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Here’s Why You Should Finally Ditch Your Car This Year

February 9, 2022 0

Cars are a combination of convenience and trouble for the environment, essentially becoming a necessary evil for the most part. However, something has to tip the balance. With the state of the environment growing more dismal by the day, you may have a few new reasons to ditch your car this year, and here are some of them.

You Can Carpool

There’s a chance that everyone else you know owns a car. If you know someone who works in the same place as you or even close by it, you can carpool with them and someone else. This makes it possible to live without a car because work is the main reason that many people need to have a car in the first place. Ask around from your neighbors to find out which one among them is willing to carpool, and you will enjoy not only saving resources but also leaving a smaller carbon footprint as a group.

The Environment Will Thank You

With the United States roadways averaging over 5,891,000 motor vehicle accidents a year, this is clearly due to having a large number of cars on the roads. While people may do their best to drive safely, car trouble and unforeseen issues like extreme weather can lead to accidents that are unavoidable to a large extent. When you ditch your car, you will not only help put one less possible accident on the highways, but you will also decrease the carbon emissions you’re responsible for, and for this, the environment will be grateful!

You Can Work Remotely

A few years back, there was a small fraction of jobs and employees that would allow working from home. It’s becoming the norm now, and so if you bought your car to get to and from work like many other people, there’s a chance you won’t need it. It’s possible to make your next position a telecommuting one and spend a majority of your time in and around your home. Even if you will need to go to an office physically on one or two days of the week, you can manage to do so without a car as you simply need to find means for those days.

There Are Many Ridesharing Apps

In this age of ride-hailing apps like Uber, you can enjoy the convenience of a taxi service that will pick you up from your home and drop you at the doorstep of where you need to be. This means that you need not worry about living too far from public transport stations as you can hail a car from wherever you are. This is especially true if you don’t need to commute daily, and even if you do, hailing these car services will be a lot cheaper for you than keeping a car. With around 125 oil rigs currently in operation in the Gulf of Mexico, there’s a lot of oil around, but it’s still a costly commodity. Rather than fuel your car every time you need to go somewhere and maybe get poor value per gallon depending on your car, you can rideshare.

You Will Be Healthier

Finally, not having a car will mean that you will need to walk a bit more than you would have otherwise done, and this is a form of exercise in itself. If you keep this up for a while, you will get into good shape without needing to sign up for a gym membership. Breathing the clean, fresh air as you enjoy the scenery will remind you what a great decision you made too!

If you were wondering whether it’s worth it to get rid of your car, the reasons above should make it easier for you to decide. The benefits outweigh the perceived downsides, so go ahead and ditch it this year and start your journey in green living.

What to Look For When You’re Buying an Eco-Friendly Car

October 28, 2020 0

Buying a new car can be stressful, but it can also be exciting. With nearly 6 million cars sold each year in the U.S., it’s clear that Americans aren’t afraid to spend a bit of money on a new ride.

But not every consumer has the same priorities when it comes to picking their automobile. Some might be impressed by horsepower, which might make a car like the Shelby Mustang GT (with an actual horsepower of almost 400) an attractive option. Others are more concerned with color or special features. Safety ratings are also an important factor for many Americans — and considering that 76,000 pedestrians were injured in U.S. traffic accidents in 2012, it isn’t just motorists who feel vehicle safety should be a consideration. For a specific subset of buyers, however, there’s arguably nothing more important than environmental responsibility.

If you’re in the market for a more sustainable vehicle, you certainly aren’t alone. Environmental friendliness is no longer considered to be a mere trend; it’s now an attribute that major carmakers are actively working towards. And while electric vehicles get a lot of the glory when it comes to reducing carbon emissions, these actually aren’t the only cars that can help you reduce your environmental impact. When shopping for an eco-friendly car, here are a few things to look for.

Engine or Transmission

Yes, having an electric car is going to be a more eco-friendly choice than relying on gasoline for fuel. But you might also consider a hybrid engine or a diesel engine, both of which are relatively green. Not only does diesel provide better fuel economy than gas, but diesel-fueled cars are meant to last. This means you can hang onto your car for a longer period, which will reduce your environmental impact overall. Pay attention to the transmission, as well. Although automatic transmission cars may be easier to drive at first, manual transmission vehicles often get better gas mileage. They may also require less maintenance, which can save you money. If you’ve never driven a stick-shift car before, it might be well worth learning how.

Color

Some people make vehicle purchases based on the color of the car — and that might not be as silly as you’d think! Light-colored cars are generally considered to be more energy efficient because they’re more reflective. This can keep your car cooler in the summer months without having to rely as much on air conditioning. Having a white car can make your car’s interior up to 10 degrees cooler on a hot day! In addition, the idea that white cars have to be washed more frequently is a bit of a myth. If you aren’t driving through huge puddles of mud on a regular basis, you may actually wash your car less frequently than with another color car.

Weight

A car that’s lightweight is going to be inherently more eco-friendly because it’ll have better gas mileage due to its aerodynamic nature. Large trucks tend not to have great fuel economy, but a car made with lighter weight metals will require less fuel to get from point A to point B. Not only will that help you reduce your impact, but it’ll also save you money at the gas station. You might also consider a car with a sportier suspension or with a more retro design (think newer station wagon over SUV) to reduce your impact even further.

Other Features

When buying a car for its eco-friendliness, don’t forget about the small details; they can end up making a big difference. Choosing a car that features LED lights or that has an impeccable air filtration system can actually improve your driving experience while saving you money and helping the environment. That said, you’ll want to skip any extras that add bulk or sharp edges to the car’s silhouette. Roof racks, for example, can take away from a car’s aerodynamic design and reduce its fuel efficiency. Be sure to maintain a balance between the features you want for convenience and those that might actually take away from the longevity of the vehicle.

There are a number of eco-friendly vehicles available on the market today — and not all of them are fully electric, either. When it comes time to replace your current vehicle, consider more than features that are marketed specifically for being green. Otherwise, you might miss out on the perfect car for your family that can also help you reduce your environmental impact.

Road-Tripping in an Electric Vehicle: 4 Tips for Success

June 25, 2020 0

There are a lot of different cars on today’s roads — and with a PwC forecast estimating 107 million vehicles will be manufactured globally in 2020, there are going to be even more in the next few years. And while having a vehicle is often necessary, CO2 emissions are at an all-time high, partly due to vehicle use. This is one of the many reasons more and more people are choosing to purchase electric vehicles (EVs). But if you’re traveling this summer, you may be wondering how to plan your trip with your EV. Lucky for you, we have a few great tips in this article.

Drive Smart and Save Your Battery

EV drivers have to make the most of a charge — this is why it’s important to drive smart. When you’re trying to get the most out of your car’s battery, you should accelerate and brake carefully. If you slam on either the gas or brakes regularly, your charge is going to go down more quickly. Don’t forget to use your accessories wisely, too. Additionally, you should always charge your vehicle right before you leave so you can start off with a full charge. And remember to keep charge times in mind to ensure you stay on schedule. With U.S. manufacturing producing 18.2% of goods globally, EVs have improved drastically over the past few years, but you still need to treat your car with care.

Plan Your Stops Ahead of Time

When you’re on a road trip, you’re usually rushing to get to your final destination in excitement. But when you’re driving in an EV, you need to plan to stop frequently. So when you’re planning your route and travel time, make sure to account for multiple stops. Not only will EVs require more stops than regular cars, but the stops will probably take longer — it takes more time to charge an EV than to fill up a gas tank. But with the global specialty gases market expected to exceed $14 billion by 2026, EV drivers can enjoy saving money and going green compared to regular vehicle drivers.

Go Where Charging Stations Are

Unfortunately, much of the country is still not equipped with electric vehicle charging stations. This is especially true in less populated areas. So when you’re deciding where to travel to in your EV, be mindful of where charging stations are located. Cities and urban areas are a great choice because they’re more likely to have multiple charging stations you can utilize. While there are plans in place to get more EV charging stations in place in less populated areas, for now, you should stick to high-traffic areas. This way, you won’t have to worry about being stranded without a way to charge up.

Expect the Unexpected

When you’re driving a traditional vehicle, it can be fairly easy to simply hop in the car and take off with no plan in mind. But this isn’t a smart thing to do with an EV. Running out of battery juice far away from a charging station can be bad news. This is why you need to plan for the worst and expect the unexpected. You should always have a backup plan, like knowing about a charging station before your planned stop, just in case. With 5.5 million car accidents occurring every year and millions of cars breaking down on the roads, there’s no telling what may happen. So be prepared for anything that may come up along the way.

Driving an electric vehicle is a great way to do your part to help the environment. But because road trips in an EV can be a little more tricky, keep these tips in mind to ensure everything goes according to plan.