We have to take into account the kilometers traveled to find out what motorization we need
LPG, CNG, pure electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, micro-hybrid (Mild Hybrid), in addition to the traditional gasoline and diesel are the alternatives that we can find today at the dealers when we plan to buy a new car.
With each of them, and according to their specificities, we can choose them
environmental stickers of the DGT, from “C” to “0 emissions”. If we initially thought that the best option is always to choose the car with the least restrictions, it is also true that depending on the use we are going to make of the vehicle, this does not mean that we are going to make the car good choice.
With the entry into force of the
Low Emission Zones (ZBE) In cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, it is a good idea to get good advice about the regulations before purchasing, as access to these LEZs will vary per municipality.
As a rule with
the labels “0 emissions” and “Eco” we will lift the entry bans for a longer period of time but for now a new car with the ‘C’ badge whether it be a diesel or a petrol will be able to access most of the restricted areas although we may not have some benefits such as possible discounts on parking meters.
But in return, it is normal that the car is cheaper at the time of purchase, and if our circulation area is usually the
freeway or expresswayand we don’t need regular access to the city centre, consumption will most likely be lower than that of, say, a conventional hybrid or plug-in hybrid.
Therefore, before buying a new car, in these times of change due to emission restrictions, the mileage must be taken into account to find out which engine we need.
Diesel cars have lost their dominant position in sales over the past two years in favor of petrol cars, demonized for their
alleged polluting emissionsalthough it has been shown that a modern diesel car pollutes no more than a petrol car, and even the CO2 emissions in the new models are lower.
But the message has caught on and has led many buyers to opt for supposedly more ecological alternatives, later confirming that the choice that may seem more “green” isn’t always the most appropriate to meet their usage needs. To give a few examples, a person with a sales job that demands from him
many miles by roadmore than 30,000 per year, you have your best alternative in a diesel car, as it is the most efficient engine and with a better price/consumption ratio.
In this case it would be a mistake to opt for a conventional hybrid car, as these “Eco” vehicles are really efficient in the
short and mainly urban routes, where electric assistance during braking and starting off fulfills its mission. A hybrid on the road will not take advantage of the electric potential and the batteries will become a “ballast”, an extra weight that will contribute to higher consumption and therefore higher emissions.
At the other pole, we find a person who only travels a few tens of kilometers a day in an urban environment. In this case, the mistake would be to opt for a diesel model, as the additional cost would not offset the savings from reduced consumption. And also, given the characteristics of diesel engines, not having enough time to warm up and eliminate
particles from filters and valves such as the famous EGRin the long run this would potentially cause us mechanical problems and significant additional maintenance costs.
In this case, electric cars or plug-in hybrids are the best alternatives, as long as there is the possibility of having a home charging point and a tariff to connect the car at the best price. If this is not possible, you can always resort to conventional hybridization or micro-hybridization, which has proven to achieve important results
emission reductions and consumption compared to conventional thermal cars.
Currently we can choose between petrol, diesel, hybrid combustion/electric, LPG/CNG bifuel, electric and fuel cell (hydrogen) engines.
Gasoline engines, also known as four-stroke engines, are engines that operate on a thermodynamic basis responsible for converting the chemical energy of ignition, caused by the mixture of air and fuel, into mechanical energy. This provides the vehicle with the necessary energy to carry out its movements. And said surgery
in four-stroke cycles which can be roughly classified as follows:
-Intake phase: the intake valve opens, allowing the air-fuel mixture to flow into the cylinders.
-Compression phase: during this phase the valve closes and the piston moves up to compress the mixture.
-Phase of explosion: The spark plugs provide the spark necessary to produce the explosion and the downstroke of the pistons.
-Exhaust phase: the exhaust valve opens and the pistons rise to expel the burnt gases out
In general, diesel engines are mainly used in means of transport that require an extra dose of power and are designed for a greater daily workload, such as industrial vehicles, trucks, machines, aviation equipment, etc. Since this type of engine was born in 1893 by Rudolf Diesel, however, the technology is also spreading to private means of transport, which currently outpace petrol-powered vehicles in Spain.
diesel engines
They work in a similar way to the gasoline. and the process of it may likewise be divided into four times, namely, the following:
-Intake phase: Air filling occurs and the intake valve remains open as the piston descends to bottom dead center.
-Compression phase: The intake valve closes when the piston reaches bottom dead center and begins its upward journey, compressing the air in the cylinder.
-Combustion phase: the injector sprays the fuel into the chamber and it ignites immediately when it comes into contact with hot air.
-Exhaust phase: the burnt gases are expelled and the inertia is allowed to restart the cycle.
Although it may not seem like it, electric motors predated diesel or four-stroke gasoline. Between 1832 and 1832, Robert Anderson developed the first automobile.
with pure electric motorcapable of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy through the magnetic fields it generates, without the need for explosions or combustion typical of gasoline and diesel engines.
Today, when we think of pure electric vehicles, we often refer to BEVs or battery electric vehicles. However, on the market we can find other options such as FCEVs, fuel cells, which are combined with hydrogen and HEVs and PHEVs, known as hybrids and plug-in respectively, which alternate a permanent magnet electric motor with an internal combustion engine. (mainly gasoline).
Although in Spain
FCEV vehicles are not well known As in other countries, such as Japan, it is a kind of technology that is already being worked on, especially to make hydrogen a fuel for the masses. Fuel cell electric cars use hydrogen as fuel to generate a conversion where the hydrogen is oxidized and the electrons it loses are the electric current that will circulate through fuel cells that power electric motors.
Vehicles running on alternative fuels such as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or CNG (compressed natural gas) are gaining ground in the automotive industry and more and more manufacturers are betting on marketing versions of some of their models. , powered by this type of fuel.
One of two options, LPG or CNG, promote the extension of engine life, as they do not cause as much wear in the cylinders and less residues are deposited in the system. However, it must be taken into account that lubrication is sometimes difficult and at higher speeds the valves can deteriorate, something that we can solve thanks to preventive mechanics and proper maintenance.
The DGT has wanted to simplify the number of tags and there are only four options to locate each vehicle. The B (yellow) applies to petrol vehicles between 2001 and 2006 and diesel between 2006 and 2015.
The C (green) it is the best that internal combustion engine vehicles can aim for, it refers to diesel registered after 2015 (Euro 6) and petrol after 2006 (from Euro 4).
For people with electrical assistance, there are two labels,
Eco (green and blue duotone)including conventional hybrid cars (HEV), plug-in cars with an autonomy of less than 40 km, zero emissions (increasingly rare), and cars that run on gas, either natural (CNG) or liquefied petroleum (LPG).
Finally,
the Zero label (blue) It is intended for 100% electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids with more than 40 km and extended range electric vehicles, which use an internal combustion engine as a generator for their zero-emission propulsion, and hydrogen or fuel cell.
With these four labels, Tráfico excludes 50% of the Spanish mobile fleet, the most polluting, which corresponds to the A classification, i.e. without an environmental label.
Placing the sticker is not required, but city ordinances that use them as a mark of recognition may restrict access to them
vehicles that do not have itso it is advisable to place them on the bottom right of the windscreen – failure to do so can result in a fine of 200 euros.
There are several ways to get the eco-label. This one,
for five euros It can be purchased at post offices, in the workshop network of the Spanish Confederation of Workshops (Cetraa) and other authorized repairers, from administrative managers and from the Institute of Automotive Studies (Ideauto). Moreover, in the case of fleets, it can be requested en bloc through Ganvam.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
