Eco-friendly driving is on the rise, with more and more people buying hybrid or electric cars, or even shunning cars altogether. Most of us need a car in order to get around. Cars have become an essential part of modern life, but their impact on the environment is undeniable. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can become a more eco-friendly driver, and what that actually entails.
How can you be a more eco-friendly driver?
There are a lot of ways to become an eco-friendy driver, the most obvious being buying an eco-friendly car. But what exactly is an eco-friendly car? Simply put, it is a vehicle that produces significantly less harmful substances that damage the environment. There are lots of different vehicles that can do this, ranging from hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, which have both a petrol and electric engine that work in tandem to reduce emissions, to full-on electric vehicles such as a Tesla. Less common are cars that run entirely off of more sustainable alternative fuels such as ethanol and biofuels.
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If you aren’t committed quite yet to switching out your current car for a hybrid or fully electric vehicle, then there are still ways you can improve your driving to make it eco-friendlier. It may seem simple, but steps such as avoiding idling, limiting your speed, and using your overdrive gears all help.
Insurance
Many people who are looking into buying a more environmentally friendly car worry whether it will affect their car insurance, but they shouldn’t. Many of the top car insurers do not discriminate against hybrid or electric vehicles, and some even offer discounts if you drive an eco-friendly car.
Fuel
So, what are the benefits of driving an eco-friendly car in terms of fuel efficiency and costs? Well, you’ll be happy to hear that hybrid cars (which run on electric and gasoline) actually have much greater fuel efficiency than regular cars. This is because they are able to switch off their gas-powered engine when driving in heavy traffic, slow speeds or in built-up areas, which means that you won’t be wasting fuel. On average, about 50% of the journey time for hybrids is actually spent in electric mode, which means you will save a significant amount of fuel in comparison to driving a regular car.
The environment
The most important benefit to some of buying an eco-friendly car is the environment itself. Emissions from driving cause air pollution and greenhouse gases, which are one of the major causes of global warming. This, in turn, is causing rapid changes in weather events, with more extreme weather events occurring around the globe. It is difficult to predict exactly how global warming will affect the planet, but it is safe to say that it could potentially harm millions if not billions of people. This is why reducing the impact of our cars on the environment is such a huge concern to many people, and should be for you too. By switching to more eco-friendly driving methods or buying an eco-friendly car, you can help to reduce the effects of fuel emissions on the environment.
Eco-friendly driving is fast becoming the future of driving itself, and advancements are being made every day. Hopefully, this article inspired you to be a bit more environmentally conscious while you’re driving too.
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Feature image: Avinash Patel via Pexels (CC0)
