Nice quippy little article rating the greeness of several overtly and not so overtly green vehicles.
Some highlights:
- Prius still rates highly (65mpg and low emissions).
- An SUV, the Land Rover Freelander, is also mentioned due to its outperforming its SUV brethren and the 45K carbon offset credits you get upon purchase.
- The BMW Mini Cooper D (available later this year) does well, due to its regenerative braking system, Start/Stop technology and engineering (gets an estimated 72mpg)
- An interesting factoid: the Jeep Wrangler, though quite an emissions hog, beats the Prius on the ‘Dust to Dust’ emissions standard — due to its long lifespan, ease of manufacture and recycling. Though the author questions the criteria used to measure those attributes. hmmm
Top Ten Green Cars – motortorque @ askaprice.com
author: Robin Brown
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I have my doubts about that CNW report, as do many people, as the figures just don’t seem to stand up. I’d recommend that anyone has a good look at the claims of manufacturers about green cars, and always treats ‘research’ with a pinch of salt.
Anyway, the link to the full artilce is here is anyone wants to read it:
http://www.askaprice.com/torque-article.asp?article=Top_Ten_%B4Green%B4_Cars&item=3256
I agree that auto manufacturer marketing claims should alway be viewed speculatively. Thanks for pointing out the bad link.
According to this article the Prius doesn’t do very well at all in the ‘dust to dust’ test:
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/editorial/print_item.asp?NewsID=188
Again, I think that’s something that has to critically evaluated. That article again cites the CNW report which is held widely to be deeply flawed.
Other dust-to-dust tests put the carbon footprint of a car at between 70-80% fuel with the rest made up from manufacture and recycling.
The other point about the SOX poisoning around the nickel factory has also been rather debunked – the pollution goes back to 30 years previously and the plant in question has been praised for its efforts.
Again, it pays to be scpetical of the claims of manufacturers, but it also pays to treat reports attacking such cars – especially when there are so many vested interests.
Anyway, I’d better get on and do some work!