Clean, Green Machines

In the market for a new car? Then you might want to check out "The Greenest Vehicles of 2007," a list released this week by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The top scorers:

1. Honda Civic GX
2. Toyota Prius
3. Honda Civic Hybrid
4. Nissan Altima Hybrid
5. Toyota Yaris
6. Toyota Corolla
7. Toyota Camry Hybrid
8. Honda Fit
9. Kia Rio / Rio 5
10. Hyundai Accent
11. Hyundai Elantra
12. Honda Civic

The ACEEE also publishes a "Meanest Vehicles" list of unrepentant gas-guzzlers. Lincoln Navigator and Lamborghini Murcielago, we're looking at you...

Comments

[John Chrystal]

On your list of 12 greenest cars, what happened to the Honda Insight? I've had one for 7 years and have averaged about 60 miles to the gallon. Best car I have ever owned and certainly the best commuter car ever!

[Jennifer Hattam]

Hi John,

Thanks for your comment. We didn't actually put together the list, but I poked around a bit on the ACEEE site and found the answer. As they explain in their "Market Trends" section,

"This year sees a number of changes to the nameplates on the Greenest Vehicles list. Honda's hybrid-electric Insight, a perennial top-scoring model since its debut in model year 2000, was discontinued last year, while a host of new clean-and-efficient models for 2007 such as the Honda Fit, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Toyota Yaris, joined the pack."

http://www.greenercars.com/gctext.html

According to Honda's website, the Insight "is still available as a Honda Certified Used vehicle."

http://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Insight

Hope that answers your question.

[Carlos Rymer]

It is good to note that GM and Ford are not on that list. Recently, we've heard reports about record losses for both companies. If they don't begin to sacrifice for super-efficient cars, they simply won't catch up to Toyota and Honda and will unfortunately go bankrupt.

[Litz]

I can't believe a Hummer didn't make your "Meanest" list!!! Those things make my blood boil every time I see one on the road -- which around where I live is A LOT!

[Joanne Margiotta]

Are there any 4 wheel drive Green Cars? I would like to buy a green car but I would also still like to have 4 wheel drive. Thank you.

[Jennifer]

Why is the Honda Civic GX rated the highest when it doesn't get the best (by far) MPG? I am assuming it has something to do with compressed natural gas, but I'm not familiar with that. Can you explain? Also, how easy is it to refuel those vehicles? I honestly had never heard of CNG cars.

[biodiesel]

Why no mention of VW's and others ability to be run on biodiesel or straight veggie oil?

Even blending a small percentage greatly curbs NO2 and other emissions, plus makes the TDI's most efficient.

My Jetta TDI gets 40-42 in town and 50+ mpg on the highway. Yet, I can't get the clean air sticker to go w/ the hybrids in the HOV lane. Compared to Europe, especially Germany, this country is WAY behind in biofuel technology. Ultra low sulfer diesel (ULSD) is now mandated in the US, which helps reduce emissions, and the modern TDI's are quite cleaner to begin with. I think hybrids are a red herring. Where are all those batteries going to wind up when they expire? Diesels can run on a wide range of fuels, some without modification, so we are ready for oil shortages. What are hybrids going to run on? Auto makers ought to move in the direction of diesel hybrids instead of continuing to rely on regular gasoline. I think I heard one of the Japanese companies is moving toward that (Nissan or Honda?).

[Colin]

Re SUVs -- there is the Ford Escape Hybrid, which Sierra Club earlier endorsed.

As for the rankings -- what is the criteria? Mileage alone? Isn't diesel better for CO2 emissions? I'm uncomfortable about conclusions without seeing the criteria as well.

[Joel P.]

My opinion is that this list holds no weight, as it does not include biodiesel vehicles (or am I missing something?).

ACEEE lists no diesel vehicles and in their reason why maintains that diesels are still not proven to be clean cars.

I would argue, however, that a diesel vehicle running on 100% biodiesel is significantly better for the environment than most gasoline powered cars, and many hybrids for that matter (given that a number of hybrids are SUVs and also noting that the source of 98% of electrical generation in this country comes from non-renewable resources). Biodiesel is greener particularly if it is created and transported via biodiesel (and "home-grown"). Or, if your biodiesel co-op contributes some of its profits to carbon reduction programs (which many do).

[TR]

It would be a good consumer service for someone to prepare a fair comparison of biodiesel running vehicles against gasoline vehicle "green" ratings. For example, a Jetta TDI on B99 fuel. It's nearly impossible to find a comparison of air pollutants.

[Mike]

The greenest car is no car at all. Why isn't that #1 on the list?

[brett]

Cant believe veggie oil diesels didn't make the list. It should be called "greenest cars with combustion engines using fossil fuels". I use recycled veggie oil after they fry food in it and get about 25mpg but release no CO2 and 70% less overall emssions!! None of the cars you list even come close!!

[karen schwartz]

My Jetta TDI gets 48mpg regardless of how and where I am driving. Plus, I can use 100% biodiesel. This car is cheaper than a hybrid and potentially greener too.

[michelle neubert]

toyota passed GM in 2006 as the #1 vehicle world sales. this happened i think, not because u.s. buyers weren't buying GM, but rather because the world is not buying GM. on overseas trips, the few u.s. cars i saw were over 15 years old. they can't afford the gas and repairs. there were toyota 'hiace' vans the size of vw vans that we can't get here, and many other vans and cars that we can't get. it they came into country, the van and suv market would go asian too.

[bloodnok]

a point raised repeatedly by jim kunstler (you can do the search) is that no matter how green your car is, the ongoing end of oil means we as a species need to find a different way of life. different from our happy motoring suburban hell. i'm thinking bicycles ...

[Pieter]

Everyone seems to focus on gas consumption, but I think the picture is much bigger.

Do any of these ratings consider the materials/processes used in manufacturing the vehicles? How green are they really? Also, where are they (and the components) made, and what are the pollution standards in place? Are the vehilces recyclable, or what are the environmental implications of their disposal (I'm thinking batteries, but I'm sure other materials may be a problem.)

Also, what is the expected life of the vehicles versus the total environmental impact?

[Bill Walsh]

just wondering if there is a list for Vans? Honda makes a very fuel efficient van w/their V-tech engine,but what about the competition? I ask because mini vans have become so incredibly popular. Any suggestions?

[Hanna Boone]

I'm in the market for a new car, but i live in the Colorado Rockies and need 4WD or AWD but want to find something green too, any chance?

[Mark]

600 MPG, complete biofuel... and donuts can even be fed directly into the tank. My bicycle! Since fuel efficiency doesn't curb driving, it's only a temporary solution.

[kate]

woohoo! #12

[Oliver Nichols]

Love my Yaris!

[Ed Coughlin]

As the proud owner of a Honda Civic GX, I would also like to remind you that the price of a gallon-equivalent of natural gas is still under two dollars. Even less if you buy a "Phill" device to fill up in your garage. Southern California is crawling with CNG stations and I have no problem keeping it filled.

[Ed]

We own a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid and seldom drive it (we're retired), but we only get 29.7 miles per gallon according to the dashboard indicator.

What could we be doing wrong?

What could we do to improve the MPG?

Ed

[Jon Ritz]

How about the greenest cars including the ELECTRIC CAR?

[Prior Aelred]

The Toyota Highlander comes in a hybrid model -- 4 wheel drive SUV. I have no idea how it compares exactly, but in snowy rural settings, there are times when 4-wheel drive is not a luxury & it is bound to be better than the alternatives!