Choosing a Hybrid Vehicle
The Union of Concerned Scientists has recently released a hybrid scorecard on their website, www.hybridcenter.org , which ranks hybrid vehicles by environmental impact, value (price) and forced features (features which do not come standard that drive up the cost of the vehicle). The scorecard can be found at www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-scorecard/index.html. Clicking on any of the vehicle links will give you detailed summaries about each model as well as additional information about their findings. For more information about choosing a hybrid vehicle and other helpful recommendations, visit the hybrid score findings link at www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-scorecard/hybrid-scorecard-findings.html.
Toyota Prius Greenest Car in 2010?
Consumer Reports announced it list of top cars in various categories, including green. The Toyota Prius received the award for being the top Green Car in 2010. This is the seventh year in a row that the Prius has won this award in this category.
It’s still the most fuel-efficient car in our Ratings, getting 44 mpg overall. That distinction helped it earn our pick in this category for the seventh straight year, the longest of any current model. In addition, the Prius is a pleasant car to drive, with a roomy interior, a steady ride, hatchback versatility, and excellent reliability and crash-test results. The 2010 redesign also gave it a more solid feel and a dedicated EV mode that allows it to run longer on electric power at low speeds, an advantage mainly in slow, congested traffic.
I would question the reliability aspect because of the recent recalls, but it seems pretty apparent that the Prius seems to be considered the best “green” car by many, not just Consumer Reports.
I have not driven a Prius or driven in one, but I have not had good experiences with people I know who drive them. It’s great that people want to buy a car that uses less gas mileage and is more eco-friendly, but some people buy these cars like they do new electronic devices. Another thing that made me a little frustrated is the fact that some feel they can drive more just because they now have a more gas efficient car. This mentality negates the whatever benefit you are receiving from having a more fuel efficient vehicle.
My experiences are with some of the owners of the Prius, not the car itself. Overall, the Prius seems like a pretty good vehicle and great car to consider if in need of a new vehicle. I would still much rather have a full EV than just a hybrid, but they are still a few years away from hitting the market. It’s also good to find other ways than buying a new car to save on gas or avoid using a car at all. Some include biking, car pooling, public transportation and many other gas saving tips.
I decided to include a poll to get an idea of how you feel about the Prius being the top green car on the market.
Loading ...Nissan’s Leaf Electric Vehicle
Nissan has finally come with an electric vehicle that separates itself from the other major manufacturers. The Nissan Leaf was released late last year with a lithium-ion battery system which has a range of 100 miles. The production version of this vehicle has already been released and should be available in markets later this year.
The Leaf is the first electric vehicle on the market that offers both a fairly long range and affordable price. Let’s take a look at some of the features of this vehicle:
- Battery: 24 kWh lithium ion battery
- Battery Life: 100 miles per charge
- Speed: Up to 90 miles per hour
- Seating: 5 seat hatchback
- Charge: Quick charge of 30 minutes at 440V / Full charge in standard US home, 8 hours
- Monitor: Dash mounted system monitor
- Cool Feature: Mobile connected to charge battery.
- Cost: $25,000 – $33,000
All these features cover the majority of American drivers today. It may not be practical yet for a drive across the country, but it would cover most people. The average driver doesn’t even get close to 90 mph and 100 miles is plenty for the daily commuter.
The Leaf recently won Green Car Journal’s Vision Award because of the practical pricing of this vehicle. Unlike many of the other electric vehicles in America, it was able to achieve an affordable price, yet still get good speed and range.
There are still two major challenges that electric vehicles still have to face: better battery technology and charging stations. Battery technology is constantly getting better, so that problem should resolve itself as times passes. The bigger problem is to get charge stations set up throughout America. Until that day comes, electric vehicles will not be the car of choice for the average commuter.
For a fully comprehensive look at the Nissan Leaf, check out Autoblog’s in depth look.
Tesla Motors Filing for IPO
Tesla Motors is easily one of my favorite car companies out there. They only currently have two models, the Roadster and the Model S, but their cars are light-years ahead of anything the big car manufacturers are offering. Both of their models are stylish and fast, yet get several hundred miles per charge.
In an effort to raise more funds to continue manufacturing its vehicles, Tesla is filing for a $100 million IPO. The goal is to starting making more Roadsters and having the Model S out by 2012 with the help of a federal loan along with these investment funds.
Their new Model S will cost $50,000 after a federal tax credit and are in the works of making a more practical model in the not so far future. As with any stock and especially a smaller company like Tesla, there is a chance in losing money. If you are interesting in buying stocks, this is one company that looks really promising though.
Is the Apple Tablet Eco-Friendly?
All the latest rave is on the just announced Apple Tablet. The device appears to be nothing more than a larger iPhone, but Apple is praising this as one of its most innovative devices.
Though the discussion of this new tablet may not seem relevant on this blog, there are some that feel it’s sustainably design could contribute to reducing the manufacture of many computer related products. TreeHugger does a great job in discussing both the positives and negatives of the tablet in terms of its sustainability.
Top Fuel Efficient SUVs
Back when I signed a lease deal on my Honda Pilot in 2007, I did not give gas mileage a whole lot of thought. I knew better than to buy a gigantic SUV that blatantly guzzled gas, but at the time, I thought that getting approximately 20 miles to the gallon, while also having all-wheel drive and seating space for seven, was a good deal all around. So, I went with the Pilot. A great car, I might add, I’ve enjoyed driving it, but unless big changes are in store for the Pilot in 2011, I think I can do a whole lot better on the green scale when I trade in my car this August (Honda, are you listening?). So, my search begins for a more fuel-efficient SUV with an all-wheel-drive option (I live in Maine) and room for two kids, a friend, and a dog. If car companies took orders like restaurants do, mine would look something like this:
- AWD
- Seven-seater
- Fuel efficient
- High safety rating
After doing a lot of research on fuel-efficient SUVs, it is clear that there are big differences between SUVs that have front-wheel-drive and those equipped with all-wheel drive. The good news is, if you don’t need the 4×4 option, there are some exciting new vehicles on the market for 2010. The bad news for people like me is, if all-wheel-drive is essential to maintaining your mental health during long winters, then it seems I may have to compromise considerably on fuel-efficiency. Based on my research so far and msn autos’ list of 2010’s Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs, the following cars are now on my short list:
1) Jeep Patriot/Compass
The Jeep Patriot/Compass is one of a few cross-over SUVs that offer mile-per-gallon numbers for 4×4 models that are comparable to FWD models. The Patriot/Compass gets 23 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. Not bad. I can also squeeze three booster seats side-by-side in the back seat, although it’s tight. Cargo space is also an issue and fitting our luggage, plus one dog in the back might be tough.
2) Chevy Equinox/GMC Terrain
The newly designed Equinox and its sister model, the Terrain, both available with AWD, get 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The fuel-efficiency of the FWD option is even better, so if you are not looking for an AWD vehicle, this cross-over would definitely be worth a second look. I also like the flexible rear seats, which make it possible to fit more cargo in the back when you need to. I am not sure if I can fit three booster seats in the back, but I will give it a try on the test-drive.
3) Lexus RX 450h Hybrid
Gorgeous looks? Check. Excellent safety record? Check. Fuel efficient? Check. The Lexus RX 450h Hybrid has it all. Getting an impressive 30 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, what’s not to like? To make it even more appealing, the Lexus has one of the largest cargo areas in its class. But unless I win the lottery in the next six months, this cross-over SUV will be too cost-prohibitive, with a sticker price between $41,000 and $43,000. But it still makes my list… because, well, I can dream, can’t I?
4) Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute/Mercury Mariner Hybrids
Come to find out, this trio of small cross-overs offer 30 mpg city/27 mpg highway. Seating five, these models reportedly also have lots of cargo space. They also cost around $10,000 less than the Lexus, which is hard to argue with.
5) Subaru Outback Wagon
The Subaru Outback Wagon, which got a new look for 2010, is Motor Trend’s Sport/Utility of the year.
With an excellent safety record, the Subaru comes with AWD as a standard feature with all models. So far so good, so let’s look at fuel efficiency …with several models to choose from, the most popular 2.5i is able to achieve an average of 19 city/27 highway, which is, unfortunately, not that great. But with great cargo space, full-time AWD, and a sticker price around $23,000, the Outback is still a contender, although its fuel-efficiency rating is only marginally better than the Pilot I am driving right now.
6) Toyota Highlander AWD Hybrid
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the only SUV I have found so far that seats seven, while still being able to compete with the smaller SUV cross-overs for overall fuel-efficiency. With 27 mpg city/25 highway, the Highlander is starting to look pretty good. Starting at just under $26,000, the Highlander Hybrid is less expensive than the Pilot and certainly would leave less of a carbon footprint. We may have a winner!
As I still have six months to make a decision, I am going to wait and see if any car companies will market a yet-unnamed SUV that is both roomy and has a fuel rating that can blow away the competition. If not, then I will have to weigh all of the options that are available at the time and decide which criteria are the most important….stay tuned!
msn.com autos’ entire top ten list of Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs can be found at:
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=1091150
Amazon Starts Partnership with EPEAT
The Green Electronics Council announced that Amazon will now be partnering with with its green electronics certification EPEAT. After substantial growth during the 2009 year, this could solidfy EPEAT as one of the world’s top green electronics rating tool.
Amazon has already tagged more than 800 of their electronic products with one of EPEAT’s three ratings: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Each rating is now a search filter within their electronics section to help make it easy to find which products contain their rating.
As EPEAT continues to grow, it will be interesting to see the impact that it could have on manufacturers.
