Whats this? Americas Greenest cars?

[Newbiewar]

normally i wouldnt post this... but i find it ironic, that the news instead of stopping at the top 10 like they usually do. They extend it to the top 12, just so GM can have a couple in the showing.

Link to Article

These mainstream vehicles earned the best "green" scores from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

If you want to help the environment by driving the most environmentally positive or "greenest" vehicle, think small and think hybrid.

Three of the top five vehicles that rank as the greenest of the 2006 model year, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), are powered by hybrid drivetrains that combine a gasoline internal combustion engine with an electric motor for improved fuel economy. And every vehicle on the list of the top 12 mainstream vehicles that get good green grades is a small car.

A nonprofit organization, the ACEEE is dedicated to advancing energy efficiency. Each year the ACEEE publishes the Green Book, listing the Green Scores and environmental information about vehicles of the new model year. The ACEEE also releases lists of the 12 greenest and 12 meanest vehicles of the new model year, according to Green Book data.

The hybrid-powered Honda Insight moved up from last year's second-place finish to top the ACEEE Greenest Vehicles list. The two-seater—with a small gasoline engine as well as an electric motor under the hood—has a rated fuel economy of 57 mpg in the city and 56 mpg on the highway, when equipped with a continuously variable transmission. With the Insight's extremely clean emissions factored in, this small car earns a Green Score of 57.

The Green Score is a numeric value of a vehicle's environmental friendliness, as assigned by the ACEEE. The score is not based solely on fuel economy, but also incorporates tailpipe emissions and emissions of gases that cause global warming. The higher the Green Score, the more environmentally friendly the vehicle is overall, based on the ACEEE evaluation.

Also scoring 57 points for 2006 was last year's top vehicle, the natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX. The GX is not a hybrid, but operates on compressed natural gas (CNG). While it may not go as far on each gallon of fuel, its combination of high efficiency and near-zero emissions makes it the second-highest ranked vehicle for the environment.

Another gasoline-electric hybrid, the Toyota Prius comes in third with a total score of 55. Redesigned a few years ago, the Prius boasts extremely low emissions as well as impressive fuel economy—60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway.

"In the world of green vehicles, hybrids are still the team to beat, as they generally have better fuel economy and cleaner emissions than other models in their respective classes," stated principal vehicle analyst James Kliesch of the ACEEE. "Nonetheless, consumers should be aware that having 'hybrid' in the name doesn't necessarily mean the vehicle will be green."

The vehicles from domestic automakers that rank among the top 12 all come from General Motors. The Pontiac Vibe (twin of the Toyota Matrix), Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion all made the Greenest Vehicles list for 2006.

Greenest Vehicles of 2006 with Green Score

Honda Insight

57

Honda Civic GX

57

Toyota Prius

55

Honda Civic Hybrid

53

Toyota Corolla

46

Hyundai Accent

45

Kia Rio

45

Honda Civic

44

Mazda Mazda3

44

Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix

44

Chevrolet Cobalt

43

Saturn Ion

43

Source: ACEEE's Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks

Edited February 15, 2006 by Newbiewar

[Drew Dowdell]

The Civic GX really shouldn't get to be on the list since it's not a mainstream vehicle being powered by propane and all.

[Flybrian]

The Civic GX really shouldn't get to be on the list since it's not a mainstream vehicle being powered by propane and all.

Remember when some listings included the Honda FCX as one of the 'greenest' cars...all 142 of them?

[pow]

The Civic GX really shouldn't get to be on the list since it's not a mainstream vehicle being powered by propane and all.

Natural gas, actually... or is that the same thing?

[Newbiewar]

Natural gas, actually... or is that the same thing? 

natural gas is methane, not propane...

methane comes from waist areas or dumps... sewage areas...

to be basic natural gas is the reason farts light on fire... its a renewable source of energy... its similar to ethonal, but its a carbon compound that is already digested by the body, or is some sort of waist... dumps have methane vents so that they dont light on fire...

[Sixty8panther]

The Civic is listed three times because of a couple low-volume (relatively) editions? WTF?

Let's make a list of the most innovative trucks and give GM the top 7 spots: Silverado, Sierra, Avalanche, Escalade EXT, SSR, Canyon & Colorado.

[the_yellow_dart]

Cobalt/Ion is better than anemic Echo/Yaris? Surprising.

[Variance]

Cobalt/Ion is better than anemic Echo/Yaris? Surprising.

This list is for 2006 vehicles. The Yaris is a 2007.