Car insurance - Tips & Advice - Green Driving
 Features: Economy Drive
Motoring is going ‘green’, with many cars running on electricity and gas. That can mean big savings, so here we look at some of the petrol alternatives - plus some tips for saving money on your driving costs.
Whichever you choose, you could save money with Direct Line’s simple, reliable and competitive car insurance. And there’s a 10% discount if you Buy online today.
Electric motoring!
Many car manufacturers are looking into electricity as a fuel for cars. Honda and Toyota have developed ‘hybrid’ vehicles that have dual-fuel capability. Toyota’s Prius and Honda’s Civic Hybrid enable you to use an electric motor for pulling away or driving slowly in town, and the motor is recharged when the petrol engine is used on faster journeys. For more details, visit http://www.toyota.com and http://www.honda.com
Batteries for bright sparks
Batteries are predicted to last around 10 years, and the Honda Civic Hybrid can go for more than 100,000 miles between major tune-ups. All-electric cars are also exempt from road tax and the London congestion charge.
The Indian-built Reva G-Wiz is an all-electric car that needs daily recharging but costs just 1p per mile to run, has a top speed of 40mph and a range of about 40 miles. You also enjoy a free space in 26 London car parks and parking permit reductions of more than 80 per cent in certain boroughs.
For more details, visit www.goingreen.co.uk
Huge savings with LPG
You could convert your car to run on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), which is available at 1300 filling stations nationwide and, at around 35p a litre, means a substantial saving on petrol or diesel. Note that there is a £1,000-plus cost of conversion, although conversion grants are available through PowerShift (see below). We recommend that a conversion to LPG is carried out by a member of the LPG Association or one of its affiliates to ensure that all work carried out is to acceptable construction and use standards.
For more details visit Autogas (LPG) conversions at www.jaymic.co.uk or call: 01263 511710
PowerShift The Energy Saving Trust can award grants to buy ‘green’ cars or to convert conventional vehicles. For more details, go to www.transportenergy.org.uk/grantsavailable/powershift
Diesel: it’s quick and quiet
Modern diesels are refined and quiet and offer performance on a par with – if not better than – similar-sized petrol engines, while being far more fuel-efficient. Although the initial cost of a diesel version is around £500 more, this should quickly be recouped by better fuel consumption and, for company car drivers, a marginally reduced tax liability.
Old means gold
If your motoring is confined to short, local trips, how about a cheap-to-run, classic car? Models such as the VW Beetle, Morris Minor, MG Midget and Triumph Herald are in plentiful supply and many are in ‘better than new’ restored condition for under £3,000. Pre-1973 vehicles qualify for ‘historic’ status, meaning road tax is free, and parts for the most popular old cars are also relatively cheap and easy to find, as are specialist repairers.
10 ways to save £££s
1. Buy a suitable car for your needs and the type of journey you make most often.
2. Cast aside your anti-diesel prejudice – modern engines are smooth, quiet and fast.
3. Look for a used car that is already converted to LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas). Remember to check that the conversion was carried out by an LPGA member or affiliate.
4. Buy a car with a 1.4 litre engine or smaller, to take advantage of cheaper road tax.
5. Buy an ‘approved used’ model from a main dealer. Ex-demo cars often have tiny mileages and are as good as new, but can be up to 30 per cent cheaper.
6. If you don’t do much driving and feel confident about learning some basic mechanics, why not buy a classic model?
7. Make your car work for its keep by using it as a mobile advert. The AdsOnCars company pays up to £200 per month to owners willing to have ads on their bodywork (www.adsoncars.com).
8. Tyre pressures must be right – an under-inflated tyre causes resistance, which causes unnecessary wear and tear and increases fuel consumption, as does driving with your windows open.
9. Find an experienced private specialist to do your servicing rather than paying more at an individual dealer, but make sure they are manufacturer accredited, otherwise you may invalidate your warranty.
10. If it’s a short journey to the shops, why not consider walking rather than driving? Cars are at their least fuel-efficient on brief journeys, and lots of short, stop-start trips place far more wear on brakes, tyres and clutches.
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