Experts have calculated that cars worldwide produce 25% of annual carbon dioxide emissions. It is not information that is usually boasted by car manufacturers, especially at a time when green solutions are being promoted – even in motoring. Concerns are increasingly dealing with alternative solutions focused on environmental protection. An example here can be the action of Honda. The manufacturer announces a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions in all production areas of various models – starting from the Honda Civic, through the Accord and Insight, and ending with the new CR-V SUV. It also works on new cars, relying on the fact that some owners of used vehicles will want to exchange them for new and environmentally friendly cars.
Although eco-friendly cars and vehicles that try to fit into this category – both new and used – have their supporters and detractors. This trend is worth watching. According to forecasts, over a million electric cars will find their buyers in 2015.
It is not worth dwelling on such assumptions, because, according to the calculation made by the Americans, even 2.8 billion gallons of gasoline are wasted every year due to traffic jams. The US uses 19.5 million barrels of gasoline every day. That averages out to $570 billion in gasoline costs each year.
Be eco-friendly in traffic jams
If we are condemned to traffic jams, it is better (and cheaper) to stand in a traffic jam in an electric or hybrid car. Honda is aware of this, which is why it is increasingly boldly promoting its new generation of low-emission power units in Europe. By 2020, this company aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% in all production areas.
The Honda Insight has already received the name Ecocar of the future, but it is not Honda's last word in the field of ecology . The company continues to improve its concept electric cars, including the recently unveiled EV-STER concept at auto shows. It is a new generation electric car with sports car ambitions. Perhaps it will soon become an alternative for other models of this manufacturer. The EV-STER is an ecological, dynamic and innovative cabriolet with electric rear-wheel drive. The use of modern materials, such as carbon fibers, allowed a significant reduction in the weight of the vehicle and an improvement in its operational characteristics. This "eco-sports" car can reach a speed of up to 160 km/h, and yet it is only powered by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 10 kWh!
For lovers of old design, Honda has also prepared the EV-N model. It is a modern and fully electric car in a retro style. The inspiration for this concept was the small, compact N360 model produced by Honda in the 1960s. On the roof of today's model, there are solar panels that allow charging the vehicle's batteries and powering other devices that facilitate driving.
Trade in a used vehicle for a new one
Perhaps it is already worth considering whether it is better to rely on a new, ecological car than on a used and less ecological one. Thanks to the fact that modern design solutions are more economical, we can reduce operating costs, which means that the difference in the cost of buying a car is returned during its operation.
There is a calculation according to which every traveler wastes a week in every year of their life in traffic jams. We probably lose a total of 4.2 billion hours in traffic every year around the world! Let's use this time to think about ecology and the resulting savings.
