Not all cars are environmentally equal. Tailpipe emissions and fuel economy vary not just between different vehicles but with same type as well. Moreover, the choice of vehicle is a significant factor in making the air clean and fresh. With the aim of promoting clean air, automakers are now adept in making customers push their green button in favor of eco-friendly cars.
There is a wide variety of options surrounding the purchase of green vehicles. As a fact, there are advanced vehicle offers that produce the paramount environmental beneficial benefits. Automakers have conducted series of studies and testing regarding the manufacture of green vehicles. Nowadays, there are already a great number of cars and trucks which are powered by alternative fuels. These alternative fuels are said to etch an important milestone to a clean environment.
In order for a particular vehicle to be clean, it must substantially minimize 2 types of pollutants: the smog-forming pollutants and the heat-trapping gases. The first type includes nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hydrocarbons which are responsible for some respiratory ailments of millions of Americans. The second type of pollutants, on the other hand, includes carbon dioxide (CO2). The latter is the primary pollutant that produces global warming.
Today, auto market is overwhelmed by advanced green auto options like fuel cell vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles and greener conventional vehicles.
Fuel cell vehicles are powered through the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. These vehicles can use various fuel sources without compromising its performance. Fuel cell reduces the environmental impacts of the vehicles. This is because pure hydrogen eliminates all smog-forming pollutants. Fuel cell vehicles are expensive. In fact, automakers have invested a great sum to come up with this technology.
In connection with hybrid electric vehicles, their designs vary widely. However, all of them are improved by the conventional petrol fuel. The difference is that through an electric motor, hybrids produce the cleanest technologies. Petrol and electric sources allow the vehicles to reach greater performance range than other vehicles powered by petrol alone. According to some enthusiasts these vehicles are quiet, responsive and fun. They are priced at around $20,000. Two of the most remarkable hybrids today are Toyota Prius and Honda Civic.
Battery electric vehicles, powered by renewable power battery electrics, have no tailpipe. They are up to 99 per cent cleaner than other gasoline-powered vehicles and they are actually zero-polluting. The first generation of these vehicles had a driving range of 50 to 80 miles per charge. Nowadays, with the advances in technology, the limitations are slowly deteriorating. With newer batteries, the driving range is jumping to over 100 miles per charge. Battery electrics are agile, quiet and smooth. These vehicles have a higher sticker price than other gasoline-powered vehicles. The price is expected to drop when these vehicles are already mass produced.
Alternative fuel vehicles are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), methanol (M85), ethanol (E85), and hydrogen fuels. They are recommended for vehicle fleets. However, it is also offered for passenger cars. There are also greener conventional vehicles on the road these days. These vehicles are based on most-recent technologies.
Volvo, one of the automakers that are absorbed in producing green cars, earlier introduced its FlexiFuel cars. They include the Volvo C30, S40 and the V50. “A renewable fuel will not on its own be able to replace today’s fossil fuels, and the range of alternative fuels will probably be far wider in the future. Many different fuels and technologies will therefore be developed in parallel. Ethanol reduces dependency on fossil fuels and Volvo’s FlexiFuel programme thus makes a vital contribution to our strategy of environmental sustainability,” noted Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President Market of Volvo Cars’ Sales and Customer Service.
The automaker is also concentrating on the manufacture of advanced Volvo fuel pump, engine, filters and other auto parts to complement the green nature of its vehicles.
Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. She is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.
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