The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently issued rankings for green vehicles currently sold in the United States. This 14th annual report found that the Mitsubishi i-MiEV was the greenest vehicle with a miles per gallon equivalent of 112 MPG. Analysts with ACEEE noted that the i-MiEV crushed the competition even when emissions produced during electrical generation were considered. This all-electric vehicle achieved a Green Score of 58 followed by the Honda Civic Natural Gas at 55. The three-point differential between the i-MiEV and Civic Natural Gas was the largest between two vehicles on the list.
The Green Score from ACEEE produces a score based on assessment of vehicle emissions, fuel mileage and emissions created during production. ACEEE dug deeper using new Green Book factors like emissions created during fuel extraction and vehicle weight. The remainder of the list includes the Nissan LEAF (55), Toyota Prius (54) and the Honda Insight (53). Scion’s IQ compact was a newcomer to the list with a Green Score of 52. ACEEE did not rank new hybrid entries by Hyundai, Infiniti and Kia on the 2012 list based on their meager fuel economy improvements.
ACEEE also produced a Meanest list that highlighted gas-guzzling vehicles that contrasted starkly with vehicles like the i-MiEV. This list included cargo vans like the G3500 Express and the G3500 Savana produced by General Motors. Additional entrants like the Ford E-350 Wagon and the Bugatti Veyron show diversity in the market’s most fuel inefficient vehicles. The Meanest list has changed over the past five years with high-end European sports cars replaced by heavier models produced in the United States.
Greenercars.org by Consumer Reports offers a Greener Choices list that differs significantly from ACEEE’s list. This list focused on more cost-friendly options for consumers who cannot afford hybrids and electric vehicles. Consumer Reports listed vehicles like the Chevy Sonic-5, the Hyundai Sonata and the GMC Canyon that are traditional vehicles with modest fuel economy ratings. The disparity between ACEEE and Consumer Reports reflects the continued division amongst consumers. Extensive research over the past five years shows that consumers want lower fuel consumption but are concerned about upfront costs of green vehicles.
