Posts Tagged ‘car’

California Leads The Way In Electric Car Technology

Monday, June 21st, 2010

California is ahead of the game: great weather, beautiful beaches and now affordable environmentally friendly transportation…we should all just move.

  • California is encouraging consumers to purchase electric cars through hefty discounts and reliable and accessible charging stations.
  • Charging stations are being built in locations where customers are able to linger (like shopping malls and grocery stores) because charging up a car’s battery takes longer than filling it up with gas.
  • The cost of charging a car’s battery is under discussion – some companies would like consumers to pay by simply by swiping a card, some will make the service free as a way to attract business to neighboring stores.

Facts & Figures

  • California is spending $200 million a year on low-emission vehicle technology.
  • To aid in the cost of these vehicles, California is offering up to a $20,000 rebate to buyers of low-emission commercial vehicles.

Best Quote

“California is leading the way.” – Sue Cischke, Global Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering at Ford Motor Co.

Do I need to buy a hybrid to drive green?

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Hybrids are pretty cool, but the most powerful tool for eco-friendly driving is YOU. Changing the way you drive can help keep the environment clean and save you money no matter what kind of car you drive. “Hypermilers” take this to the extreme and claim they can get up to 100 miles per gallon from standard model cars by strictly following certain guidelines and techniques. Here are a few simple things you can do that will have an immediate impact on your gas bill and your carbon footprint:

  • Chill out! Driving aggressively is really inefficient. Accelerate slowly and evenly and try to keep your speed as constant as possible – you burn more gas when you accelerate.
  • Slow down! Driving slower burns less gas. The difference between going 75 mph and 55 mph on the highway is HUGE in miles per gallon… and also in money for speeding tickets!
  • Take care of your car. Regular maintenance and keeping your tires at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure can keep your mpg (that’s miles of driving per gallon of gas) at its highest level.
  • Cruise… Using cruise control on the highway can keep you from creeping up to those higher, less efficient speeds, and it prevents all that carbon-spewing stop-and-go driving.

You can definitely help the environment with your money – buying green products, investing in a socially responsible manner, or giving to an Environment Cause – but you can also do a lot just by modifying your behavior. Remember, efficiency is good for the environment and your bottom line!

Should you buy or lease your car?

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

Everyone who is looking to buy a car asks themselves this question, however there is no one right answer. Examining your particular financial situation will allow you to make the right choice between leasing and buying.

When you lease a car, you’re basically borrowing it for an extended period of time and paying for the change in that car’s value from when you first lease to when you return it to the dealership. Let’s say you lease a brand new Honda Accord which sells for $20,000. You lease it for 36 months and when you return it, it is only worth $13,000. Your monthly payments therefore will reflect the depreciation (or the loss of value) of the car and that $7,000 in depreciation will be paid over the course of those 36 months you lease the car. Lease agreements usually come with warranties that allow you to get your car fixed for free, should there be a problem within the warranty period.

On the other hand, if you were to buy the $20,000 Accord outright, you would pay for the entire cost of the vehicle instead of just the depreciated value. The benefits of buying a car are complete ownership of the vehicle, ability to drive as many miles as you would like, ability to customize your vehicle, and lastly, the ability to easily sell or trade your car.

Ultimately, if you are able to afford higher monthly payments, buying a car is probably the best choice for you. But if you want lower monthly payments and new cars every two or three years, leasing a car may be a better option.