If you haven’t already joined the electric revolution, then why not? There are so many benefits to choosing an eco-friendly car and it’s not just about the environment!
Whilst the main benefit of adopting an environmentally friendly car is the impact reduced impact they have on the environment, there are also other benefits.
Cleaner air contributes to improved human health and reduce the rate of climate change. Electric and hybrid cars can also save you money, have better fuel economy, decrease noise pollution and have less car maintenance. Let’s explore why the best choice for your next car may be an eco-friendly one.
What does eco-friendly actually mean?
Eco friendly is short for environmentally friendly. Environmentally friendly means something that is designed to have little or no damaging effect to the environment. In termsof vehicles, eco-friendly cars can include both fully electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. Eco friendly cars look at everything from what emissions they produce to how they are manufactured and the affect that they have on the environment.
What are the types of eco-friendly cars available?
Eco friendly cars can include both electric and hybrid vehicles. Electric cars are environmentally friendlier than hybrid versions because they don’t produce any harmful emissions. Instead of using a traditional petrol or diesel engine, they use an electric motor to power the wheels. They use the energy stored in the battery to power the vehicle and can be recharged at home. Electric cars charge their batteries by using electricity from the national grid. You can also get access to over 42,000 charge points across the UK to recharge your EV!
If you’re not ready to go fully electric, you could consider a hybrid vehicle instead. Like electric vehicles, many consumers still think that hybrid cars are too expensive to buy but you can now benefit from hybrid car finance options. A hybrid vehicle is less environmentally friendly than an electric car but much better for the environment than a traditional combustion engine. This is because hybrid vehicles combine the two. A full hybrid powers the wheels with both a petrol/diesel engine and an electric motor. The battery in the electric motor is charged through regenerative braking instead of being plugged in to a power source.
Benefits of environmentally friendly cars
Better for the environment
The main benefit of electric and hybrid cars is the impact they have on the environment. Petrol and diesel engines produce harmful levels of Co2 which gets trapped in the earth and warms the planet which increases the rate of climate change. Less emissions means cleaner air and improves health for humans, animals and all living things.
More affordable
When electric cars first hit the market, they were out of reach for many drivers. With more advanced technology used, the price of an electric powered new car can be quite high. However, there are government grants available to help people in the UK to own an EV. The UK government grant gives you £1500 off the price off some new electric cars. EVs have now been around for a number of years so there is more access to used electric cars which you can finance through hire purchase or PCP car finance.
Increased range, less anxiety
In recent years, the range of electric cars has improved massively. Some EVs can travel over 400 miles on a full charge. This recues range anxiety which used to put many buyers off. Some plug-in hybrid vehicles also have a range of around 30 miles. This means if you only travel around city centres or cover this many miles in a day, you may never need to use the combustion engine as a power source.
Reduced running costs
The running cost of electric and hybrid vehicles can be considerably lower than owning a diesel or petrol car. Fully electric cars don’t use any fuel, but you can charge them from as little as a few pounds each day (subject to your power source and vehicle type).
Contribute to UK’s Net Zero target
The UK Net Zero strategy aims to slash emissions by 78% by 2035. After this point, the UK has pledged to be completely Net Zero by 2050. It may seem years away but starting now can have a massive impact on hitting these targets. You can contribute to the UK’s goal by adopting an eco-friendly vehicle when you next buy a car. Reduced emissions help to slow the rate of climate change.
Exempt from congestion charges
Many cities across the UK have adopted ‘clean air zones’ or ‘Ultra Low Emission Zones’. Within these zones, a fee is set which drivers have to pay for polluting this area with vehicle emissions. Fully electric vehicles get to benefit from exemptions from these charges as they don’t produce any harmful pollutants. Most hybrid vehicles are also exempt from the congestion charges but it’s worth checking the make and model if you are unsure.