient petrol engine which also produces less carbon dioxide emissions. Every year more environment-friendly engines are installed in new cars and coined “Eco Cars”. Most of these cars have an Eco mode which allows the driver to adjust the vehicle’s acceleration for less fuel consumption. But there are limitations to the environmental improvements that can be made to petrol engine cars as they are powered by fossil fuels.
Electric Cars
Electric cars have strong batteries and are powered by electric engines, unlike traditional cars which run on petrol which emits CO2. They have not fuel tank, no exhaust pipe, and there’s no need for an oil change. The battery just needs to be recharged at an electricity source.
While electric cars are eco-friendly and innovative, the technology is new and not yet popular in the market. The current shortage of charging stations creates limitations for electric vehicles.
Hybrids Cars
Hybrids car are those which have more than one propulsion mechanism such as combustion engine and electric motor powered. The difference between a regular vehicle and a hybrid car is that hybrids are powered by either petrol or an electric motor. The function that makes the hybrid vehicle green charges the electrical battery pack from the mechanical energy and then drives the car from the electric motor. It reduces fuel consumption and also the vehicle’s carbon footprint. Hybrid vehicles are widely used in developed countries and considered the best green car option.
A green car should comply with safety and environmental standards. These are called Australian Design Rules or ADR. The ADR rates green cars to define the vehicle’s environmental impact. The rating comprises of a greenhouse rating, air-pollution rating, and also fuel consumption. Green car owners benefit from tax exemptions and a $100 or 20% discount on their annual registration cost, varying from state to state.
What makes an Eco-Friendly Car?
THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS HARM OUR ENVIRONMENT. SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE RESEARCHING WAYS TO REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF FOSSIL FUELS. GREEN CARS USE RENEWABLE ENERGY INSTEAD OF BEING SOLELY DEPENDENT ON FOSSIL FUELS. HENCE, THEY PRODUCE FEWER CARBON EMISSIONS WHICH HELP TO KEEP OUR AIR CLEANER AND HEALTHIER WHILE USING THE LATEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. WHILE A RANGE OF GREEN CAR TECHNOLOGIES ARE EMERGING, HYBRID CARS OFFER THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS –ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY AND COST-EFFICIENT.