Clean Living: The ‘Greenest’ Cars For 2018
You don’t necessarily have to choose a cramped and spiritless econobox car to own a more environmentally benign mode of transportation these days. In fact, many of the dozen “greenest” vehicles for 2018, as compiled by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in Washington, D.C., are both stylish to look at and can be downright entertaining to drive, including models from Tesla, BMW, and (albeit a distant step removed) Mercedes-Benz.
For 2018, half of the top 12 models in this regard are full-electric vehicles, led for the second year in a row by the Hyundai Ioniq Electric hatchback that boasts an operating range of 124 miles on a charge. It receives a “Green Score” of 70, which is the highest recorded to date by the ACEEE. Also included are two new range-topping EVs, the Chevrolet Bolt EV (238 miles on a charge) and the Tesla Model 3 (310 miles with the optional long-range battery).
Be aware, however, that while higher-mileage and electric cars are inherently less damaging to the environment than conventional petrol-powered vehicles, all else being equal, the ACEEE considers more than just a model’s fuel economy when computing its Green Score. Also evaluated is a car or truck’s overall impact on the environment, including manufacturing disposal impact, and energy source. Updates to this year’s methodology include new estimates of emissions associated with electricity production, as well as updated emissions from the manufacturing and recycling of vehicles.
At that, we should add that the environmental impact of a given plug-in model will vary depending on where an owner lives. While an all-electric car generates zero tailpipe emissions, its overall impact depends greatly on the effect to which the local power source used to generate the electricity adversely affects the air, ground and/or water. That means EVs tend to fare best in states where renewable energy resources are prevalent, like California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest, and less so in central U.S. states like Colorado, Kansas and Missouri because of their greater dependence on fossil fuels to produce electricity.
Beyond the lists of 12 environmental winners and sinners, the ACEEE also provides car shoppers with lists of more environmentally friendly choices in all car classes. Non-hybrid or plug-in models with top score in their respective market segments for 2018 include the subcompact Toyota Yaris iA sedan, Honda CR-V and Mercedes-Benz GLA250 crossover SUVs, Chrysler Pacifica minivan, and the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon Diesel and Ford F-150 pickup trucks.
source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2018/02/01/the-greenest-cars-for-2018/#4011fa5525a9
