Guest Post from Free Lance Writer : Amy Patterson

It’s not news to anyone by now that our planet could use a helping hand. For nearly 50 years, there has been a huge movement of people trying to live “green” and more sustainably and despite all the changes and hard work, all of us could try a little harder to be eco-friendlier. Whether you ditch your bottled water habit, cut down on your food waste, or opt to live a less “disposable” lifestyle, there are many changes that can be made without too much money or effort. Another great way to make a positive impact on our struggling environment is by getting on board with green car technology, particularly if you don’t use alternative transportation or you spend a great deal of time in your vehicle.

 

What is a “Green Car”?

A green car can be best described as a vehicle that produces less harmful impacts to the environment than a majority of the conventional vehicles seen on today’s roads that run on gasoline or diesel fuel. When many motorists think about alternative hybrids, they may think of the “futuristic” sounding electric car or the standard hybrid Prius. While these vehicles are, in fact, green options, the auto market is booming with eco-friendlier vehicles than ever before. Here are the major alternatives and how they differ from one another.

 

Hybrids:

The gas-electric hybrid vehicle is one of the best known eco-friendly vehicles on the road. In the early 2000’s, only a few automobile manufacturers, Honda and Toyota, offered a hybrid option, but now there are more models being released from makers like Ford, Volkswagen, and Lexus. The hybrid car has an electric motor, rechargeable batteries, and gasoline, giving the car almost twice as much fuel efficiency as standard gasoline engine vehicles. For example, a 2016 Toyota Prius costs about $25,000, but gets 54 city/50 highway mpg. The savings can be seen in using less gasoline. Less popular, yet still a green option are plug-in hybrids that are much like regular hybrids, but need to be charged more often.

 

Electric:

The electric car is just as it sounds, it runs on electricity and only electricity. One of the most popular electric cars on the market is the Nissan Leaf. The 2016 model goes for about $30,000, but gets a hefty 126 city/101 highway mpg. With more public charging stations popping up around the U.S., electric car drivers may travel with a little more ease. While the electric car has a promising future, one of the big downsides of the green car is how quiet it is, making it less noticeable for pedestrians or bicyclists.

 

According to the offices of Cohen and Jaffee, LLP, Long Island accident lawyer, “odds are that everyone will be involved in an accident at some point”. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the odds of a hybrid or electric vehicle being involved in preventable accidents.

 

High Fuel Efficiency:

While fuel efficiency vehicles may not be as green as an electric car, they are quickly becoming one of the most popular types of vehicles to purchase. With a number of models exceeding 40 mpg on the highway, alone, and costing a fraction of the price, fuel efficiency vehicles are in strong competition with hybrids. High fuel efficiency vehicles are a good stepping stone for drivers who want to get into “green car technology”, but don’t have the financial means to do so.

 

About the Author:

Amy Patterson is an avid reader on trending topics and a freelance writer in her spare time. As a mother, she loves to write pieces on family and parenting, but also writes about health and fitness as well.

Link to her blog: https://www.goodhomehealth.net/