Greener cars?

Question

I know this question has probably been asked many times before (and I'm not talking about car colour here), but how do you go about getting a car that is kinder to the environment. I've heard stories of electric & hybrid cars. Are they any better than say my regular unleaded 1.6 Mini.

Are the alternatives easy to run (i.e re-fuel/charge whatever). Where does this happen (at normal garages?). I'm no speed freak but I'd also like one that doesn't have to crawl in the slow lane of the motorway being overtaken by a snail with asthma.

Any info/prices/websites/experiences greatly appreciated! Ta.

Answer 1

Instead of going by car, walk on short journeys and take a bus on longer journeys.

Answer 2

We live analternative lifestyle,our diesel genny & van runs on biofuel we make ours,our pelor engine stuff etho/methonal we can nearly make our own gas for cooking & heating & we just bought a milkfloat,for short trips,My partner knows all about,Hybrids & Hi efficent electric cars but hes not here at the momment,this is HandyMac on Kennys laptop!

Answer 3

my advice is to stay with the car you have now until it is ready to be replaced in the future, since you are likely still paying for the car. hybrid cars are about $6000 more expensive than an equivalent gas powered car, so any gas savings you might get from a hybrid, are canceled out by the extra money you pay for the car up front, and the interest you pay on the life of the loan. not to mention that you still have to pay off the car you now have as well, which means that money gets rolled into the loan on the new car if you go that route.

besides, cars today are far more environmentally friendly than cars of 20 years ago. they are more fuel efficient, and put out far less emissions.

Answer 4

In the UK, the two fuel-saving hybrids available are the Honda Civic IMA and the Toyota Prius. The Civic is a saloon version of the regular Civic hatchback, made in the US mainly for that market. The Prius calls itself a hatchback but is really a low slung estate and it has impressive internal dimensions. Both these cars you simply fill with fuel and the petrol engine charges the batteries. Both these are £17-£21K new. I'd recommend a 3 year-old Prius as a good buy.

There are also some hybrid models of Lexus but they use the electric motors for additional power.

LPG is cleaner than either petrol or diesel and a lot cheaper. However, it's still a fossil fuel.

There are one or two electric cars on the market. You simply plug them into the mains and having off-road parking, preferably a garage is essential. Also, they're only city runabouts and the one I know is definitely on the market only has a 40 mile range and 40mph maximum speed.

Answer 5

Small diesels are better than hybrids for cost, pollution due to batteries needing to be replaced at 3/4 years - VERY polluting - and overall fuel consumption.

Call me Dave's Lexus may have a battery which avoids the London entry charge but it only does 27mpg!

The main way to get more fuel efficient cars is better ROADS. My car does 33mpg on roads with roundabouts, traffic lights, stops at junctions and all the other things that plague us. It does 52mpg on runs mainly on motorways 50% more. Its on board computer is a revelation!

The solution is largely in the hands of the Government!

RoyS

Answer 6

The money that you will spend right now on a Hybrid will not match the total price of gas you will save. The prices for Hybrids are decreasing, however it will be a little longer before the price is down enough to make a difference. Toyota announced that they are stepping up plans for an electric car (hopefully) available in the next two years. Your best bet right now is to buy a Toyota, Honda, or a Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) that runs on ethanol. Toyota and Honda have some of the best cars on the market, regularly get great gas milage and last forever. An FFV uses clean burning ethanol which right now is about $.50 cheaper per gallon that regular gasoline.

Answer 7

diesel cars can be converted to work on used frying oil witch you can get free from most restaurants, beyond that theres electric cars, but we dont have infrastructure set up for other fuels like hydrogen

Answer 8

ForUK info on elecrtic cars see Battery vehicle society http://www.batteryvehiclesociety.org.uk/...

you can convert your existing, or other car with defunct infernal combustion engine.

Recharging at home or work, off-peak is easiest, but several areas/shopping centres are also introducing free charging points.

and besides being cheaper to run, £0 road tax, £0 congestion charge etc it is also cheaper to maintain - fewer moving parts, and gives a better, smoother, quieter and smell free driving experience.

And the Tesla, built by Lotus in Norfolk (but not for sale in UK) will outperform a ferrari http://www.teslamotors.com

basically electric motors can generate more torque from 0rpm so need no complicated gearbox, so are more naturally suited to traction applications. It's just the media (funded by all those highpolluting car ads) likes to pretend that there are no viable alternatives to the status quo.

Answer 9

We see a lot of people on tv talking about greener this and that and reducing your carbon footprint..and they then go on to show us how anyone with a few hundred thousand pounds in the bank can have a green home, green transport and a free range organic diet! Well, I have not got a few hundred thousand in the bank but there are simple ways of being greener.. the less fuel your car uses per mile travelled, the greener it is;hybrid cars and electric vehicles are still on the pricey side with parts, service and fuel being less readily available to you than the traditional vehicle. Something like the Smart car..small, low fuel consumption and, in the two seater, with more space fro the drier and passenger than most full sized cars....but there are plenty of smaller cars of the market for you to chose from.

Answer 10

Compressed air cars are greener.

India's Tata Motors has these cars under production and they may be on sale in Europe and America by the end of the year.