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Eco Cars - Reduced Performance?

Not too long ago, the eco car seemed like an element of the future. It was highly improbable to see one on the market anytime soon. Nowadays however, green cars have actually overwhelmed the petroleum car industry. Ever since hybrid and electric vehicles have become more popular than their conventional substitutes, there has been a sharp increase in the popularity of eco-friendly vehicles.

The change in public demand is due to the upgrading of reliability and performance. Many manufacturers are heavily financing the hybrid electric vehicles, as consumers are becoming keener to reduce motoring costs by cutting down fuel consumption, which allows them to qualify for lower tax bands. With fuel prices rising to high levels and consumers leaning heavily on the low-carbon vehicles, the negative impact of compression-ignition engines has been over-looked for years.

However, diesels are not the only environmental friendly cars available on the market anymore. With recent developments in technology, car manufacturers introduced the electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as alternative sources of power, such as clean-burning natural gases. The most popular hybrid car on the market is the Toyota Prius, but Peugeot's 3008 Hybrid4 is the first full diesel hybrid introduced; its brand new incorporated technology is meant to revolutionize the eco car market. One of the first electric vehicles seen on the UK roads is the Peugeot iOn, alongside the Nissan Leaf.

The increases in road and city taxes require consumers to seek more cost-effective alternatives to travel. Moreover, a new implemented transport Budget offers discounts to all road expenses, including a full exemption from the London congestion charge to all vehicles emitting a maximum of 100g/km CO2. This act is also meant to encourage consumers to benefit the environment; this is how the green vehicle started becoming so popular. The environmental damages and the unpopularity of the diesel engine are still the basic factors for diesel-powered vehicles such as the Peugeot 308 and 508, which emit a maximum of 148g/km CO2; however, by converting the vehicles to LPG, which is the cleanest burning gas operating cars on the road today, the CO2 emissions could easily be reduced to 99g/km.

Considering all the benefits of a green car, a potential green car buyer needs to know: Do eco friendly cars have reduced performance and practicality? To find out, the pros and cons of environmental cars need to be put in balance against the capacities of petrol-powered vehicles.

To begin the analysis, the first consideration is small cars. This category encompasses the Audi A1, the Renault Clio and the Peugeot 308, all available in super mini versions. The advantages the small cars have are the easy manoeuvrability, smooth drive and ideal for both town and motorway use. The eco friendly factor is available as the cars have very small engines and as a result have the lowest emissions on the market. The cars are also very cheap to buy and maintain as the engine consumes a small amount of gas and is not prone to damage. A small eco friendly car has a fantastic value at a lower price than hatchbacks or estate cars and saves a lot on running, taxes and insurance costs.

The disadvantages of a small environmental friendly car are the small space and the low power as a result of the vehicle's small engine. The Peugeot 308 diesel has a 1.6 HDi engine produces up to 180lb torque and an average of 119mph, which is quite less than its petrol-powered alternative. In addition to its small size, the 308 diesel can feel unsafe to some people; this does vary however due to personal preferences.

A diesel model usually costs more than its petrol equivalent. Looking at the petrol-powered car vs. its diesel substitute, the difference of pricing between the two Ford Mondeos is of 1,150. Also, diesel vehicles tend to depreciate more than petrol cars, a fact that highlights a difference of over 4,000 between the two Fords. Although the 1.6 litre TDCi is less expensive to tax and fuel by 400 and 1,000, the petrol version of the Mondeo has more value and its insurance and services cost less. The customers benefiting the least from the diesel version are the low mileage drivers. The frugal engine doesn't cover enough mileage to compensate the owners with fuel economy, as they initially spend more for a new diesel. With regards to performance, a vehicle such as the diesel version of the Ford Mondeo which depreciates prematurely is unlikely to provide the same high-quality performance in the long run. The petrol version is as a result, more beneficial, but more expensive to maintain and run.

When it comes to hybrid cars, the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid model is currently the most popular vehicle in the Peugeot series. It offers a variety of innovative features, such as micro-hybrid e-HDi Stop & Start technology, along with an incorporated 1.6 litre HDi FAP 112 Euro 5 diesel, all optimised factors which reduce CO2 emissions to 98g/km. The technology behind the 3008's performance is a combination between a diesel engine and a rear electric motor. The increased price of diesel is no longer a problem with the Peugeot's hybrid hatchback as the car operates via the electric motor, which has a top speed of 80mph and then the diesel engine provides an extra 160 miles, at a top speed of 131mph. A Peugeot 3008 with an engine of 1.6 THP 150 is cheaper than the Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCi Zetec and also has 40bhp more power. Both of the cars are turbocharged, but the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid produces an extra 13bhp more. The hybrid model is the most performance enhancing green vehicle on the market today. The downside to the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid is its pricetag.

The electric cars are far from high performance vehicles as the technology is still unexplored and unreliable. The Peugeot iOn has maximum range of 100 miles, which makes it inappropriate for long-distance journeys. As the car operates through a full electric engine in the rear, it does not require any maintenance and is consequently the cheapest car to running, tax and upkeep costs on the market.

Although environmental friendly cars have a much more reduced performance as opposed to their petrol-powered substitutes, the economical circumstances have begun to dictate the most popular trends on the market. The conventional petrol-powered vehicles are beginning to be seen as a outdated, while the technology behind eco friendly cars such as hybrids like the Toyota Prius and the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid, electric or LPG powered is further developed and the way to the future.

By Ben J White

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