READY TO BUY YOUR FIRST CAR?
ENGINE TYPES
WHAT TYPE OF ENGINE HAVE YOU GOT?
PETROL
Petrol vehicles are the most common car type that you can currently find on the road. Petrol has a lower compression ratio; you can have a lighter car because the engine is made with less material. A compression ratio is the number of parts per a single part (like in cooking where you have a ratio for something like stocks). It’s easier to go fast in a petrol vehicle as it has a higher rpm range (the machine can operate faster per minute). If your engine is a performance engine, you’ll need a higher-octane rating. There are three octane ratings: 91, 95 and 98. The cheaper options can wear your engine quicker as because there’s not as much lubrication.
DIESEL
Diesel engines are a lot heavier because they get hotter from a higher compression ratio (more pressure compressing the air and fuel, creating more heat). Diesel is a lot cleaner than regular petrol. Diesel is better for towing as it has more pulling power than petrol when pulling an object from when it isn’t moving. This is why diesel is fairly common in most trucks. Since the government is starting to focus on more carbon emission reduction, diesel and petrol vehicles are likely to become less common. They’re still great vehicles to start learning on though!
ELECTRIC
You charge electric vehicles at a charging station, there are many that can be found around New Zealand, especially near malls and supermarkets. When driving an electric vehicle, you would think about what the furthest you can travel is, rather than how many litres of fuel you can hold. Whenever you’re braking some electric vehicles, the battery will charge as you’re coming to a stop. This is called regenerative braking. Electricity is a great option if you’re wanting something that’s shorter distance like driving to and from work, school or running daily errands.
HYDRAULIC
Hydrogen engines burn water to create a mist. It’s cleaner than other vehicle types as it’s only releasing oxygen and water into the atmosphere. Since there’s water runoffs on most roads then you won’t have to worry about flooding. Water is denser than petrol, so the hydrogen cars are heavier than a regular petrol car. Hydrogen vehicles are highly flammable, but the vehicle has a more limited time to burn because hydrogen is lighter than air. However, the recharging stations for hydrogen cars aren’t being built till 2023, so it might be a good idea to wait until they’re up and running first.
HYBRID
Hybrid cars are a mix between petrol and electric cars. They are a great option for if you’re wanting to travel long distances, while still being electric for less carbon emissions. In a hybrid car the engine will also charge the car while its operating, so it’s a great way to easily charge your vehicle while you’re using it. You can drive electric with a hybrid vehicle, but only for short distances, like around town. You don’t go to a charging station to charge an electric vehicle, instead the energy will be regained through braking and decelerating.
