What You Need To Know About Green Cars

Gas-guzzling SUVs have given their yippie drivers a bad reputation. Drivers everywhere are quick to complain about the oversized vehicles and how they are polluting the environment. But now, there are 10 hybrid fuel-efficient SUVs on the market. Which model is better depends on the needs of the consumer, but either which way, all of the models are better for the environment.

SUVs aren’t the only model of car available with fuel alternatives. There are coupes, sedans, compact vehicles, family vehicles, commuter cars, luxury cars and more. Deciding to purchase a hybrid vehicle is much like deciding to become vegetarian. One person driving a hybrid isn’t going to save the environment, just as one person deciding not to eat meat isn’t going to save animals. However, the more people driving fuel-efficient vehicles, the better chance to protect natural resources (including the customer’s hard-earned coin, if money is considered a natural resource). In fact, the batteries hybrids use are fully recyclable and don’t contain the toxic agents that other batteries have that remain in garbage dumps awaiting the apocalypse. Hybrid batteries are built to last the “life span” of the car, which, depending on the make and model, is about 200,000 miles. The batteries are made of nickel metal, which doesn’t threaten the environment the way nickel cadmium-based batteries do.

Newer technologies for alternative-fueled cars are increasing. There are gas-electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and a future (somewhere in the 8-10 year range) of hydrogen-fueled vehicles. There’s a fuel alternative car in the market for nearly any consumer operating on all different budgets. How hybrid cars work is simpler than many motor vehicle companies let on. Unlike gasoline-only cars, hybrids use minimal gasoline that works to power electric motors that store energy in rechargeable batteries. Hybrids come equipped with computer systems that determine when to use electric or fuel energy to maximize the vehicle’s performance. The main goal of a hybrid is to use less gas, therefore in the long-term, saving drivers more money.

Perhaps most interestingly, the Nissan Leaf, which is the first ever entirely electric vehicle, will be sold retail for $32,780 or leased at $349 per month. The Nissan Leaf qualifies purchasers for a $7,500 tax credit that reduces the cost of the car to $25,280 or less depending on the state. The car will be available as of December 2011. The purchase of the Leaf requires an installment of an in-home charging station, at an additional approximate cost of $2,000. However, it’s comparable to having a gas station in your own garage. Nissan estimates that at current national electricity prices the Leaf will cost $3 to “fill up.”

Maintenance for hybrids is expected to cost less than regular cars, too. Just like gasoline-fueled vehicles, the dealerships encourage customers to bring the car back to them for servicing. Mechanics nationwide have been taking classes on how to effectively repair hybrid vehicles to meet the demands of a new market.

Hybrid carmakers are marketing to more than just the luxury-class market. They’re looking for regular people who drive regular cars to their regular jobs. Along with that, the costs of the hybrid have been adjusted to better suit the average consumer, which may also be a reflection of the recession. Regardless of the factors, for cars, the future is now, and in the future, gas is green, and green is in your pocket.