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As some of you know, I’ve recently acquired a learner’s permit. I don’t really want to drive, but I might have to in the near future. If possible, I’d like to get a green or greener car. I’ve been following the market as a fan for years, but in the last week I’ve done heavy research on green automobiles…and I’m totally bummed with what I’ve learned. Of course I expected there to be compromises, but it seems like things kind of suck no matter which way you go. To help me think this though (input please!), here are some thoughts on my green-automobile study.
Hybrid Cars: These are easily the most convenient green cars. You drive and fuel them as you would a regular automobile. You just enjoy more miles per gallon (around 40 to 50, depending on the model). The plus side is that you use less gas. However, you’re still pumping out the same types of pollutants into the air and using fuel that’s mostly derived from imported crude oil. It’s slightly greener than a standard car, but not by much.
Natural Gas Cars: The Obama administration is high on natural gas. The emissions are much cleaner than those from gasoline — up to 97 percent less carbon monoxide, 25 percent less carbon dioxide, and 60 percent less nitrogen oxide. America and Canada are rich with natural gas deposits, so the fuel wasted and potential hazards of importing crude oil are out of the equation. The cars aren’t too inconvenient either, with plenty of natural gas pumps in California and a range of 240 miles (Civic Natural Gas).
The problem is fracking, which (in addition to being fun to say) is the process of extracting natural gas. The EPA has done numerous studies on the environmental impact of fracking and numerous details have vanished. Some studies show that fracking causes damage to the local air and drinking water. Some are even going as far to say that fracking has a harsher impact on the environment than drilling for oil. While the emissions from natural gas cars are much cleaner, the fracking process might negate the greenness.
Electric Cars: The awesome news is that electric cars do not emit greenhouse gasses. The bad news is…actually, there’s a lot of bad news. First of all, the cars are frickin’ expensive. The cheapest one I found was the Mitsubishi i, which starts at $29,125 (you do get a $7,500 federal tax credit though). On the plus side, EV charging stations are plentiful in California; as an apartment dweller, I’d have to rely on them. The bad news is that electric cars have limited range — around 60 to 80 miles per charge. While it’s common to hear of Hondas lasting 20 years, electric cars usually require an expensive battery replacement in ten years or less. Similar to natural gas cars, the fuel source is questionable; while electric vehicles don’t emit pollutants, a lot of electricity is derived from dirty coal burning.
Certainly electric cars are cleaner than hybrids and most would argue that they’re cleaner than natural gas cars, but they come with far more compromises and cost much more.
Hydrogen Cars: I’d love one, but no way I can afford one.
Anyway, those are some of my (frustrating) thoughts on green cars. What do you make of all of this? Have you ever considered a green automobile? Would you put up with some inconveniences and/or higher prices to treat the planet a bit better? Leave a comment and let me know (please!).
