Green Technology Protects Environment and Consumer's Wallet Articles | Environment

Green cars are the current trend in the auto industry. The upward surge of gas prices and the increasing awareness of the global warming threat among consumers have prompted them to look for environmentally friendly and wallet friendly vehicles.

For decades, American motorists have favored larger cars like sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Currently though, the demand for smaller and fuel efficient cars is increasing steadily. Going for green cars like the Toyota Prius not only protects the environment but also the consumer’s wallet. These green cars are known for their fuel efficiency thus reducing the amount of money spent on gasoline.

Aside from that, hybrid vehicles come with a tax incentive from IRS. Consumers are advised to consult their dealers about tax incentives they may avail of when purchasing a hybrid vehicle. Recently, a new money-saving issue has cropped up.

Insurance companies are now offering incentives for hybrid car owners. In fact, some insurance companies will automatically replace a hybrid car’s battery pack if the vehicle has been involved in an accident that damaged the stock battery pack. Currently, battery packs for hybrid vehicles are priced at about $3,000. Some insurance companies also offer premium discounts for hybrid car owners of up to five percent.

Hybrid vehicles are already numerous in the United States with domestic and international brands offering different hybrid cars. Ford is already leading the field for domestic car manufacturers in developing and producing hybrid vehicles. Asian brands like Nissan also offers hybrid version of their popular vehicles like the Altima sedan for the mentioned company. The Altima hybrid is essentially the common Altima except that it employs hybrid technology to complement its high performance parts such as Nissan strut bellow.

Toyota and Honda lead the pack with their host of hybrid vehicles. The Toyota Prius still remains as the most sought after gas hybrid vehicle in the United States and this is evident in increasing year over year sales of the model. Honda also offers a hybrid version of the Accord and the Civic.

Aside from going green on vehicles, Americans are also exploring new ways to save on their energy consumption. In California, almost 4,700 residents are using solar energy on their homes. In connection with that, insurance companies are also providing incentives for homeowners using solar energy on their homes. Candysse Miller, the executive director of the Insurance Information Network of California, has this to say: “Environmental awareness and action is more than just good for the planet - it can be good for your wallet. Not only can you save with reduced energy bills, but some insurers are offering insurance packages to address this growing market segment.”