Want to do your bit for the environment?

You can now travel green too!

Looking for more ways to help the environment? Besides recycling, look to your mode of transport to help Mother Nature stay green!

Cars are getting cleaner and more efficient but due to the increase in car usage they are still seen as a key contributor to climate change due to the carbon dioxide emissions. Modifying your driving behaviour or choosing a car with a lower carbon dioxide emission can help in the fight against climate change.

What Is A Green Car?

A regular car uses petroleum fuel to run a car. Petroleum fuel is also known as a fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources that release harmful greenhouse gases in the air. A green car uses alternative fuel sources, such as bio-diesel fuel, solar energy or rechargeable battery electricity to run a car.

There are five popular types of green cars:

• Hybrid features a gas engine with an electric motor
• Electric cars use an electric-powered motor and a battery to operate
• Hydrogen uses hydrogen to fuel the motor
• Bio-diesel uses biodegradable bio-diesel fuel to power the car
• Fuel cell generates electricity by forming a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen

Hybrid Car

Hybrids combine a gas motor with an electric engine that can recharge on its own, offering a great way to travel further distances. The best thing about them is that they are so similar to traditional cars that they don't require you to change your everyday activities. Hybrid cars can also run on two or more fuel sources.

Electric Car

An electric car is a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) that produces no harmful fuel emissions because it relies purely on electricity from batteries to run. They are cheaper to maintain because they have fewer moving parts and they can be recharged at your convenience.

Hydrogen Car

Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements in the world, so using it, as a fuel source, is an efficient way to save money and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen-powered cars convert the chemical energy of hydrogen into mechanical energy that can be used to power a motor or engine.

Bio-diesel Car

Bio-diesel cars use fuel made from vegetables such as corn and soybeans or from animal fat to replace regular gasoline. These alternative fuel sources are renewable and release significantly less greenhouse gases into the air.

Fuel Cell Car

Fuel cell cars use a battery to convert hydrogen and oxygen chemicals into electricity, and they can last as long as the energy continues to flow. They help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 to 80 percent and they can use both renewable resources and natural gas.

A green vehicle is a vehicle that uses alternative fuel sources to run. An energy efficient car will save you money, help save the world's limited energy resources and also help fight climate change. A car with new technology needs all the support available in terms of sales. The alternative below might still be new in Malaysia but when the time comes, be sure to support them! This will allow mass production thus reducing the cost of the car. Below are comparisons between LPG, petrol, diesel and bio fuels.

LPG

In recent years, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) has been a fuel option worldwide. LPG produces fewer emissions than both petrol and diesel. It is possible to convert many existing cars to be fuelled by LPG. Some manufacturers have had new cars in their range that are dual fuel, (run primarily on LPG with petrol back up.) LPG and natural gas in less economical cars has been attractive due to its cheaper cost. Although there are some improvements in emissions over petrol and diesel, LPG is still derived from a fossil fuel and therefore still releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Petrol

Petrol has been the world's most popular fuel used in cars for years. Petrol engines are thought of as quiet and smooth. A petrol engine car is also thought of as having good performance and responsiveness. Petrol engines emit approximately 10 percent more carbon dioxide than diesel. However petrol cars pump out less toxic emissions than diesel, for example like sulphur.

Diesel

Diesel engines have a better kilometre per hour than petrol engines, emitting less carbon dioxide. Diesel is generally more expensive than petrol and this is purely due to supply and demand. Unlike petrol engines, diesel engines have been seen as slow and noisy. Technology has seen some advances. Car manufacturers have designed diesel engines to be quiet, clean and with greater responsiveness like the Turbo Diesel.

Bio-diesel

Bio-diesel is an alternative fuel formulated exclusively for diesel engines; it is made from vegetable oil (or animal) fats. Biodiesel can be mixed with petroleum diesel in any percentage, from one to 99. The future is looking bright for bio-diesel. Not only is it easy to find and use, newer efficient diesel cars boast excellent fuel mileage. It's one of the easiest alternative fuels to implement into your life: simply find a bio-fuel station and pump it into the tank of any diesel vehicle.

There are many benefits of using a green vehicle. Here are just a few:

• Decreases greenhouse gases and other air pollutants released into the environment
• Cheaper to run and maintain than traditional cars
• Creates less smog in the air
• Reduces the risk of health problems such as heart disease and lung cancer
• Provides renewable energy sources for electricity
• Does not contribute to acid rain
• Not as threatening to natural habitants and wildlife
• Reduces global warming

Green vehicles are considered the "wave of the future" because they are changing the way that consumers contribute to the sustainability of the environment. As more cars go green, society will be able to maintain a healthy quality of life that will have a positive impact on future generations

Become a "green driver" today by following our easy-to-do tips below:

1) Remove any excess weight, roof load or trailer if you don't need it on your journey.

2) Avoid using the car for short journeys. If it is walking distance it will likely be good for your health too!

3) Don't waste energy. Low tyre pressure wastes energy so check the pressure regularly.

4) Service your car Ensure your car is serviced according to the owner's manual.

5) Shift up a gear a little earlier than you normally would.

6) Windows should be kept close when possible.

7) Car pool is cool. Share your ride or take the public transports once in a while!