What to Look for in a Green Car

Lexus CT200h. Photo courtesy of Lexus.

Many car shoppers are looking for a greener car than the one they currently drive. For some it's about feeling like they are making a difference when it comes to the environment, while for others the desire for a green car is about saving money on fuel and other costs related to car ownership. Some car shoppers are concerned about dependence on foreign oil and its socio-political ramifications. There is also the benefit of various government purchasing incentives for certain types of vehicles that draw in buyers. Whatever your personal reason for purchasing a green vehicle, there are certain things you need to look for when evaluating your options.

Why You Should Buy a Diesel Car

2015 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel. Image courtesy of GM.

Diesel cars have gained a bad rap in the United States. When most Americans hear the term “diesel powered” they think of large trucks, machinery or heavy duty pickup trucks with plumes of smoke billowing out of their exhaust pipes. They also automatically assume diesels are slow and hard to find fuel for. Recent trends predict a sudden resurgence of diesel-powered passenger vehicles in the US. In fact, you can easily find a fair amount of pre-owned cars that are diesels.

Why All the Hate for Fuel Cell Vehicles?

Honda FCV Concept. Photo courtesy of Honda.

There has been considerable push-back against fuel cell vehicles recently, leading some automakers that are pushing the technology to step up their efforts to educate the public about its benefits. One of the funniest things about the efforts being made against fuel cell vehicles is that they are coming from electric vehicle proponents.

Gas is Getting Cheap, and That's Bad

Photo by Markus Spiske

Everyone's getting excited that gas prices are dropping, because everyone knows that's just a good thing, right? Well, sometimes the truth is counter-intuitive and it sounds like that's the case with gas prices right now.

Surprise! The 2016 Chevy Volt Will Come with a Bigger Engine

Teaser image of the 2016 Volt. Image courtesy of GM.

One of the unique features of the Chevy Volt is that it uses a hybrid powertrain setup, although it's not like what you might be thinking. Instead of being able to drive using just the electric motor, the gasoline engine, or a combination of the two, the Volt is only propelled forward by the electric motor. The gasoline engine is really just a generator that replenishes the battery when it is depleted.

Fuel Cell Technology Advances Even Further!

The 2012 Honda FCX. Image Courtesy of Honda.

Anyone who has enough common sense can see that running cars on fossil fuels is a practice that needs to be phased out. The big debate that's raging in the automotive industry right now is what's the best way to wean us off our use of fossil fuels. There are people who tout biodiesel as a great alternative, mostly because the tech is pretty well-developed and could be implemented quickly. A growing faction of the auto industry is putting their weight behind electric cars, especially with the recent success of the Tesla Model S.

EV Smart Fortwos Start Rolling!

Daimler's smallest production car--the smart fortwo--is now rolling out of the factory with a brand spanking new electric power train. As if the combustion versions of the fortwo are not fuel efficient enough, the new EV models promise even less environmental impact and greater fuel efficiency.

Perhaps most intriguing is that unlike some EVs, the electric fortwo promises a drive quality similar to combustion models. Daimler outfitted them with an electric motor that puts out 55 kilowatts and propels the car forward from 0 to 100 km/h at a respectable 4.8 seconds. While I doubt anyone is going to start racing fortwos of any kind (except for tuners--they modify Nissan Jukes for cryin' out loud) such performance should help drivers merge into urban traffic easily. The car also promises a range of 145 kilometers (that's 90 miles for those afraid of the metric system) in stop-and-go city traffic. Because of its small size, I think Daimler didn't count on anyone road-tripping in the fortwo.

Gone are the days that people viewed electric cars as only quirky and slow. The new crop of electrics are promising a more practical way to drive, all with no tailpipe emissions (the car doesn't even have a tailpipe).

How much will a new electric smart fortwo set you back? US pricing has not been announced yet, but in Europe a coupe model with a rental battery will cost 18,910 Euros, while owning the battery increases the price to 23,680 Euros.

Source: Daimler Corporation