I've been looking online trying to weigh up the specification differences on hybrid vehicles currently available.
Not knowing much about cars to begin with, it's not making much sense.
Any advice or insight would be helpful. Thanks.
2007-07-09 02:55:41 · 11 answers · asked by Feta Smurf 5 in Environment ➔ Alternative Fuel Vehicles
It's rather easy: the most fuel-efficient car has to be light-weight first of all. After that, the engine can make a massive difference. A Toyota Prius is an eco-friendly car in its class, but a smaller and lighter petrol car like a Citroen C1 is actually more eco-friendly.
That said, the term 'eco-friendly' is wrong, as this is a question on the least un-friendly vehicle. And if that is an objective.. Then mid-range cars have an edge over SUV's and luxury saloons, compact cars are better than mid-range cars, motorbikes have an edge over any car - trains are better than any of these - and if distances allow pushbikes are by far the friendliest option.
The real question is whether you want to make a statement around town, to make a difference in your purse, or whether you want to be really be environmentally friendly. the according choices: a Toyota Prius for the statement, a Honda CG125 for fuel efficiency or a Land Rover Akasha for the environment.
2007-07-09 20:24:31 · answer #1 · answered by McAtterie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There was just an article in my local newspaper that tackled this same question, regarding the Prius. It turns out that, to make this car, the parts have to be shipped overseas, worked on in as factory, then shipped back, worked on some more, etc. This releases a large deal of carbon dioxide into the air & causes a lot of environmental damage. The batteries also contain nickel, a nonrenewable resource. Mining the nickel causes a lot of overburden & greatly disturbs the local habitat. In the end, the article concluded that, in fact, the Prius had a larger ecological footprint than the cars it was supposedly better than. In reality, we're just exchanging one damaging thing for another. Note: This isn't true for all hybrids. Some use more sustainable methods. it depends on the make & model.
2016-05-17 17:07:47 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The two tops choices I've seen here are hybrid and diesel. Here are the two top rated choice from the two classes:
Hybrid
Toyota Prius
46MPG
4.0 tons of Greenhouse emissions a year
$24000ish sticker
Diesel
Mercedes E-320BLUETEK
26MPH
8.1 tons
$50,000ish sticker
If fact I could only find 2 cars that were diesel. The other 26 models were trucks, vans, and SUVs.
So I think the way to go for best overall enviromental friendly is hybrid.
2007-07-09 09:30:57 · answer #3 · answered by IamCount 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A Honda Insight, if you can find one, will give you 70 to 90 MPG and go about 1000 miles per visit to a gas station. It is a small 2 passenger car.
A Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, available in 4x4 and able to tow a trailer, will seat 5 with luggage space in the back. It will get you 30-40 MPG. This is the best MPG "truck" on the planet.
2007-07-09 12:15:12 · answer #4 · answered by GPSMAN 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A small diesel will deliver equivalent if not more MPG than a hybrid.
At the moment, hybrid technology still has a long way to go, although its development seems to be progressing at a rapid pace.
Maybe in as little as 10 years all new cars will be hybrid or fuel cell?
2007-07-09 03:04:55 · answer #5 · answered by Derick 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All that matters is MPG. Get the car that goes the most miles on a gallon of fuel. It doesn't even have to be hybrid. Some small diesel cars get mileage as good as a hybrid. And you could use bio diesel in them too.
2007-07-09 03:06:31 · answer #6 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Outside of obvious differences in gas mileage (check the window sticker) the environmental differences between them are too small to worry about.
This is easy, and you won't make a big mistake environmentally, even if you don't know that much about cars.
Consider your transportation needs, get the car that meets them with the best gas mileage, and you've done what you need to do.
2007-07-09 03:38:03 · answer #7 · answered by Bob 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
From experience, I would have to say that the 07 Toyota Prius is the most economically and ergonomically sound vehicle in the new car market. Its pretty cheap too.
2007-07-09 03:14:50 · answer #8 · answered by RU11 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Derick. There are several small deisel cars that are much better, and cost much less in Europe. I don't know if they would sell in the US because companies have tried there in the past, but the public would not buy them.
2007-07-09 07:14:13 · answer #9 · answered by GABY 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whichever one gets driven the least. They all emit CO2.
2007-07-09 14:26:13 · answer #10 · answered by A Toast For Trayvon 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋