Nationwide Vehicle Contracts provides practical tips and insights to help drivers adopt greener driving habits.
Carbon footprint is a saying you probably hear a lot, but what is it? Essentially, an individual's carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of their activities.
One of the main contributors to a person's carbon footprint is driving a car. However, not all of us can simply stop driving. That's why you must know how to reduce your carbon emissions and adopt greener habits when behind the wheel of your lease car.
In this blog, we'll provide insight into the environmental impact of driving, the rise in eco-friendly lease options, and how to adopt environmentally friendly driving habits.
The Environmental Impact of Driving
Traditional petrol and diesel cars contribute significantly to our carbon footprint. Because of the combustion of fossil fuels, petrol and diesel cars release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emission intensifies climate change and contributes to global warming, leading to severe environmental consequences.
Urgently adopting eco-friendly driving practices is one way you can contribute to reducing climate change. Transitioning to electric or hybrid lease vehicles or adopting fuel-efficient driving techniques is crucial to reducing carbon emissions.
For more information on electric vehicles, check out our blog, Why Electric Cars are the Future of Transportation.
The Rise of Eco-Friendly Lease Options
In the UK, there is a growing availability of eco-friendly and low-emission cars for leasing, making it much easier to get behind the wheel of an environmentally friendly vehicle.
Leasing an electric or hybrid vehicle, such as the popular Kia Niro EV or Tesla Model Y, provides numerous benefits, including reduced carbon emission, lower fuel costs, and potential tax incentives.
Additionally, electric vehicles typically come with advanced features and technologies which provide a smooth yet powerful driving experience while contributing to cleaner air.
Choosing an Eco-Friendly Lease Vehicle
When selecting an environmentally friendly lease vehicle, several factors should be considered. The first is the vehicle's electric range, which refers to the distance it can travel on a single charge. You'll need to consider your typical daily driving distance and charging situation to ensure the vehicle meets your requirements.
For hybrids, you'll need to pay attention to miles per gallon (for gasoline-electric hybrids) or miles per kilowatt-hour (for plug-in hybrids). The higher the rating, the more fuel or energy efficient it is.
Finally, consider the availability of charging infrastructure in your area and the cost of electricity to align your vehicle with your budget. If you can't install charging ports at home, you'll need to consider how busy your local public charging station is and determine how long it will take to charge your vehicle.
Understanding Emissions and Fuel Efficiency
Emission standards are regulations the Government sets to limit the number of pollutants released by vehicles. These standards typically focus on reducing CO2 and other harmful gasses. Vehicle efficiency plays a big role in determining carbon emissions, as the more fuel-efficient the car, the lower levels of CO2 it emits.
If you're looking for the car with the lowest emissions, go for a completely electric vehicle, as they have no tailpipe emissions. Also, plug-in hybrids and regular hybrids offer better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions than conventional cars because of their ability to switch the engine and electric power.
Eco Friendly Driving Habits
There are plenty of ways to achieve lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions, such as practising eco-friendly driving techniques.
On the road, focus on smooth acceleration and braking, as aggressive driving can lead to unnecessary fuel consumption. Also, utilise cruise control on motorways to maintain a constant speed, which enhances fuel efficiency.
Finally, plan out your journeys to avoid unnecessary driving. If you have some errands, do them all at once and plan your route. This will reduce the amount of time spent on the road and your fuel usage.
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
Regular car maintenance is significant in keeping your engine in top condition, reducing emissions, and maximising fuel efficiency.
Adhere to the manufacturer-recommended service schedules, including oil changes, air filter replacements, tyre rotations, fuel filter replacements, and inflating your tyres. This will ensure that your vehicle operates at its peak efficiency, minimising emissions.
For more information, check out our blog, How to Save Money on Car Maintenance.
Minimising Car Idling
Car idling is when you leave your vehicle's engine running while stationary. While this often happens in everyday traffic, idling increases fuel consumption and higher CO2 emissions.
To reduce idle time in congested urban areas, consider the following:
- Turn off the engine – If you're in heavy traffic and expect to be stopped for more than a minute, turn off your engine. Restating the engine uses less fuel than idling for an extended period.
- Plan your trips – Try and avoid peak traffic hours when congestion is at its worth or consider alternative routes with less traffic.
- Avoid drive through's – Instead of using drive through's where you're often idling when in a queue, park and walk inside.
Utilising Public Transportation and Carpooling
If you want to decrease the hours you drive, consider using public transport or carpooling. If you live in an urban area, you can use plenty of transportation methods, such as a bus network, train lines, and trams.
Carpooling is when you share a car with others who are heading to a similar destination. This is great with friends or colleagues as it not only reduces everyone's carbon footprint but also is a more sociable way to travel.
If you're considering setting up a carpooling program, check out our blog, How to Create a Carpooling Scheme for Your Business.
Embracing Eco-Friendly Charging and Refuelling
If you want to go the extra mile with your electric or hybrid vehicle, consider charging them with renewable energy sources. You can install solar panels on your property to generate clean electricity or opt for renewable energy plans offered by utility providers. This will ensure your carbon footprint will be kept to a minimum.
For traditional engines, using eco-friendly fuel options can mitigate your environmental impact. Look for biofuels made from sustainable sources, such as biodiesel, HVO, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas.
Using eco-friendly fuel options significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels, which contributes to reducing your carbon footprint.
Offset Programmes and Green Initiatives
Carbon offset programmes and green initiatives can complement eco-friendly driving efforts by helping to reduce the carbon emissions associated with vehicle use.
Carbon offsetting allows individuals or organisations to compensate for their vehicle emissions by investing in carbon reduction projects such as renewable energy, reforestation efforts, or methane capture projects. Essentially, making up for the carbon you emitted in your lease vehicle.
Green initiatives are similar; if you lease a company car, your organisation might support them or partner with environmental organisations. By doing this, you could contribute funding towards environmental projects dedicated to sustainable practices and conservation efforts.
Find this blog helpful. Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has produced various blogs on eco-friendly motoring, such as Why Electric Cars are the Future of Transportation and How Climate Change Policy has Impacted the Car Industry.
We are also one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers, offering deals on a range of vehicles, from electric cars to SUVs. Check out our lease deals or call one of our experts on 0345 811 9595.
Originally posted: 7th August 2023
