What Are Green Cars? Advantages of Green Car

Considerable attention has been given in recent years to green cars. These are vehicles that are environmentally friendly because they are powered by something other than conventional internal - combustion engines.

Green vehicles are powered by alternative fuels, including biodiesel, which is derived from vegetable oil or animal fat, and bioalcohol, which is alcohol-based. They can also be run by some type of electric power. The electricity used in these types of vehicles can be provided by either batteries or fuel cells, the latter of which are designed to convert chemicals into electricity. Other types of green vehicles use hydrogen, methane, natural gas, or biomass materials. Biomass is a by-product of formerly-living organisms, which can include dead trees, hemp, willow, grass, corn and even sugarcane. There are also flexible-fuel vehicles, which offer their owners the flexibility of being able to run on more than one type of fuel, whichever may be available.

The most widely-used green cars in current use are hybrids, which obtain their power from the combination of an internal combustion engine and some type of electric technology. Although the first hybrid vehicles date back to the early 1900's, automobiles using modern hybrid technology began to appear on the market in the late 20th Century. By 2011, millions of hybrid cars and trucks were travelling on roads and highways throughout the world. These types of vehicles come in two categories. A full hybrid can be run on its gasoline engine alone, or only on battery power. A mild hybrid cannot be driven only on its electric power source, and its electrical power source is normally only used to operate accessories. The advantage of a full hybrid is obviously its higher mileage, as on a mild hybrid, the fuel savings over a conventional internal combustion vehicle may be only 15 percent when driving in the city, and no more than 10 percent overall.

Also available to "green" drivers is the electric vehicle (EV). A plug-in electric car works exactly as its name implies, for the owner can recharge the vehicle's power source through a normal wall electrical outlet. Then there plug-in hybrids, which use the principles of a conventional hybrid with the convenience of a plug-in. Normally, the recharging of the vehicle takes place at one's home, but public facilities have begun to appear.

Operators of green cars and trucks can take satisfaction from the fact that they are helping reduce carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are the three principle gases associated with road vehicles, and which are the emissions directly linked to climate change. But the benefits go far beyond an individual's environmental concerns, for green vehicles can reward their owners by greatly reducing their gasoline bills. One well-known hybrid gets about 50 miles per gallon. This can pay off on a trip, or when stuck in a traffic jam. These vehicles are also quiet, which helps reduce noise pollution.