Carssure asked:


One can never believe every word in online or newspaper articles by 100 percent because there are always misconceptions and false information. When it comes to green cars, which include electric, cell-powered, hybrid and solar cars, we discover several myths about them as well. Some of them are just useful for car manufacturers; the others come as a result of common misunderstanding. Nevertheless one should think those facts over if one considers buying a green car.

Myth #1 - Greenest Cars Are Very Expensive

Most people believe that environmentally friendly cars are sold at a high price and are not affordable for people with low income. However there are some electric cars that cost as much as average gasoline vehicles.

Myth #2 – With a Green Car There Are No High Maintenance Expenses

Even though a green car may seem to be a reliable mechanism made of durable parts, driving and using such a car has some hidden maintenance expenses. Since electric cars run on rechargeable batteries they need to be recharged quite often which might be rather costly considering the price for electricity nowadays. Moreover sooner or later rechargeable batteries will have to be replaced with new ones which are quite expensive as well.

Myth #3 – Greenest Cars Are The Most Environmentally Friendly

It’s true that green cars help to reduce pollution and produce less exhaust fumes than most conventional gasoline vehicles but as a matter of fact greenest cars are not that green. Even though some hybrid cars run on electric power or hydrogen at low speeds combined with usage of a gasoline engine only at higher speeds, they still use a lot of gas and do pollute the atmosphere. Some specialists believe that buying a small economy car is more environmentally friendly than buying a powerful hybrid car.

Myth #4 – Greenest Cars Are Widely-Spread

With all the big talk and spirited debates about green cars one may come to a conclusion that these cars are best-selling, widely-distributed and they start “driving” gasoline cars out of the car market. However the production of green cars makes only 1.8 percent of the whole US car market and it will take quite a long time before they start playing any considerable part in it.

Myth #5 – All Green Cars Are Absolutely Safe

Driving some types of environmentally friendly cars such as most cell-powered and some hybrid cars with hydrogen engines makes them extremely dangerous on the road. In case of any collision the explosion of hydrogen accompanied by oxygen which is also used in such engines might cover vast areas.

Myth #6 – Most Green Cars Are Small and Uncomfortable Inside

This statement might be fair only if we talk about such a representative of green cars as a Smart car. However the majority of environmentally friendly cars is as spacious as conventional vehicles and has a rather big storage space.

Myth #7 – Electric Cars Can Operate Long Hours without Recharging

In fact most electric cars can be driven only 35 miles. After that the batteries need to be recharged. Thus if you travel long distances by car an electric vehicle is not what you need.



FREDDIE

Joey Lee asked:


You are an environmentally friendly person and have all the correct reasons to want to buy a Hybrid car. But buying hybrid cars can be a little more complicated than that. The complication is not whether to buy Hybrid cars but more on which to choose from, given the maze of hybrid cars currently in the market.

And just like in any purchasing process, there are certain considerations to be made before you could narrow down with your choices.

The Hybrid Car - A More Intelligent Vehicle. The nature of hybrid cars, or hybrid electric vehicle, HEV has two energy sources for its engines, namely electric and combustion. In an ordinary scenario, like cruising along the highway, the Hybrid car generally runs on one or the other of the sources, until the driver needs more power such as greater acceleration. When this happened, the two engines will operate in unison. Hybrid HEV cars are low emission, fuel efficient, and this is one of the key considerations when buying hybrid cars.

Another beauty of hybrid cars are is that they recharge their batteries while being driven. This literally removes the necessity of plugging the car for electricity. Unlike pure electric cars, which need to be plugged into wall sockets to be recharged.

Speak The Lingo. Prospective buyers should attempt to achieve some level of understanding with terms related in buying hybrid cars. For instance, according to the California Air Resources Board, Ultra Low-Emission Vehicle is a car with 50 percent cleaner emission and a Super Ultra Low-Emission Vehicle emits 90 % cleaner. There are zero-emission cars however, are purely electric vehicles, not hybrid cars. But pure electric cars are currently still rather cost ineffective and impractical for full scale production.

Your Lifestyle and Travel Needs. When buying hybrid cars, you should consider your work and home locations. Most Hybrid cars are made for urban or suburban travel. Short trips are most suitable for fuel savings, when hybrid cars are using electric engines at low RPMs. Conversely, driving on a highway or interstate travel won’t see much of the expected fuel reduction.

When is the Price Right. The other consideration for consumer before finally buying hybrid cars is the cost. Hybrid cars, are priced higher than gas-powered counterparts due to the fact that production of hybrid cars are still in low numbers and has more mechanically complex to build. But bear in mind that the upfront higher cost of your hybrid will be eventually offset over the long term by fuel saving due to higher fuel efficiency.

Tax Incentives Helps. Buying hybrid cars at present is encouraged by the Federal State, due to the long term benefits of limiting fuel usage. There several tax deduction for new buyers of hybrid cars. Several cities are offering free parking as an additional incentive for low-emissions vehicles. This list of considerations above is by no mean exhaustive. We have examined the factors from broad perspectives.

There is however, one key criterion you need to seriously consider when making your buying decision, namely how a Hybrid car fit into your lifestyle and travelling habits, whether you as an urbanite or a trans-state person is critical in buying that hybrid car..

While it is a fact that Environmentally friendly hybrid cars will be the new future vehicles of today’s roads, the greater question is, are you game for it yet?



LADONNA

Brad Martinson asked:


With the expense of gas nowadays as well as the emphasis put on ensuring the future of the planet by keeping the air clean, there is a surge in research for alternative fuel sources. The vehicle manufacturers are developing products to meet this demand and have invested a lot of time and money to come up with the various alternates.

Ethanol, made from corn or soybeans, is one of the more recognizable forms of alternative fuel. It has gained a lot of media exposure over the years and is beneficial in many ways. It can be made inexpensively from organic materials and trash. While it still demands gasoline for its use, the ethanol is cleaner, less expensive and allows better gas mileage than that of traditional gasoline products. Ethanol is available now and uses only fifteen percent gasoline. This is a much more economical solution.

Methanol is similar to ethanol but has a few slight differences. It can be made of wood or coal but today it is primarily made from methane. Natural gas is a much less expensive alternative and burns cleaner than gasoline also. Like ethanol, methanol is an alcohol based alternative fuel.

Propane will likely be familiar to most people. In fact, many people regularly use it for other types of ebergy. It is, however, gaining momentum as a possible alternative to gas in vehicles. Propane is much easier on the environment which is one of the reasons it is being looked at so closely. It originates in the ground but is more similar to air than petroleum and much more abundant a resource.

Electric cars were developed many years ago but never took off in popularity. However, there is a resurgence in this type of vehicle now because of the rising gas prices as well as the concern for the environment. The rechargeable car batteries allow the car to run while avoiding the use of harmful gas emissions. This classic alternative has become more readily available in recent years.

The alternative fuel that is getting the most attention, though, is hydrogen. Because it is so easy to produce and so inexpensive, this looks to be one of the most promising alternatives to gasoline available. Car manufacturers have developed the means to create these cars and the technology is continually advancing. Not only will this be an extremely efficient and inexpensive solution but it will also be a very clean product.

The greenhouse effect is in the news a lot lately. That coupled with the rising gas prices has spurred scientists from around the world to put forth a lot more effort into developing alternative fuel sources. While there are many available now, advances in the industry promise even more to come.



LINDSEY