Saving the planet can save you money on your motoring costs

Oct 22
10:03

2010

Robert Robertson

Robert Robertson

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More efficient cars are calibrated to drive further on less fuel. The reduced fuel consumption is also partially due to their weight, their aerodynamic properties, and the way the engine has been designed to make the best use of petrol. This care in design can extend to their safety features, as well. Greener cars can have more responsive brakes, finer turning radiuses, and chassis that are designed to redistribute force throughout the frame. This means ‘green’ cars can also be safer than their larger, inefficient counterparts.

This safety can translate in costs when insuring the vehicle. Car insurance can be more affordable for green vehicles than for larger vehicles. Insurance agents want to sell policies to people who drive cars that experience little or no damage in ordinary driving conditions, and so subsequently can offer lower rates on your insurance policies. 

In an era when gas prices have experienced exceptional inflation, spending less to refuel makes a significant impact on a car owner’s budget, especially for those who must commute long distances to go to work. Because these cars run so cleanly, they often perform flawlessly when and if they must pass certain emission standards. As any car owner knows, having to perform expensive repairs or alterations on an older vehicle which does not pass these standards is difficult, time consuming, and often very expensive. 

In green cars other fluids, including radiator fluid, engine oils, and transmission fluid, are usually synthetic or used in fewer quantities than in gas guzzlers. Replacing these fluids poses less of an environmental risk to the planet. Maintenance in general can also be less expensive on environmentally engineered vehicles, for the simple reason that they accumulate fewer build-ups of old fluid. Efficiency means that each part is designed to run without spouting excessive amounts of fluid, allowing owners to keep the overall ‘health’ of their engine in great shape.

Motoring is often a pleasure, but it can also be beneficial to the community at large. By buying an environmentally conscious vehicle, a motorist can keep his budget low and his spirits high.

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