Talking About Green

Your environmentally friendly habits don’t have to go on holiday when you do. While you won’t be able to hire a car that’s good for the climate there are simple choices you can make to reduce your carbon…. tyre print.

Regularly serviced and well maintained cars cause the least problems for the environment. Therefore choosing a rental car company which cares for their cars will not only ensure you reach your destination without incident but cut down on the pollution caused by your journey.

Big Cars Big Problems

Unless your rental involves going off road you should avoid hiring a Sports Utility Vehicle. The size and weight of these cars increases their fuel usage and impact on the environment. If you need to hire a SUV diesel models are the best option.

The amount of fuel you’ll burn when hiring a car is a major concern. And hiring the most fuel efficient car for your needs will, of course also reduce the amount of money you spend at the Bowser.

It’s Smart to Think Small

Generally speaking the smaller the car the more fuel efficient. Even if travelling with three or four adults you will find small cars will still provide a comfortable ride. Many small cars available for hire will carry EPA SmartWay designations meaning the EPA have scored them in the top tier of environmental performers in regards to reduced air and green house gas pollution.

If you’re only driving in the city alone or with one passenger a Smart car with its 3 cylinder motor is quite likely to suit your needs while having the least impact on the environment.

No matter what size car you require finding the miles per gallon average rating of a car is relatively easy. Some rental car companies provide mile per gallon averages and United States Environmental Protection Agency ratings. You can also look at the EPA Vehicle Guide yourself[1]. Examples of fuel efficient cars include Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Buick LaCrosse and Hyundai Sonata.

Hybrid Cars

You cannot go past a hybrid car for fuel efficiency, however how you intend to use the car is something to consider. Hybrid cars run on a gasoline engine when you drive quickly and with a battery at slow speeds. Thus a hybrid rental car will only be greener at low speed[2]. Many car rental companies charge a premium of $5-$10 per day for hybrids so it makes sense to properly assess your needs before jumping straight onto the hybrid band wagon.

Hybrid cars have undergone scrutiny with some studies suggesting the overall energy used by a hybrid car exceeds that of a car powered by gasoline. However a life cycle analysis of hybrid cars shows that overall , they actually save more energy in their life cycle than is used in their manufacture.[3]

Environmentally Friendly Driving

Once you’ve made the choices and hired yourself a car with lower environmental impacts be aware that the way you drive also plays a factor in determining the amount of pollution you cause. Avoid accelerating too quickly and burning unnecessary gas especially if traffic conditions mean you’ll a hitting the brake shortly afterwards.

When you hit the road next vacation, whether it’s a wild and crazy, down and dirty adventure or the stuff fond family memories is made of, enjoy your ride, enjoy your country and enjoy one of the new breed of greener rental car options.

Susan Long is a freelance Marketing Consultant working with a Car Rental comparison company. With the overwhelming increase in interest in environmentally sound options for rental cars, she is always looking for better options to help families enjoy the great American road trip.

[1] EPA Vehicle Guide-http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Aboutratings.do

[2] Friends of the Earth-http://www.foe.co.uk/living/articles/buy_greener_car.html

[3] The Pacific Institute-http://www.pacinst.org/topics/integrity_of_science/case_studies/hummer_vs_prius.pdf