Over the past few years, eco friendly cars, or “eco-cars” have emerged as a very popular option among the eco-conscious community, yet many of us aren’t even familiar with the term “eco-car”. In this article, we are going to explore what are eco friendly cars, and why you should consider one as your daily driver.
What are eco friendly cars?
The term “sustainable car” is used for any vehicle that doesn’t produce significant emissions and pollution. Sustainable cars can be powered with other types of gas than gasoline, such as electricity, biodiesel, or a combination of both electricity and gasoline (commonly known as hybrid cars).
Sustainable cars were a real anomaly back in 1997 when Japan launched its first eco friendly car, the Toyota Prius; a very boxy vehicle that never really gained a lot of popularity back then. However, eco friendly cars have come a long way since then, and today even the most affordable eco friendly cars in the world are quite fashionable.
Advantages of switching from a traditional car to an eco-friendly one
- The obvious advantage to switching over to an eco-friendly car is the fact that it does not produce harmful emissions or pollution around you. This means there are fewer people suffering from illnesses and other types of problems caused by breathing in “bad” air day after day.
- Eco-friendly cars also have an edge over traditional cars when it comes to fuel economy. For example, a hybrid Prius can get up to 50 miles per gallon while driving! That’s something no other vehicle currently on the market today can claim!
- Not only are you responsible for yourself, but you’re also responsible for being a good steward of the Earth by making this move. That’s because when you purchase an eco-friendly car, it means all of the materials used in its manufacturing were produced without harming the planet or putting any strain on natural resources (Although some manufacturers do tend to overlook this to cut costs, the good ones do not).
Disadvantages of not having an environmentally friendly car
As we’ve just seen the advantages of having an eco friendly car, the disadvantages consequently are now pretty obvious:
- You are going to be putting harmful emissions and pollution into the air around you. This is obviously not good for you, but it’s also not good for other people who are breathing in these fumes as well.
- You are also going to be using up natural resources that might not have been used if you had purchased an eco-friendly car. This can cause even more problems and complications for the planet in replenishing its non-sustainable resources.
Disadvantages of having an eco friendly car
Although having several advantages, eco friendly cars also have a few disadvantages, which in fairness need to be discussed as well:
- These types of cars can be a little more expensive to purchase. They require different materials in their manufacturing process, which drives up costs for the company that is making them. This is why buying a sustainable car is not for everyone, but if you have cash to spare, you should definitely go for it as it will save you money in the long run.
- It takes time and effort to learn how everything works with a sustainable car. Getting it set up properly will take some adjusting on your part, and there could be some early trouble spots or other issues you run into before you know everything about it.
- There is also the likelihood of people around you giving you grief about your decision or asking a lot of questions that can make you feel uncomfortable, such as asking what type of car it is and why you’re driving something different than they are. Although this may be a good thing in most cases since you’re promoting an eco friendly lifestyle to them, it ends up being a nuisance sometimes since nobody really is convinced and they end up wasting your time.
Tips for driving an eco-friendly vehicle
- Make sure to maintain your car. The more you care for your vehicle, the longer it’s going to last and help you out in an eco-friendly way.
- One of the most important things is that your driving habits need to change when you get behind the wheel of a sustainable car. EV cars completely run on batteries instead of a combination of batteries and gasoline and take a much longer time to charge than pumping gas at your local station, so if you have any long commutes or run errands around town all day, then just make sure to plug in at night and charge up before heading back out onto the road!
Where to buy a sustainable car
There are many different places you can look to find a sustainable car. One of the best places to look is your local dealership. The dealerships have a variety of vehicles available to them from multiple manufacturers, so they will be able to offer you one that is in line with what your needs are and what you’re looking for in your vehicle purchase.
If you decide not to buy from a dealership, there are still plenty of options if you want to shop around online or do research into vehicles on your own time at home. Simply type “sustainable cars” into any search engine on the Internet, and there will be more than enough websites available for you to go through until you find the right match for your lifestyle.
Resources for learning more about eco-friendly cars
There are plenty of resources out there that you can check out to learn more about eco-friendly cars and how they work. Be careful, however, as not all of them are going to give you accurate information! You need to make sure you’re checking out a reliable source when looking for anything except manufacturer instructions.
One really good place to start is on your desired vehicle’s website or by checking out what the manufacturer offers online. Most automakers have all kinds of information available for their customers about their eco-friendly vehicles and what they do well or struggle with.
Another great resource is at your local library, one that could be located at a university or in an area where people working in the field like to study. You should be able to find plenty of books on the subject that will help you learn everything you need to know about how these cars work.
There are also lots of other ways you can search for information, such as checking out the forums online where people who own eco-friendly cars like to hang out and talk with others about them.
A final word
In this article, we’ve covered some advantages as well as disadvantages of eco friendly cars, so that when the decision comes down to whether or not one would fit in with your lifestyle better, you can make a more informed choice about which direction to take.
If you’re looking to make a major positive impact on the environment (provided you have the spare cash for it), it’s time for you to reconsider what type of car will work best for your needs. If you want something that is environmentally friendly and still provides good gas mileage, then an eco-friendly or sustainable vehicle might be perfect for you!