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Is it worth buying an environmental car?
As every motorist knows, the cost of fuel seems to be constantly increasing with the average motorists now facing an annual fuel bill of almost $2,500. It therefore begs the question of whether now is the right time to buy an environmentally friendly car. The green car revolution Sales of green cars were initially held back by the fact that they were both ugly and impractical. However, the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997 changed all of this. It was the first mass produced hybrid car and proved highly popular despite the $22,000 price tag due to the fact that the car did not require drivers to alter their driving habits and was also quite kind on the eye. However, little progress has been made in terms of improving the cars fuel efficiency since and the price tag has not shifted. This has provided Toyotas rivals with the opportunity to set a new standard and Nissan has been the first to take this opportunity. The Nissan Leaf due for release in 2011 will be the first all electric vehicle mass produced by a major car manufacturer. It is capable of speeds up to 92mph and has a range of 100 miles. So going to ignite peoples interest in environmental motors despite the $25,280 price? The advantages Regardless of whether it proves popular or not, the Nissan Leaf is a remarkable step forward for Nissan and a brilliant example of how far green cars have come in the past ten years. The most obvious benefit with the Leaf is the fuel savings that are possible. Nissan has estimated that it will cost just $200 per year to recharge the car for the average driver, which is a saving of over $2,300. This is before tax savings with it being estimated that driver could save anywhere between $100 and $2,500 per year through not having to pay vehicle tax or pay on toll roads. It is also possible for environmental drivers to save money on insurance with Collette Walsh, from price comparison website Money Supermarket, believing that most car insurance companies will offer a 5% discount to environmental motorists which would save the average driver about $50 per year on insurance. It is therefore possible to save almost $5,000 per year through environmental ownership. When you consider that a Honda Civic costs about $15,000, the Leafs $25,000 suddenly does not look too bad. This is especially true if you have a generous employer such as Google, who automatically give $5,000 to employees who are planning on buying an environmental car. The disadvantages The only real problem with owning a Leaf is not actually Nissans fault. The 100 mile range is very decent and is enough to get the average commuter to work and back everyday, but longer journeys are simply impractical due to the lack of electric charging points around the country. Plans are afoot to address this issue, but it is unlikely to be rectified within the next couple of years. Is it worth it?
There is no doubting that the Nissan Leaf is a remarkable break through which will likely mark the turning point in the electric car industry. However, it is now the job of government to catch up and make electric car ownership a realistic prospect. The truth about hybrid cars
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