2007-06-10 03:59:02 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Global Warming
Answer: Toyota Prius (2007).
Other users have made statements that are simple FALSE! One mentioned that Global Warming is occuring (this is Very True), and went on to say that "There is NOTHING that you can do that will stop it or that will make it worse."
THIS IS FALSE....Dogzilla has lost creditability!
As of now it is clear that Global Warming is occuring. But, we can still prevent how far it will progress. If we continue to create CO2, we will continue to make the situation worse. This is now a well accepted fact--backed up by thousands of scientific research articles.
Watch out for this: a lot of people thing that if you believe in Global Warming, it means that you can't believe in god.....There is no relation to God and Global Warming.
Best of Luck!
2007-06-10 04:12:43 · answer #1 · answered by grahammcp 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Let's forget GW for the moment and think of what car is best for the environment.
Much of that will depend on your needs.
If you are primarily an urban/suburban commuter, I'll assume that you don't have access to adequate public transportation. I'll also assume that you can't walk or ride a bike, or that you can't ride a scooter or motorcycle. All of these usually are better than most of the efficient, low-emission cars available. I'd go for the Prius with an electric conversion or the Honda NGV Civic. The Prius is already a great car as a hybrid, but you can convert the electrical system to charge it at home as well as through the combustion engine. As long as you're driving it at slower city speeds, you'll be using all electricity. And because you never have to go long distances, you don't have to worry about running the batteries too far down before you get home - either way, you always have the gas-engine to fall back on. This all assumes that you have clean electricity available.
The other good urban commuter is the NGV which ha EXTREMELY clean emissions. But you'll not find many places to fill up - certainly gambling if you want to take a trip of any distance. If you have natural gas in your home, you can buy your own filling station for your garage, and never have to stop anywhere to "fuel up". If you have NG in your home, but your electricity comes from a coal-fired plant, then the NGV may be your car.
If you take longer trips, then NGV and electrics are not convenient, and even the hybrids are not as cost effective. Fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel engined cars can get just as high of mileage as hybrids when you are talking highway miles.
Hope I'm not muddying the waters for you. I have a Civic hybrid, a motorcycle, and a regular Civic - the least of which gets 40 mpg combined city/hwy. I'll use whichever vehicle is best for the driving situation.
2007-06-10 11:29:15 · answer #2 · answered by 3DM 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The arguement that the Toyota Prius is the best car is based SOLELY on the MPG the car gets. It ignores the other carbon dioxide that must be produced to keep the car running.
My suggestion would be to get a small Volkswagon with a turbo diesel engine. (About a 1.5L I think) It will get approximately the same gas mileage in REAL driving conditions. And it doesn't require batteries that have to be changed out.
Those batteries require HUGE amounts of energy to be manufactured and recycled, but just looking at MPG ignores that.
Buy the Prius if you want and think you are being good for the planet, or buy a small turbo diesel and KNOW you are being good for the planet. And if you run that TDI on bio-diesel (the alternative fuel we are ignoring in the US) then you have no actual effect on the greenhouse effect according to the greenies themselves.
The fact is, when you consider the entire environmental impact of the Prius, you'd be better off buying a Hummer.
2007-06-10 12:56:22 · answer #3 · answered by Scott L 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Right now, electric, in the future probably hydrogen.
Check out the Tesla Roadster if you want inspiration for why driving electric is wicked. http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php
But if you cannot afford that, which at it's price, most of us can't, the next best thing is a hybrid. I've heard there's even hybrids now that you can plug in, that're basically an electric car with gas assist.
2007-06-10 13:41:00 · answer #4 · answered by Luis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get a honking huge SUV and encourage your friends to do the same. If you do, maybe Al Gore & Co. will realize their cause is hopeless.
If people in America had brains, their cause would have been abandoned long ago.
2007-06-10 15:39:49 · answer #5 · answered by punker_rocker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Global warming can not be prevented. If you're looking for the most fuel efficient car choose the 2007 Toyota Prius.
2007-06-10 11:05:16 · answer #6 · answered by Mark 2 · 1⤊ 5⤋
that would be either no car, or an electric car. since both suggestions arent that practical i would suggest to you a hybrid gas electric car that drastically reduces emissions, increases performance, has lower maintainance than a conventional car and is overall a better environmental pick.
2007-06-10 14:50:54 · answer #7 · answered by thesmartalex 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'd say a Hum V or an 18 wheeled Mack truck which runs on regular gas.
2007-06-10 11:08:05 · answer #8 · answered by Sara 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Global warming is happening. There is NOTHING that you can do that will stop it or that will make it worse. Get use to it.
2007-06-10 11:02:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
3DM has it right. Buy one that meets your real needs, not for status or to "feel good".
If everyone just did that we'd be a whole lot better off.
Hybrids are good, if you can afford one.
2007-06-10 11:58:02 · answer #10 · answered by Bob 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋