Karshare Blog

You may see posts around today about World Ozone Day, so we’ve decided to break down the key things you need to know about today in a quick 3 minute read.‍ We look at what it is, how The Montreal Protocol has made a difference and what this year's theme of 'Keeping us, our food and vaccines cool' means.

The term ‘carbon footprint’ refers to the total amount of greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere as a result of someone’s actions. Greenhouse gases are those responsible for the greenhouse effect, or warming of the Earth’s surface, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Carbon footprints are usually measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. There are a lot of actions that can cause greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere, including use of fossil fuels, deforestation and inefficient waste management.

Today marks the beginning of Plastic Free July, a global movement that inspires millions of people to be a part of the solution against plastic pollution. Everyone has the power to make small changes in their lives with big impacts, so why not spend some time this month thinking about how you too can make a difference?

If you come here often, you’ll have heard us talk about sustainability on numerous occasions – how it forms a key part of our purpose, how car sharing can be considered sustainable or how we are always looking to support sustainable businesses individuals and businesses across the UK. But what does that word ‘sustainable’ really mean? And how does it differ from ‘renewable’, especially when we are talking about energy?

2020 was a breakout year for electric vehicle uptake, with figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealing that one electric vehicle was registered every three minutes. This is fantastic news! Not only can we help our local environment by not polluting the air we breathe, but it can also be good for our wallets. You can fuel an average electric car for approximately 4p per mile, with no road tax to pay and quite a few government incentives. With new affordable models arriving in the UK and a wide variety of second-hand EVs available, switching to an electric vehicle has never been easier and cheaper!

Biodiesel is a type of fuel made from vegetable oil, animal fat or waste cooking oil. The fuel is created by a process called transesterification, where the glycerin is separated from the oil to create methyl ester. Methyl ester is the chemical compound name for biodiesel. The majority of suitable oil for biodiesel comes from rapeseed, palm or soybean crops. Because of its source, biodiesel is considered a renewable fuel alternative.

Spring is well and truly in the air – and there’s nothing that says “new year new me” quite like a good old spring clean. And what better way to prepare for the end of lockdown than by giving your car a once-over? Get ready for those road trips and staycations pencilled in your diary – or present your car beautifully for the renters taking it for a spin. After exploring environmentally friendly ways of driving your car, we have now put together 7 car cleaning solutions that keep the planet in mind – and are bound to leave your vehicle sparkling!

Think back to the last time you wanted to buy something. The journey you followed probably looked a little like this: You Googled it, you ordered it, you clicked next day delivery – or better yet – same-day delivery, and then you eagerly awaited it. We’re wired to expect things now. Our expectation for instant gratification is the norm, rather than the exception. In fact, if we’re asked to wait 3-5 business days for something to arrive, we’re mildly outraged.

In a previous blog post, we covered how car sharing has been highlighted by the World Economic Forum as a way of life the world must embrace to help tackle climate change. In the UK, transport is the highest contributor to CO2 emissions – car sharing, and making do with fewer vehicles, is not a silver bullet but an important part of the solution to creating a more sustainable future.Alongside the growth in sharing, the move away from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric power is accelerating. In the UK, the announcement last year that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned by 2030 was a truly significant moment.

A hybrid vehicle combines two energy components: petrol and electricity. It can switch between both engines or combine them depending on the situation. Instead of plugging in the battery to charge like you would with a pure electric car, a hybrid vehicle recharges itself as you drive. The electricity makes the car produce very low greenhouse emissions and makes it cheap to run, especially in cities when you’re moving slower and able to drive on the battery alone. A hybrid is not only good for the planet, but for your pocket too!

2020 forced us to look at our income with a fresh pair of eyes – from furlough schemes to redundancies, it has not been easy navigating the new and uncertain world of work we find ourselves in. Luckily, the sharing economy is here to help. By utilising the assets and skills you already possess, you can create additional income streams in 2021 thanks to some very handy apps.

Protecting the environment is at the heart of what we do here at Karshare. Now that 2020 is finally behind us, we have taken a look at some of the ways in which everyone can live a little more sustainably and make a positive difference in the pursuit of net zero emissions and combating climate change.

On 18 November 2020, Boris Johnson announced his “green recovery” plans for the UK in a Financial Times opinion piece. He plans to mobilise £12bn of government investment to create and support up to 250,000 green jobs as part of his 10-point plan. Number 4 of this plan centres on electric mobility, with £2.8bn of investment going into electric vehicles, charging points and long-lasting batteries. The aim of this? To end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030, a full decade earlier than initially planned in the government’s ‘Road to Zero’ plans, published in 2018.

Throughout the Covid-19 crisis and the ongoing restrictions, changes and worries it has brought, it has sometimes been forgotten that we were already living through a climate emergency. For a brief moment at the height of lockdown the environment enjoyed a little respite, as cars came off the roads in huge numbers and people stopped flying all over the globe. Unfortunately, road traffic is now back to ‘business as usual’ levels, and emissions are creeping up once more. While the pandemic continues to attract the lion’s share of attention, the climate situation remains as urgent as ever.

Karshare takes a look at autos that made history - though not in the way you might think. It’s been nearly 130 years since the invention of the automobile and, it’s fair to say, vehicular innovation has fundamentally changed society several times over. So, we thought we’d take a look at some of the most iconic cars in history and consider their impact on the world.