The future of driving is definitely exciting and it\u2019s certainly going to be different to today. But no one can blame you if you\u2019re hesitating about the switch of your wheels. Electric cars are still in their relative infancy. Hybrid cars can\u2019t last forever because they still use fossil fuels to run. And then there\u2019s hydrogen cell technology to get your head around. So what kind of eco cars will win the day?<\/p>\n
After looking at the differences between electric cars, hybrid vehicles and hydrogen-powered technology, we\u2019d say the future of eco cars isn\u2019t quite so cut and dried. Each of these kinds of engines has its place in transporting us and the world\u2019s goods from point A to B. If you\u2019re looking for a green vehicle, different factors need to be considered. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n
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We all know that fossil fuels won\u2019t last forever. Hybrid cars are the first step away from combustion engine vehicles toward green car technology. But it\u2019s only a baby step. Hybrid cars, even plug-in hybrids, rely on petrol or diesel to keep moving.<\/p>\n
Hybrid cars have both battery packs and combustion engines, hence their name. The combination serves as some assurance that you won\u2019t get stuck anywhere with a flat battery. The battery element makes for excellent fuel efficiency, but there\u2019s that word again \u2013 fuel.<\/p>\n
Sure, there\u2019s an electric powertrain that can run up to 40 or so miles, but it still needs you to stop at the petrol pump if you want to go further. In some respects, this is great if you don\u2019t have a home charging point and your nearest one isn\u2019t close enough for comfort. Hybrid cars have some positives over fully electric cars<\/a>, but they don\u2019t have a place far into the future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whisper quiet, regularly touted as the future of motoring and becoming far more common on UK roads with each passing month, electric vehicles are the eco cars rapidly gaining a fan-base. Electric cars do away with internal combustion engines entirely. The technology requires you to regularly charge a battery and some power is harvested from braking. If you drive an electric car<\/a> well, you\u2019ll get more distance from a full charge.<\/p>\n At present, the longest range you can get in an electric car comes from the Mercedes EQS. This smart SUV can reach 485 miles on a single charge. That\u2019s about half the distance of the UK’s full length. Not bad.<\/p>\n What\u2019s not quite so enticing about these eco cars is the time for \u2018re-fuelling\u2019 or rather charging. A rapid charge takes about 30 minutes and generally gives you 60 \u2013 80% of a full charge. Full charging can take anywhere up to 12 hours. No one has that kind of free time on their hands any more.<\/p>\n Less talked about are hydrogen-powered vehicles. This could be because there are only 15 public hydrogen fuel stations in the UK. If you were concerned about range anxiety with an electric vehicle, imagine what hydrogen anxiety might feel like!<\/p>\n Hydrogen-fuel cell technology has seen far lower public acceptance rates than electric cars. Still, there are a number of different manufacturers producing them. Hyundai\u2019s NEXO and Toyota\u2019s Mirai are the two hydrogen-powered available cars in the UK. If you\u2019re interested in becoming a proud owner, check the hydrogen stations in your area<\/a> first.<\/p>\nElectric cars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Hydrogen cars<\/strong><\/h2>\n