How Vehicle Technology is Building a More Sustainable Future

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The race to create a sustainable car has been ongoing for decades – and it doesn’t look like it will be ending anytime soon. The desire to develop the subsequent functioning yet highly sustainable vehicle has increased right alongside the demand.

Lately, most auto manufacturers have put their attention towards electric vehicles. Given that electricity is a renewable energy source, this makes complete sense. Yet, it is not the only tactic that manufacturers are considering.

Electric Vehicles

Electric and vehicles, also known as EVs, are growing exponentially common these days. This is partially due to the government incentives available across the globe. Currently, the EV market is expected to grow at a CAGR exceeding twenty-one percent between 2019 and 2030. 

Despite the rising demand, a few problems are facing electric vehicles. For one thing, there is currently no standard among charging stations. While that may be a tolerable problem for smaller techs such as phones, it does not govern longevity for something as significant as a car. CharIN is one of several companies trying to encourage universal standards for charging, but it will take time.

Another focus for further developing EVs is the battery itself. This is the new heart of a car, where all of the power is stored. Currently, EVs depend on lithium-ion batteries, which means factors such as temperature and over-changing are legitimate concerns.

Battery Second Life

As mentioned above, finding greener solutions to deal with batteries is a must. One short-term solution, pushed by Analog Devices, is to repurpose spent batteries. Contrary to popular belief, batteries that have worn out from powering cars all day still have a bit of power in them. It isn’t enough to power a vehicle, but it is enough to provide a bit of electricity to those that don’t have it. Suddenly, that otherwise wasted energy can be used to provide cooking fuel to those that need it most. 

Green Tires

Believe it or not, greener tires are another consideration when it comes to making more sustainable cars. Rubber is not a sustainable product, so creating cars based entirely on this material is not practical or eco-friendly.

However, finding an alternative to rubber has become quite a challenge. Instead, companies are trying to find other ways to offset their carbon footprint. Time will tell which solution wins out.

 

Questions to Ask Before Buying Auto-Insurance

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If you’re thinking about purchasing auto insurance, which we highly recommend you do, there are many factors that determine the price and what you are getting. Here are 5 questions you should always ask yourself before you decide on auto insurance, that may actually help lower the insurance rate:

How much do you drive each week?

This plays an important role in deciphering whether or not you should be taking public transportation to work or wherever you go on a consistent basis. Taking public transportation often helps lower your car insurance.

Can you offer a higher deductible?

Often times, if a person can pay a higher deductible, he or she will pay a lower price each month, which can end up saving you a lot of money in the long-run.

Do you have a good credit score?

This one probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you – bad credit often means you will be charged at a higher rate. This is mostly because auto insurance companies predict that if someone has bad credit, they will probably file a claim after an accident.

How old is your car?

Older cars will generally have higher insurance costs due to safety reasons. If you drive a car that is over 15-20 years old, you might want to think about dropping collision coverage because the monthly premium will most likely be more than the replacement value.

Do you work for a professional group or organization?

Check to see if your company has insurance discounts to offer you – this can save you a lot of money. Most companies will have some sort of employee benefits that you might be able to use for auto insurance. Always double check.