Here are a few tips to help you decide whether buying a “green” car is worth it.

That carbon footprint

To help minimise the automotive sector’s carbon footprint, Nissan South Africa and the Department of Environmental Affairs launched a pilot project in 2013 to test the feasibility of electric (“green”) vehicles in South African conditions. Here are a few tips to help you decide whether buying a “green” car is worth it.

Choose the right type

There are three types of “green” cars available at present.

    • Hybrid cars use both a petrol engine and an electric motor to help offset fuel costs and decrease green gas emissions. Popular hybrid vehicles include the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and Volkswagen Jetta hybrid.
    • Plug-in hybrids use a battery pack as the main source of power. However, as soon as the battery power runs out the car is fuel-fed and can recharge its batteries using the petrol-powered motor as a generator. The battery can also be plugged in and recharged at home or at a public charging station. The Chevrolet Volt is an example of a plug-in hybrid.
    • All-electric (EV) cars run solely on electricity and have batteries that need to be recharged regularly. Fully electric vehicles are at present mostly used as city cars and to travel short distances. Examples of EV cars include the Tesla Model S, Ford Focus Electric, Chevy Spark EV and the Nissan Leaf, the world’s first mass-produced electric car.

Look at the cost

Unfortunately, the price of electric and hybrid vehicles in South Africa is quite high. Hopefully the South African government will follow the American government’s example and subsidise the cost of buying “green” cars by offering tax incentives to qualifying consumers.

Check charging: times, levels and costs

Plug-in or all-electric cars use battery power that needs to be charged up when depleted. At present, you have four choices:

    • You can charge the battery at home using any standard three-pronged household outlet. Unfortunately, this can take up to 20 hours.
    • You can charge the battery with a 240-volt, level 2 charger in approximately 8 to 12 hours. These chargers are easy to install and work on the same system as most household appliances do.
    • You can charge the battery using a 480-volt industrial-strength, level three charger in 20 to 30 minutes. However, not all EVs support this type of charging.
    • You can charge the battery at a dual-grid connection charging station. The South African government is presently investigating the use of solar tracking devices installed on the major commuter routes for the direct charging of vehicles.

Other cost factors to take into account is that batteries need to be replaced after 7 to 10 years and you will most definitely see an increase in your electricity bill. However, this will be offset by lower fuel and maintenance costs and, very importantly, less carbon emissions.

 

Sources

 

Iliaifar, A. 2013. Electric car buying guide: everything you need to know before you buy. Retrieved from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/electric-car-buying-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-before-you-buy/#!ykgfy
South Africa launches green car project. 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.southafrica.info/about/sustainable/green-car-270213.htm