Changing Times in the Car Industry: Eco-Friendly Solutions That Won’t Break the Bank

From the inception of Henry Ford’s Model T to the self-driving cars of the 21st century, the car as we know it has changed a countless number of times.

Unfortunately, one thing has remained fairly constant — thanks to their use of gasoline as fuel, cars aren’t as efficient as they could be. For a long time, eco-friendly alternatives were either inconvenient or prohibitively expensive. However, these cars are no longer inaccessible to the average consumer.

Environmentally Friendly Cars are Affordable

Eco-friendly cars are available for as little as $19,515 — a staggering drop from what was available as little as a decade ago.

The car in question — the Honda Insight — gets 41 miles per gallon. The Toyota Prius, perhaps the most popular hybrid vehicle, clocks in at 51 mpg city/48 mpg hwy for only about $6,000 more on the price tag.

Save on Fuel — Earn on Taxes

With an eco-friendly car, you won’t have to refuel as frequently, which will save you money in the long term. However, that’s not the only economic benefit of owning an eco-friendly car.

Some eco-friendly cars are eligible for a tax credit of as much as $7,500. Furthermore, a lot of cities and employers offer incentives to encourage people to drive environmentally friendly vehicles.

New Innovations in the Automobile Industry

Environmentally friendly vehicles have come a long way in the past few decades.

There are two main types of eco-friendly cars — hybrid and electric. Hybrid cars still have a gas engine, while electric cars rely entirely on electricity to function. Electric cars tend to be less popular because they have comparatively shorter ranges; but with new innovations, that concern may become a thing of the past. The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is a great choice: it has a range of about 170 miles, costs just over $30k, and operates entirely without gasoline.

Hybrid cars may still use gasoline, but their efficient engines utilize electricity to help you cut down, which will save you money in the long term. The 2019 Toyota Prius C gets about 48 MPG in the city, and only costs a little over $21k.

Change is often for the best. Before cars, many people were unable to visit their families or go on trips; the advent of the car radio made those trips more fun for everyone. Eco-friendly cars represent the next phase of automobile evolution — and thanks to reduced prices, they’re more accessible than ever before.