Environmentally-Friendly Car Options

By Olivia Richardson

So you know about the need to be environmentally aware, but what exactly does that mean for your car-buying choices right here and now in Australia? 

Here's the scoop on your options:

1. Drive a diesel-fuelled car

Diesel burns about 31 per cent less greenhouse gas than regular petrol. Diesel-powered cars are also generally more fuel-efficient as well (Kia’s new diesel Sportage CRDi can drive from Adelaide to Sydney on just one tank of fuel for instance).

Some diesel cars in Australia:

Citroen C4
Hyundai i30 1.6-litre CRDi
Peugeot 207 HDi
Renault Megane Sedan dCi
VW Polo TDI
Ford Focus TDCi
VW New Beetle TDI
Holden Astra CDTi

2. Drive a hybrid car

Hybrid cars have a regular petrol engine plus an electric one, which recharges while driving and kicks in at certain intervals to save petrol and reduce C02 emissions.

Some hybrid cars in Australia:

Toyota Prius
Honda Civic Hybrid
Lexus RX400h
Lexus GS450h.

But just because a car is a hybrid doesn't mean it will be the best for the environment though. The Green Vehicle Guide has come up with this list of top-10 eco-friendly cars and they have considered their greenhouse and air pollution ratings as well as fuel economy levels.

Top-10 eco-friendly cars:

1. Toyota Prius
2. Fiat Punto
3. Citroen C3
4. Holden Astra5. Honda Civic
6. Mercedes-Benz A200
7. Mercedes-Benz B200
8. Toyota Corolla
9. Peugeot 207
10. Honda Civic Hybrid

(Source: Green Vehicle Guide)

3. Buy ethanol-blended petrol

Ethanol is a form of alcohol made from organic vegetable matter like potatoes, corn, wheat, sugar cane etc. Ethanol-blended petrol can reduce carbon monoxide emissions by up to 32 per cent while reducing hydrocarbons by up to 12 per cent. 

Ethanol blends are considered greenhouse neutral – more environmentally friendly than regular fuel, but ethanol-blended petrol increases fuel consumption by about three per cent.

Can I use ethanol-blended fuels? Check your owner's manual, phone your car's manufacturer or visit The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries website to see if you can use ethanol-blended fuel in your car. It isn't recommended for some engines – especially pre-1986 vehicles.

4. Carbon-offset your car

Do your bit for the environment by carbon-offsetting your car's CO2 (carbon dioxide) output at EasyBeingGreen.com.au. For example, a small 1.4-litre car generates about 112kg of carbon dioxide per week. You can pay $2.24 to offset this. 

'Carbon offsetting' basically means that you 'erase' your carbon dioxide emissions by paying for a project that reduces emissions from entering the atmosphere somewhere else. This carbon offsetting can involve tree-planting to absorb the gases, and other initiatives like buying tracts of land and ensuring they are not developed but they generally depend on who you choose to offset with.

About Olivia Richardson: 
Olivia Richardson is an automotive journalist who is also the Editor of AutoChic.com.au.