Green car guide
Useful facts about green vehicles and fuels.
green car guide
The Government has recently announced in the 2009 Budget a £2000 incentive to owners of cars more than 10 years old to scrap their old car and buy new, which makes this the ideal time to consider going green, check if you're eligible with our Scrappage Eligibility Checker. Green cars could mean buying an entirely new vehicle or converting your current vehicle to use greener fuel. Below are some of the types of vehicles and alternative fuels available to give you all the information needed to make the best decision for you.
top green cars
| Hybrid | Electric | Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) | LPG | Bioethanol | BioDiesel | |
| Fuel | Series Hybrid (or Mild Hybrid) use combustion engine to generate electricity to power an electric motor
Parallel Hybrid (or Full Hybrid) can be powered either by the engine or by the electric stored in the battery Ideal for city driving as battery charges while travelling at low speeds |
Has an on board rechargeable battery which stores electrical energy. Uses Nickel metal-hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries which provide improvements in performance Most electric cars are smaller, lighter two seaters but four seaters are planned |
Naturally occurring gas mixture of 80% methane with smaller amounts of propane, ethane and butane. Can be used in a modified combustion engine. |
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) mainly propane with small amounts of Butane and Ethane. Vehicles are usually bi-fuel so the vehicle can operate on petrol or gas where available. Used in approximately 2% of European Cars |
Clear, colourless liquid and is the essential ingredients of all alcoholic drinks. Produce by fermented sugar. Liquid at room temperature can be handled similar to petrol. Used as high performance motor racing fuel. Most widely used green fuel. |
Produced by the esterification of energy crops such as Oil Seed Rape, sunflower oil, palm oil and soybeans. No modification of diesel vehicle required Can be a direct replacement of normal diesel but manufacturers recommend blend of between 5-30% |
| Car Handling | Green car that is most similar to current popular cars | Totally different - lack of engine noise. Similar gears to an automaticDesigned for urban living and will reach max speeds of 40-50mph. Have a limited range, a typical electric car can only do 50-60 miles on a charge so means it perfect for the city but not for any long journeys |
No change to conventional car in handling. | Similar to a conventional car except for a small loss of throttle. | May be difficult to start in cold weather. Cars modified to take pure ethanol have improved performance. | Can be difficult to start in cold weather. Handling is same as a convention car except for the frying smell. |
| Ease of Refuelling | Petrol fuelled so refuelling is carried out the same as an ordinary car. | Overnight charging- 6-8 hrs Slow charging- transformer to reduce voltage and rectifier to charge the cells using direct current.Fast Charging - alternating current required 50% in 10 mins. Easy to install electrical point to recharge, for slow charge only standard 13 amp socket required. |
Fastfuel- car can be refuelled in minutesSlow fill - take over 5-6 hrsLimited number of gas refuelling stationsProgression of home refill units. | Fuelled with a hose between dispenser and car. 10% of refuelling stations offer LPG. | Fuel dispensed from pump. | Fuelled from fuel pump in much the same as petrol or diesel. Fuel can also be created at home with waste cooking oil for example. |
| Cost To Run | Typically use 15%-30% less fuel per mile. | Fuel costs can be as low as 1.0-2.5p per mile depending on the utility company. | Similar cost to ordinary petrolHome refill unit could make savings 60p/kg. | LPG costs around 45p/litre. | Higher production costs than petrol. Fuel duty has been reduced by govt by 20p/litre for next 3 yrs.However as bioethanol has lower energy content, more fuel is required. Uses around 50% more fuel per mile. | Reduced fuel duty by 20p/litre by govt for next 3 years to promote production. |
| Cost to Buy/Convert | Toyota Prius 1.5VVTI T3 Hybrid OTR from £17,128 |
Tesla Roadster OTR from £87,100 Purchase price increased by 80% of a petrol car, batteries often not included so they will need to be leased at additional cost. |
None | None | Ford Mondeo 2.0 FFV Zetec OTR from £17,766 |
None |
| How Green is it? | Reduce greenhouse emissions (per mile) by around 25% | Only zero-emission vehicles available. Power stations have to produce more electricity to run the car but still 40% reduction. More fuel efficient as more suited to start/stop urban environment. | Reduce emission by 10-15% | Purer than petrol so can reduce emissions between 10-15% | Reduce emissions by 35-65%.Has potential to be carbon neutral. | Potential to be carbon neutral depending on how harvested. Gas emissions (per mile) have potential to be reduced up to 60% |
benefits of owning a green car
1. Discount on Road Tax
Cars with emissions of between 101-120g/km which would include some hybrid and electric cars would be eligible for a 12 month tax rate of £35.00 - View road tax bands
2. Discount on congestion charge in London
Daily charge for driving in London is £8, however if your vehicle is run on electric or alternative fuels you are entitled to 100% discount. However to qualify for the electricity propelled vehicle discount, you must be registered with the DVLA and to get the alternative fuel discount your vehicle must be powered by alternative fuel, bi fuel or duel fuel and not solely petrol or diesel and it must meet strict emissions criteria.
This means that a green car user can make substantial savings if they regularly travel in London.
3. More Fuel efficient in urban area
Alternative fuel source vehicles are 'greener' because they are more fuel efficient when in urban areas, starting and stopping and use less fuel when idling at traffic lights or roadworks especially as with hybrid and electricity cars the battery is charging even when you are breaking. With less emission from the car in the street, the pedestrian experience is improved.
4. Less Noise Pollution
Electric cars are typically a lot quieter than ordinary petrol and diesel vehicles so reducing noise pollution in a number of urban locations.
Cars with emissions of between 101-120g/km which would include some hybrid and electric cars would be eligible for a 12 month tax rate of £35.00 - View road tax bands
2. Discount on congestion charge in London
Daily charge for driving in London is £8, however if your vehicle is run on electric or alternative fuels you are entitled to 100% discount. However to qualify for the electricity propelled vehicle discount, you must be registered with the DVLA and to get the alternative fuel discount your vehicle must be powered by alternative fuel, bi fuel or duel fuel and not solely petrol or diesel and it must meet strict emissions criteria.
This means that a green car user can make substantial savings if they regularly travel in London.
3. More Fuel efficient in urban area
Alternative fuel source vehicles are 'greener' because they are more fuel efficient when in urban areas, starting and stopping and use less fuel when idling at traffic lights or roadworks especially as with hybrid and electricity cars the battery is charging even when you are breaking. With less emission from the car in the street, the pedestrian experience is improved.
4. Less Noise Pollution
Electric cars are typically a lot quieter than ordinary petrol and diesel vehicles so reducing noise pollution in a number of urban locations.
disadvantages of Green cars
1. Unknown depreciation value
It is not known of how much the electric car and Hybrid car will depreciate in value because they are very new and unused technology.
2. Increased Demand for Electrical Supply
Electric cars are recharged by mains electric from inside the house meaning household electrical demand would naturally rise. The costs may also rise depending on the utility provider and recent hikes in utility bills recently may fill the gap created by the reduced spend in petrol. The increase demand to the power station would result in an increase in fossil fuels used to generate more electricity.
3. No Cheaper Car Insurance Schemes
Number of 'Green' insurance companies have grown in the last few years with lures of cheaper car insurance for greener cars, however in a comparison between 'green' car insurance companies and cheaper car insurance companies, they are not really competitive. Actually cheaper to take the cheaper car insurance and make a donation to an environment or climate charity.
4. Quiet Cars mean pedestrians cannot hear the vehicle approach
Alternative fuel cars typically make less noise when starting off, therefore making the 'listen' in the Green Cross Code a defunct instruction.
It is not known of how much the electric car and Hybrid car will depreciate in value because they are very new and unused technology.
2. Increased Demand for Electrical Supply
Electric cars are recharged by mains electric from inside the house meaning household electrical demand would naturally rise. The costs may also rise depending on the utility provider and recent hikes in utility bills recently may fill the gap created by the reduced spend in petrol. The increase demand to the power station would result in an increase in fossil fuels used to generate more electricity.
3. No Cheaper Car Insurance Schemes
Number of 'Green' insurance companies have grown in the last few years with lures of cheaper car insurance for greener cars, however in a comparison between 'green' car insurance companies and cheaper car insurance companies, they are not really competitive. Actually cheaper to take the cheaper car insurance and make a donation to an environment or climate charity.
4. Quiet Cars mean pedestrians cannot hear the vehicle approach
Alternative fuel cars typically make less noise when starting off, therefore making the 'listen' in the Green Cross Code a defunct instruction.
insuring your Green Car
A few words on Green Car Insurance from Peter Gerrard, Head of Insurance at Moneyextra.com
'This is very early on in the life of the electric car so there are no special schemes available on the market, and although hybrid cars have been widely available for some time there have been no specialist hybrid insurance schemes, although as the popularity of greener cars increases there is every likelihood of such schemes being developed.
However, as a rule when purchasing car insurance for any vehicle, specialist schemes should always be compared in both premium and benefits to standard insurers as there is no one insurer who is competitive for everyone, so whereby a specialist scheme may prove the best in benefits and premium to one person, to another a standard offering maybe more cost effective.
However it's worth bearing in mind that whilst these cars are going to be environmentally friendly they could be more costly to insure on the grounds that premiums are based partly on the risk a person poses to an insurance company, but also the costs associated with repairing the car should there be in an accident. As these cars may require expensive or specialist parts to repair, this will ultimately push up the costs of insurance.'
'This is very early on in the life of the electric car so there are no special schemes available on the market, and although hybrid cars have been widely available for some time there have been no specialist hybrid insurance schemes, although as the popularity of greener cars increases there is every likelihood of such schemes being developed.
However, as a rule when purchasing car insurance for any vehicle, specialist schemes should always be compared in both premium and benefits to standard insurers as there is no one insurer who is competitive for everyone, so whereby a specialist scheme may prove the best in benefits and premium to one person, to another a standard offering maybe more cost effective.
However it's worth bearing in mind that whilst these cars are going to be environmentally friendly they could be more costly to insure on the grounds that premiums are based partly on the risk a person poses to an insurance company, but also the costs associated with repairing the car should there be in an accident. As these cars may require expensive or specialist parts to repair, this will ultimately push up the costs of insurance.'
Green Car Guide
If you need advice before buying a car motoring.co.uk is the only site you need to look at. With motoring forums, opinion and reviews galore. You can research car specifications, how to buy a car, buying cars online and the best places to find car buying tips.
Search car reviews | Compare cars | Car road tests | Car news | Car videos