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Eco Friendly Cars

A Global Overview of Eco friendly cars

More and more people are turning to the possibilities offered by the developments towards more environmentally-friendly vehicles. Car manufacturers are frantically researching more and better ways to expand upon the relatively small market in order to offer cars that consumers will buy - meaning environmentally-conscious vehicles that do not sacrifice both aesthetics and costs in order to reduce fuel emissions.

This task is not easy. Some eco-friendly cars have resembled moon buggies more than everyday road vehicles and many consumers are left wondering why designers don't seem to have realised that people want a car that will blend in on the road rather than standing out on it. However, there have been vast improvements on the original eco-friendly cars and now many manufacturers are releasing such environmentally-friendly vehicles based on existing models.

However, apart from the looks and feel of eco-friendly cars, other problems arise with extra costs and a possible lack of refilling opportunities.

The new hybrid cars store energy when the brakes are applied, then use it whenever possible instead of fuel when the vehicle is in motion. Their mileage is high and tests seem to show the battery lasts a long time - but they cost several thousands more than their smog-coughing counterparts. In the long run, they are cost-effective, but for today's consumer it's difficult to say whether a long-term scheme will prevail over an immediate purchase.

Biodiesel cars similarly get more mileage than normal diesel cars, but the cost of biodiesel fuel is significantly high compared to petroleum spirit, and marginally higher than normal diesel. The mixture of vegetable oil and diesel as fuel also means that cold weather can be slightly problematic, depending on oil content in the solution.

Ethanol fuel is a grain-based additive created from corn, barley or wheat, the most popular type being E85. E85 is 85% ethanol and 15% petrol, reducing emissions and costs as it is a cheaper option than regular fuel. The great thing about cars manufactured for this fuel is their versatility: flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) mean you can use either E85 or normal petrol, which ensures you won't need to worry about finding a petrol station that sells the correct fuel. Because of this versatility, many car manufacturers have jumped on the opportunities ethanol vehicles provide and there is a wide selection of cars available.

Finally, natural gas, despite being a fossil fuel, is one that is cleaner-burning than what is usually used for cars. In America, much of the natural gas reserves is collected within US borders, but it is a growing issue that many companies are fighting to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling to supply demand. Natural gas has twice the volume of petrol, meaning it takes up twice as much room in the tank, so it won't take you as far as its liquid form.

These are the four main players in the eco-friendly car sphere. Each type has pros and cons that measure up against each other and our current polluting vehicles. It's important to research thoroughly the type of eco-friendly car you might find most suitable before purchasing, as is it essential to bear in mind that, despite a few negative things about each style, the benefit to the environment is well worthwhile.

However, when weighing up new car options, it's not just its environmental impact that you should consider. Be sure to shop around for the best deal on price, finance repayments, road fund license and car insurance, as well as available fuel options, in order to ensure you choose the best car for your needs.

About the Author

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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5 Hybrid Cars to Wet Your Eco-Friendly, MPG Obsessed Whistle

By Wei Yang

1. Toyota Prius - It was the first mass produced hybrid on the market and thusly it's become the defacto standard. It's certainly reasonably priced, but does its boring looks and appliance-like feel turn off the average American driver (a very emotional group about what they drive) and push it towards one of it's more contemporary competitors? In the end, a solid and reliable car that's moving on to it's 3rd generation in 2010 which should drive sales further. The Japanese are known for their reliability and improvements to batteries and production should drive the cost down and the mileage up. City: 48, Highway: 45, MSRP: $22,000 base pri

2. Honda Clarity FCX: Shortly after Toyota released it's Prius, Honda moved forward with it's Insight project, released in 2000 and has been in production until 2006. At that time, Honda moved their fuel cell technology along enough to power Accord and Civics. However, some believe that though gas-electric hybrids are all good and well, the true future of electric cars is with the use of Hydrogen and electrolysis to create a purely electric car with ZERO emissions. Sure, Hydrogen fuel stations are few and far between, but by the picture, you can tell the Clarity FCX is aiming at a higher eschelon individual. Mass produced FCXes could be ready as soon as 2012, but right now you can lease if you live in California (where Hydrogen stations are available). This is the car for the true eco-heads with it's complete lack of any greenhouse gasses, something not even the Prius can claim. City/Highway: 68 MPG (equivalent), 280 Mile Range, $600 per month lease.

3. Chevrolet Volt: Marketed as the next big thing in commuter cars, the Volt's goal is to create a combination plug-in hybrid that should be able to take you to work and back home on a single charge and not needing to use any gas at all. With an expected range of 40 miles, should you go beyond that, there's a small gasoline generator to power the car until you get to your destination. GM has put a lot of money into marketing the Volt as the next big thing and utilizing it for a push to create special tax credits for cars that get 100MPG+. While the concept cars GM has shown are certainly edgy, a full production version (scheduled for a possible release in 2010), we'll see what the actual Volt turns out looking like. City/Highway: 50MPG (no battery), 150MPG (with battery), 100MPG (average equivalent), MRSP: $30,000+.

4. Tesla Roadster: Based on the Lotus Elise, the Tesla is the first electric car "Car Guys" wanted. Promising of a usable range (over 245 miles), awesome acceleration (less than 4 seconds to 60MPH) and a super sexy chassis based on 15+ years of development on the street and race track, the Tesla makes owning a electric car bearable. Though the small roadster isn't the most practical car here, it's certainly the one that involves the most user input to drive. It's the one you'll want to take to the local track or autocross. It's the first car to break the stigma associated with driving a "green" car and for that, it's made our list. Will it top yours? City/Highway: 105MPG (equivalent), MSRP: $98,000.

5. Fisker Karma: Built by the world renound car designer, Henrik Fisker, designer of the Astin Martin DB9, the Astin Martin V8 Vantage and BMW V8, the Fisker Karma is the car you buy as the President of your eco-friendly business. You'll need 4-doors to fit your clients in, but you'll need to not waste gas to protect your image. The Karma is another plug-in hybrid that utilizes solar cells on the roof as well as a tiny gas generator to keep your car going past the 50 mile electric only range (similar to the Volt). However, whereas most other makers design their cars to sell to the average consumer, the Fisker is for a more refined taste. It's long, sleek body, premium interior and fully featured healm make this car the Mercedes S-Class of hybrid cars (though Mercedes is working on their hybrid S currently). With a Fisker Karma, you're not only saving the environment, you're looking like a million bucks doing so. City/Highway: 150MPG (equivalent), MSRP: $80,000.

Wei Yang is a serial entrepreneur who co-found EasyAutoSales.com to help private sellers and dealerships sell cars online for free. Make the auto sales process a lot easier by selling your car at http://www.easyautosales.com If your in the market to buy a new or used car EasyAutoSales currently has an inventory of 2 million plus cars and growing fast.

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