Each year, my business takes a few more steps to further
reduce the impact on the planet, within the budget and being mindful of wasting
existing resources.
So this year, with a new vehicle becoming a necessary item
for business use, I did some research on available options at this time in
Australia.
I set out to find a vehicle to be used primarily for city
driving with the occasional longer trip, carrying mostly one or two people. The criteria was for a vehicle that was
small, flexible with a hatch shape, extremely fuel efficient for city driving,
comfortable for two, but small enough to claim the full range of available
inner city parking spots.
As a passionate advocate of our need to reduce the use of
oil, I am very aware that burning this valuable resource in transport is
reducing its availability for much more important industries in the future,
industries such as those producing medicines or food. And – I am also mindful
that the cost of fuel is headed in one direction!
After researching available fuel efficient and fully
electric options, I chose the Prius c, a petrol electric hybrid small hatch car
manufactured by Toyota. In the
longer term, and most likely for the next vehicle purchase, a fully electric
vehicle will be higher on the list – but the Prius c ticked all the boxes now.
This model of the Prius is new, just released in Australia
this year, and, as I understand on limited supply. Since taking delivery of mine (the I-tech model) less than a
week ago, I have definitely been impressed with my car.
Firstly, before it even left the dealer’s showroom, the
Prius c already had downloaded my phone address book, and it seems to have all
electronics that we call essential, and certainly makes for a useful and safe
driving experience.
And it is a really clever little car – you start to see how
this works after a few days of driving, in that it uses the energy normally
wasted when we apply the brakes or slow down, to recharge the battery. The car’s system works out when
it uses battery or when it uses petrol, so I do not have to think about that,
and the fuel use will be massively less than the previous car.
The finish is nice, with lots of sections everywhere for all
the bits and pieces that are essential to me, especially when the car is also
my outbound office.
First impressions – for the business person travelling
around, mostly on their own, with need to carry standard amounts of displays or stock,
the Prius c I-tech is one to add to your list, and definitely one that will
reduce your business fuel costs and more importantly, your business carbon
footprint.
Pic of my Prius c taken by Mary
Pic of my Prius c taken by Mary
