Sustainability has become more than a major buzzword in the consumer world. The goals toward efficiency, conservation and overall eco-friendly solutions are gaining momentum every year. Electric vehicles (EVs), hybrids and more efficient engines are helping pave the way toward a greener planet. Here are key qualities to look for in a sustainable vehicle.

Five Types Eco-friendly Vehicles

The term sustainability has become synonymous with green, which is applied to machines built to last so that they don't have to be replaced as often and machines that have minimal impact on the environment compared with gas-powered cars of the past. Sustainability also means using materials that put less strain on the environment that can be recycled. Here are the five types of sustainable vehicles:

• eco-friendly (clean, high efficiency and excellent gas mileage)

• diesel fuel

• hybrid (both gasoline and electric power)

• plug-in hybrid (uses batteries)

• electric vehicles

Smarter, Lighter, Brighter Cars

The age of "smart" technology is here to stay, as electronic sensors now play a major role in sustainable cars. These sensors, as now required by the Environmental Protection Agency for new cars sold in America, can limit emissions and other forms of waste. A radar alert is another helpful sustainable feature because it warns drivers when they are getting too close to another vehicle. Less accidents mean less totaled vehicles that end up in landfills.

Lighter weight is another feature of modern green cars, which means better gas mileage. Part of the key to this factor is automakers are using light-weight metal parts from recycled materials. Car buyers who are considering a sustainable SUV can read a Honda Pilot review to see if it fits their needs.

Another energy-saving solution in motor vehicles is the use of LED lights. Not only do they last longer than conventional lights, they shine much brighter while using less energy. A more classic feature that adds to sustainability is a sunroof, which cuts down on the use of air conditioning.

Emergence of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

It's interesting that the first cars over a century ago were electric. Then electric cars and trolleys were shunned for many decades in favor of gas-powered cars, which have contributed enormously to environmental damage and climate change. In the early years of the 21st Century the EV seemed like ancient history until the 2006 awareness-raising documentary film Who Killed the Electric Car? Within a few years Tesla took action by manufacturing electric cars from an old GM plant.

In March 2019 for the first time in history,

EVs overtook conventional car sales in Norway, largely thanks to the Tesla Model 3. After establishing itself as a premium auto brand for quality, utility and style, Tesla has introduced the Model 3 as a more affordable EV compared with its Model X. Nearly half of all cars on Norway roads are now either all-electric or plug-in vehicles.

Despite Tesla's efforts to accelerate the electric car revolution, its Model 3 sells for about $35,000, which is still a bit pricey for the common American consumer. The Nissan Leaf is another EV that sells for around the same price. The key for EVs taking over in America will have to include lower priced vehicles, which VW is now working on. The German automaker's CEO Herbert Deiss said in 2018 that by 2020 the company will put out EVs that can do anything Tesla cars do for half the price.

So in less than a decade EVs have gone from dead to a vibrant solution. Issues of cost will soon be drowned out by more affordable EVs.

Conclusion

Diving into the greener world of eco-friendly cars is a responsible and socially-minded approach to helping protect the environment. Make sure when shopping for a new or used sustainable vehicle to ask questions about emissions, fuel efficiency and long-term durability.