Before changing your car, you will need to evaluate many aspects, especially if the choice is made from an ecological perspective. Pollution in our cities, particularly in Nice, is reaching alarming levels. To improve air quality, governments have required car manufacturers to develop more environmentally friendly cars. Today, in our dealerships, we find a selection of hybrid or electric cars that are more in line with the current need for ecological transition. This is a good initiative, especially for those who decide to buy a hybrid or electric car.
Hybrid or electric car, which one to choose?
Purchasing an electric or hybrid car to replace an old polluting vehicle can be an excellent investment. Choosing a zero CO2 emission vehicle for your mobility has a positive effect on reducing pollutant particles caused by urban traffic. It’s also good for your wallet: fewer trips to the gas station, reduced maintenance costs—hybrid and especially electric cars are very economical to use. Although they are more expensive to buy, they benefit from significant ecological bonuses granted by the State or local authorities. Nice is also making efforts by offering support for clean mobility. Electric cars have a bright future, except for those who want to make long journeys without constraints.
What are the differences between hybrid and electric cars?
Hybrid cars are equipped with two separate powertrains, a combustion engine (gasoline or diesel) and an electric motor. The distinctive feature of the hybrid car lies in the fact that both engines work in synergy, reducing emissions and fuel consumption. Hybrid cars do not always need to be recharged, as their lithium battery can regenerate while driving thanks to the presence of a generator that uses the energy produced by the combustion engine.
The electric car, on the other hand, is equipped only with an engine powered by a battery, thereby eliminating the need for fuel. This means that the electric car must be connected to a charging station or the electrical grid to recharge. Although more restrictive due to historically fewer charging points, the electric charging system is nonetheless being developed in homes and in businesses and communities, much to the delight of users.
Retrofit, an interesting alternative
An interesting solution to keep your old car you hold dear, breathe new life into it, and respect the environment is offered by retrofit, the system of converting combustion cars to electric power. Thanks to this technology, those who decide to transform their cars into more sustainable vehicles can count on financial support and convert their car into Crit’Air categories 1, 2, or 0 depending on the chosen solution. In all cases, the system must guarantee that the original characteristics of the vehicle in terms of performance and safety are not altered, and it must withstand corrosion and aging agents it is exposed to. The transformation thus also has the advantage of reducing waste by giving new life to vehicles destined for scrapping.
The Crit’Air sticker: fear of old cars
France, like other European countries, has introduced the environmental sticker for road vehicles. The environmental sticker “Crit’Air” is simply affixed to the car’s windshield. You can order it online, and once applied, the category assigned to your car will be clearly visible. It is mandatory in the cities that have adopted it, with a fine for non-compliance. With the laws on LEZ (Low Emission Zones), the days of old cars are numbered, as metropolises wish to see them disappear. Therefore, purchasing a more recent car seems almost inevitable.
What is the purpose of the environmental sticker?
The environmental sticker was introduced to distinguish environmentally friendly vehicles from those that “pollute more” the city’s atmosphere and contribute to the deterioration of living conditions. The environmental sticker therefore determines the level of air pollution caused by your vehicle, according to an emission level classification based on the vehicle’s registration certificate. Changing your car to Crit’Air 0 represents the solution for monitoring all cars circulating in our country.
