Meet the Top 10 Low Carbon Footprint Vehicles of 2009

People and fleets that use vehicles with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per mile are rewarded with making our future a little better and with their fuel costs being much lower. The following cars, wagons, and SUVs have the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per mile of any vehicles available for volume commercial sales in the United States in 2009. All can achieve freeway speed. In many cases, they also have the best fuel economy. Most are already selling in quantity.

From California to Capitol Hill to Copenhagen, plans and incentives are being created for a cap-and-trade of emissions. Passenger vehicles can get up to a $7,500 per vehicle tax break for being zero emission. The rewards for buying and selling low emission vehicles will increase. The incentives will be paid for, in part, by higher costs for gas guzzlers.

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions are becoming a priority with fleet managers and millions of conscientious consumers. These Clean Fleet Top 10 Low Carbon Footprint Passenger Vehicles are listed from lowest to highest in carbon footprint.

1. Toyota (TM) Prius
2. Honda (HMC) Civic Hybrid
3. Honda Insight
4. Ford (F) Fusion Hybrid
5. smart fourtwo
6. Nissan (NSANY) Altima Hybrid
7. Honda Civic CNG
8. Toyota Camry Hybrid
9. Ford Escape Hybrid
10. Mini Cooper and Clubman

This list was developed by first searching the U.S. EPA and DOE’s valuable fueleconomy.gov, with its extensive search capabilities. The EPA combined miles per gallon rating is based on 45% highway and 55% city driving. The carbon footprint is carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) based on 15,000 miles of driving, using the GREET 1.7 model.

Fleets are also early adopters of vehicles with even less emissions including electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell, plug-in hybrid conversions, and diesel hybrid concept cars. Because these are not offered for commercial volume sale, they are not part of this 2009 list. Electric and alt-fuel vehicles are also covered in detail at Clean Fleet Report.

The Toyota Prius continues to lead the four-door sedan field in fuel economy and lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. This perennial favorite midsize is lowest on the list with 4 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for the EPA annual driving cycle; combined fuel economy is 46 mpg. Yes, 4 tons of CO2e is a lot; but many cars, light trucks, and SUVs create three times that emission. At the North American International Auto Show, Toyota announced the 2010 Prius with an expected 50 mpg combined and an optional solar roof option to power accessories and thereby boost mileage.

The Honda Civic Hybrid compact rates at 4.4 tons of CO2e for the EPA annual driving cycle and a combined 42 mpg.

The new Honda Insight four-door sedan with an Ecological Drive Assist System is priced for thousands less than the Prius. The Insight will deliver 41 mpg combined, with annual emissions of about 4.5 tons of CO2e.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid midsized sedan has an EPA certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Clean Fleet Report makes an unofficial estimate that emissions will be 4.8 tons of CO2e for the EPA annual driving cycle. The Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid may travel up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode. The Advanced Intake Variable Cam Timing allows the Fusion and Milan hybrids to more seamlessly transition between gas and electric modes.

Complete Report

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Comments

[tplinston:]

I drive a BWM diesel blue series. Luxuary car and to date I have average 59mpg on a mix of London and country roads.

This list features some of the least inspiring boxes on wheels I have ever seen. Cars are not brought just on performance you have to capture the imagination. Mass up take will require more than discounts and green fluffy hugs. Lets demand some style. Otherwise you are better off sticking to a high efficient diesel car for now. Honorable mention to the mini of course, an icon.

Mar 26 09:16 AM

[edstile:]

Unfortunately, we Americans are not in tune with diesel engines as are Europeans, seeing them as ugly polluters, thanks mainly to liberal tree hugger propaganda.

I owned a VW Rabbit 30 years ago that got 50 miles per gallon. Now, three decades later, I'm required to drive a gasoline engine vehicle that gets less than half that. What progress!!!



On Mar 26 09:16 AM tplinston wrote:

> I drive a BWM diesel blue series. Luxuary car and to date I have
> average 59mpg on a mix of London and country roads.
>
> This list features some of the least inspiring boxes on wheels I
> have ever seen. Cars are not brought just on performance you have
> to capture the imagination. Mass up take will require more than discounts
> and green fluffy hugs. Lets demand some style. Otherwise you are
> better off sticking to a high efficient diesel car for now. Honorable
> mention to the mini of course, an icon.

Mar 26 09:36 AM

[SubsidyEye:]

T P Linston, is that 59 miles per Imperial gallon?

Mar 26 09:44 AM

[tallguy:]

Good posts, food for thought, the Ford fiesta diesel has a lower carbon footprint than the Prius, gets 63+ mpg now, and is not available here in the wonderful USA, yet exceeds emission standards for all 50 states.

Can anyone offer a clue as to why?

Mar 26 10:26 AM

[Joseph Webb:]

I have been driving my 97 Toyota camry for 6 yrs now and i still get better gas mileage then most newer cars today, which is about 35 on the hwy. I just don't understand Americans we want cleaner air but don't want to give up on the gas......that's the gov for you.

Mar 26 10:26 AM

[Alan Young:]

The "Carbon Footprint" of a vehicle isn't just its fuel use and emissions. Car manufacturing has a large carbon footprint--have you taken that into account at all?

Usually, the lowest carbon footprint is achieved by continuing to drive the old clunker instead of buying a new car, with all its manufacturing costs.

Mar 26 10:55 AM

[maz:]

Good points about Diesel cars - particularly in Europe - 59 mpg (imperial)?? - which I must say sounds fantastical for any BMW on the roads you mention unless you have a sewing machine engine! -

Also a big key here is the the split of highway/city driving. Many living in urban areas doing the morning/afternoon commute in traffic everyday can have up to 80% city driving & in those circumstances the hybrid will kill any gas/diesel car on mpg.

Nearly all of the taxis Vancouver, Canada are switching to Prius for precisely this reason.

Mar 26 11:06 AM

[Leser:]

Driving a diesel in the North may not always be a satisfactory experience. Know the effectiveness of a diesel during the rogours of winter in one's region prior to purchasing a vehicle.

Mar 26 02:38 PM

[quick:]

Call me crazy, but I'm still waiting for that Chevy Volt to come out! The thought of driving 40 miles without using a drop of gas really intrigues me! After that I hope to put some solar panels up on my roof and I'll basically be driving that car for free!

I just hope GM doesn't go under before they mass produce this car.

Mar 26 05:23 PM

[User 375242:]

i rented a ford fiesta diesel in Italy two years ago .I fuel gauge never moved , i started tapping it to see if it was hung up . Ford needs to bring this car to the USA .

frank

Mar 26 05:46 PM

[lefty37:]

You'll probably love the Volt, until you have to replace the batteries

Mar 27 06:14 AM

[bigmoney:]

where i live, the 8000 pound diesel burning pickup truck, with Crew Cab, 4x4, leather seats is a standard suburban status symbol. I think the federal government subsidizes many if not most of these, as they are very expensive to purchase new, maybe $45k. People probably setup some bogus business, and then buy a "work truck". Moreover there are pollution loop holes, so that CAFE standards only apply to cars and not "work vehicles". Some of these folks may use the truck to haul around their boats, or even an RV, but generally speaking, they are just used to move big items from big box retail to their suburban homes.

Mar 29 11:09 PM

[John Addison:]

Good comments. Yes, Europe is ahead of the United States. This Top 10 article only deals with vehicles available in the United States with 2009 sales likely to exceed 1,000 cars. The availability in the U.S. of diesels like the Ford Fiesta would change this list. Ford will probably bring the Fiesta to the U.S. as a 1.6L gasoline due to the high cost and low current sales of diesels in the U.S. In 2011, this list will also be different as EVs and plug-in hybrids reach commercial volume.
As the article states, GHG are based on GREET 1.7 which includes source-wheels-emissions. Adding the emissions from manufacturing typically adds about 10 percent to total lifecycle emissions. See the GREET 2.7 Model for details at www.transportation.anl.../

Apr 27 11:31 AM