Kevin Harcourt – Center for Alternative Fuels

By: Phil Adams-Wright
The British public along with many other countries are being advised to be greener in the way we live our lives. Being environmentally friendly not only helps to protect our environment but can also help us to save money.

We are being encouraged to make changes in our every day lives and driving is something that many car companies are trying to make greener. The facts and figures show that having an environmentally friendly car is beneficial in this respect but as they are fairly new to the market, how much do we really know about them? Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of owning one.

Advantages

Road tax is a headache for all drivers but the green car drivers out there will be getting a reduction on the amount they spend each year. Cars that have emissions between 101-120 g/km are eligible for a £35 a year road tax, and this would include some hybrid and electric cars. This is a great saving to make considering road tax bands go from A-M with those cars in band M having to pay £405 a year. This is one advantage of having a green car.

For those of us who live in urban areas there is always the problem of being stuck in rush hour traffic which can drain fuel. However, green cars are more fuel efficient and therefore do not waste as much fuel when you are stopping and starting constantly. With petrol prices on the rise and VAT set to return to 17.5% we should all be looking to save at the pumps.

Disadvantages

With green cars being unchartered ground for many, still the majority really don’t know how they will depreciate in value in comparison to their alternatives. As with all new technologies, green cars need to be given time to see at what level they depreciate before customers get fully onboard.

Although running costs may be cheaper for greener cars, electric cars require charging through the mains which will prove to be very costly as utility bills continue to rise. This would probably outweigh the savings that can be made Carson the general running expenses.

As you can see there are advantages and disadvantages to buying an environmentally friendly car, and here are just a few, so consider your needs before opting to buy one.

If you need a form of car finance then search online where there are a range of deals available on car loans and much more. Car finance can help you find the green car you are looking for and help you start saving money.