Why car rental can be better for the planet
Eco experts say we need fewer cars on our roads. But until we build their vehicle-free utopia, is car rental a sustainable stopgap? Find out in our guide.
There are many reasons why choosing to rent a vehicle can be beneficial.
It's quick and simple. You get a nice, clean vehicle to drive. And, in some circumstances, it can be cheaper than buying a car outright.
But did you know it can be greener too?
It may come as a surprise to some that you can drive around – free from the stresses of road tax and MOT – and
still help save the planet.
With that in mind, let's look at a few reasons why.
It reduces the number of privately owned vehicles
Here's one of the simplest and most important arguments for vehicle hire as a sustainable option. Choosing to rent a car or van reduces the number of privately owned vehicles on the road.
One source claims that each on-demand hire vehicle eliminates up to 14 from our streets, avenues and motorways.
Fewer cars on the road means less congestion, reduced emissions and improved air quality.
It reduces the demand on natural resources
By reducing the number of privately owned vehicles overall, hiring may also reduce the demand on the planet's natural resources.
Manufacturing cars is an energy- and resource-intensive process. It probably takes around
40,000 gallons of water to manufacture a single car. And that doesn't include the tires, which need around 500 extra gallons each.
On top of this, vehicle manufacturing involves mining the Earth's resources for raw materials. This includes extracting iron to make steel and drilling for petroleum to make plastic and rubber parts.
Reducing the number of privately owned cars means reducing the demand on the supply chain, saving significant amounts of energy and resources (including a whole lot of water).
It may increase the use of greener travel alternatives
In general, vehicles tend to be hired for use on longer journeys. This means many people who choose to rent probably don't own a car – and rely on greener options to get themselves from A to B on a day-to-day basis.
This means modes like public transport, cycling and walking – all of which result in fewer emissions than private cars.
It means fewer parked cars
Did you know there are an estimated 20,000 non-residential car parks in Great Britain? In total, these provide roughly four million parking spaces. And that's not even counting residential on-street parking garages or driveways.
Huge swathes of land are put aside for use as parking for idle vehicles. By reducing the number of privately owned cars and vans, we can free up some of these spaces and allow them to be repurposed for greener uses.
Hire fleets usually consist of new, efficient models
Car hire companies tend to invest in newer and better makes and models. This is significant because modern cars tend to boast better fuel efficiency than older cars.
Newer models and the latest technologies mean you'll get more miles for your buck. This is good for your wallet, as well as the planet.
Newer models equal fewer emissions
So we've seen that newer cars tend to be more fuel-efficient. But did you know that they're also more likely to comply with the latest emissions regulations?
Older vehicles don't have to meet the same efficiency standards and were built to comply with out-of-date regulations. Many hired vehicles, on the other hand, are now EPA-certified and therefore emit fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases into the environment.
It lets you try before you buy
If you're in the market to buy a vehicle, rental agencies give you the option to "try before you buy". If you see a model you're interested in, you can rent the car for a few days and see how it performs in the real world.
What does this have to do with the environment? Simple. If you've taken the time to get to know a vehicle, you'll be more equipped to make an informed purchase decision.
Sure, this might mean choosing leather seats over polyester. But it could also mean selecting a vehicle with better fuel economy and green credentials.
Wait, there's more
Are you trying to be a greener driver? Swapping your car for occasional hires is a great option, but it's far from the only one.
Here are some more steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint behind the wheel.
- Start car sharing or join a car club.
- Avoid idling your car for too long – at red lights for example. Instead, switch the engine off when you come to a standstill.
- Drive with caution. Preempting other drivers' actions will avoid unnecessarily harsh acceleration and deceleration.
- Avoid "warming up" the engine. This has been proven to achieve very little – if anything at all.
- Keep the windows closed when driving at high speeds.
- Only transport what you need to avoid unnecessary excess weight.
- Check your tire pressure regularly if driving a privately owned vehicle, as low pressure decreases fuel efficiency.
About us
At MVH Rental, we have a carefully chosen fleet of cars, vans and minibuses for hire. All are safety checked and valeted before every rental, so you can be assured that you're getting a top-quality, efficient hire vehicle.
We ensure all of our vehicles are maintained to the highest standard and pride ourselves on our friendly and proficient approach.
If you're looking for a more sustainable travel option that's better for the planet and personalised for your needs, then why not browse our
hire vehicles? Alternatively, feel free to
contact us. One of our friendly experts will be happy to help you get where you need to be.
