2010 Green Car Buying Guide
If you are thinking of buying a green car, there are a number of factors you need to consider. The level of carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre – for example, 100g/km CO2 – is a key indicator of how polluting a car is, but there are other criteria to look out for as well. These include the amount of regulated air pollutants a car produces and also the environmental impact of a car from its first to last day – its lifecycle – taking into account the green costs of its manufacture and disposal and the emissions involved in producing and supplying its fuel. On top of these, you also need to consider, as you would with any car, the build quality and the safety rating of the vehicle.
Next Green Car, a green car website based in the UK, has taken these factors into consideration to produce approved lists of green cars. These lists, available to view atwww.nextgreencar.com/approved, consist of models across different classes from small cars up to family-sized vehicles. Among the cars highlighted in 2010 were all-electric cars – Mitsubishi iMiEV, Peugeot iOn, Citroen C-Zero, Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster. The best petrol, diesel, biofuel and hybrid vehicles, where significant reductions in emissions have been made in recent years, also featured in 2010. The recently- launched Fiat 500 TwinAir was the lowest emission petrol car and the latest VW BlueMotion Polo, Skoda Greenline II hatch and estate and smart fourtwo coupe were the best performing diesels.
Another website providing a guide to buying green cars iswww.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk. This site provides information on everything from electric cars and efficient petrol and diesel cars to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biofuels and hydrogen technology. Website editor Faye Sunderland said: ‘Businesses and private buyers will be attracted to electric cars because, among other things, they promise such low costs to recharge. It makes the kind of money we spend on diesel and petrol seem obscene by comparison.’
Governments and other bodies have recognized the value of all-electric and ultra-low emission cars to the environment and have been offering tax incentives, grants and other discounts to encourage consumers to buy them. For example, in 2010, the British Government announced that grants of up to £5,000 would be available for nine models - Mitsubishi iMiEV, smart fortwo electric drive, Peugeot iOn, Citroen C-Zero, Nissan Leaf. Tata Vista EV, Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Vauxhall Ampera and Chevrolet Volt. The British Government also announced it was funding more local charging points for electric cars in streets, car parks and commercial retail and leisure facilities. Improved recharging networks will lead to fewer concerns about the range of electric cars.
Many green cars carry a higher price tag than standard vehicles but, as more people buy them, the cost will come down. And once you own a green car, as well as helping the environment, you will be saving money because your fuel costs will be lower.
