You need to buy a car, but you also want to make an eco-friendly decision. There are so many options – you could buy an electric, you could go for a hybrid, or you could just buy a conventional car that gives good mileage.
While these are all good options, and it all depends on various factors, there is a choice that could be eco-friendlier than all these options – a used car. You must be wondering, how can used cars be greener than new cars? Well, if you think about it, buying a used car means no more resources getting used to manufacture and produce your new car.
Buying a new car just means adding more vehicles to an already overgrown population of vehicles. It also means either letting your old car rot away as waste in a scrapyard somewhere or giving it to someone who uses it to further pollute the planet. It turns out that buying a used car is an eco-friendlier option than buying a new car for multiple reasons you may have never considered.
Car Manufacturing Is Unsustainable
It’s common knowledge that most factories are unsustainable and can cause further waste through genral operations. The harm caused to the environment during the manufacture and production of vehicles is immeasurable.
Toyota conducted research that concluded with results showing that almost 30% of a car’s lifetime greenhouse gas emissions occur during its production and transportation to the dealer. This means a new car has already released more than a quarter of its lifetime greenhouse emissions even before it reaches its owner.
Even hybrid and electric vehicles cause great harm to the environment during their manufacture. They are only good or ‘okay’ for the environment once they hit the roads. Just to give you an idea, a Toyota Prius consumes the equivalent of 1,000 gallons of fuel before they reach the dealerships.
Environmental Impact After Disposal
The environmental impact of giving away or disposing of your car cannot be understated. If you give it away or sell your older car to someone else, they will continue to drive it and add to the pollution released into the environment. Having your old car just sit and waste away at a scrapyard with so many precious metals and materials is also detrimental to the environment.
Practicing The Basic Tenants Of Consumption
The basic tenants of an eco-friendly lifestyle starts with the 5 R’s: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. These tenants of going green teaches us that reduction is always better. Buying a used model will delay or completely stop any additional costs to the environment. These are some of the green benefits for not buying a new car:
- No new resources being taken from the environment.
- No pollution during the transport of said resources.
- No energy is wasted in the manufacturing, and no additional carbon emissions for it to reach the dealership and your home.
Consider Older Affordable Models
Other than being more environmentally friendly, the biggest advantage of buying used is the price. You might be able to get a few discounts, tax breaks, and government incentives when purchasing a hybrid or electric car.
Despite all the incentives, the overall price will always end up being much higher than if you were to purchase a used car. While it isn’t always easy finding a well-maintained used car, finding the right deal will be both better for your pocket and for the environment.
