How to Buy a Green Car

Why go green? The most obvious reasons are to curb global warming and to reduce America's dependency on foreign oil. Aside from these broad, long-term advantages, there are more personal and immediate reasons to trade your gas-guzzler in for a clean, green machine. 

Gasoline engines produce a host of toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide, that are harmful to breathe and can cause serious injury over time. Also, gas prices will likely rise over the coming years and the less of it you need, the more money you will save.

The greenest cars on the market are those that do not depend on gasoline to run. Some hybrid cars use gas, but burn less than traditional autos because the engine also draws power from other sources. While there are limited choices for cars that use no gas at all, the following types of vehicles are considered to be cleanest:

• Full Hybrids
  
• Mild Hybrids
• Plug-In Hybrids
  
• Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles
  
• Super Low Emissions Vehicles
  
• Flexible Fuel Vehicles
  
• Electric Cars
  

As a general rule, the smaller the car, the less energy it needs to run. If you opt for a standard automobile as opposed to one of the modified versions listed above, think small. You will get significantly more mileage from a coupe or compact car than from an SUV or station wagon.

The auto industry is about to undergo some major changes. In a year or two, green options will be far more prevalent. Therefore, it may be a good idea to wait until the next generation of vehicles is introduced. If your current car or truck is still in decent shape, hang on for a while. It may be well worth the wait.

If you must purchase a car now, why not go used? Many older models are actually quite fuel-efficient. A '97 Nissan 200sx, for example, gets 39mpg. That's more than most new hybrids. You will save thousands on your purchase and hundreds (if not more) at the gas pump if you buy a quality, small-sized, used vehicle.