Which kind of automobiles would you consider as being good for the environment?

Question

Automobiles come in different shapes and sizes, but some are good for the outdoor environment and others are not. Which kind of automobiles would you consider as being good for the environment.

Answer 1

Studies have shown that the Prius is the best and small diesels (available in Europe but not the USA) are also very good:

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2733658020070727?feedType=RSS

If you're just looking at cars available in the US, then hybrids are the best. Check out the Yahoo Autos top 100 green cars list:

http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center-top100/

It's got the Prius and Civic hybrid tied for #1, but in reality the Prius is a bit better.

Answer 2

I've got to say, I don't consider any automobile "good" for the environment. Some are less harmful than others, but there aren't any that are out there helping out the environment by driving around. That being said, there are ever-increasing pressures to develop more fuel efficient cars, cars that are powered by alternative fuel sources (alternatives to petroleum), a bigger push for more mass transit and mass transit usage, and avoiding cars all together. I am def in favor of any cars that are helping to decrease the output of polluting gases into the atmosphere. I've seen the Smart Fortwo, a quite small two-passenger vehicle that "looks" greener than average, but I don't honestly know what the specs are for the car or even what sort of engine it's running. I like seeing more cars with 4-5 people actually in them, instead of SUV's that also have seats for 5 people in them...

Answer 3

If you have to use an automobile and public transportation is out of the question then The Tesla! You get efficiency and performance.

See there white paper - it is twice as efficient as the Prius Hybrid from the Well to the Wheel!
Prius Hybrid - 0.556 km/MJ
Electric Tesla Roadster 1.145 km/MJ


Save your pennies though $90K - they are building a factory in New Mexico which will bring the price down, but for know it is built in a Lotus factory.

Answer 4

Well--obviously most of us have to consider price as well as how good for the environment a car is. But--ignoring price (and assuming that a person would pick the bst one they could afford)--of the cars available (or soon to be available, in te case of the "Tessla") here's my list--from the best down:

Tessla electric (does not use hydrocarbon fuels in any form)
High mileage hybrid (40 mpg and over)
Medium miliage hybrid or high mileage conventional (26-40 mpg)
Medium (above the national average of 17 mpg up to 25 mpg) conventional.
Biofuel (ethanol, etc). You could rank this higer--it's not a bad option. But there are problems with the idea of implementing biofuels on a large scale that are likely to preclude its widespread use--I'm rating it low for that reason, not because of technical performance, which is good).

Answer 5

the automobiles that not generate too much smoke and harmful gases

change the petroleum to solar energy.. even the cost is high, we need to think about future and our next generation or find other sources

Answer 6

Greener Automobiles+Alternative Fuels/Energy:

http://green.yahoo.com/index.php?q=node/1570 (Saltwater as a potential fuel)

http://green.yahoo.com/index.php?q=node/1034

http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/gettingstarted/

http://www.schnews.org.uk/diyguide/howtomakebiodiesel.htm

http://www.bnl.gov/rideshare/reduction.asp

http://www.puregreencars.com/

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/120863/article.html

http://www.store.sundancesolar.com/

http://www.batteryvehiclesociety.org.uk/wordpress/

http://www.evuk.co.uk/

http://electric-cars-trucks.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEq-GbVcFTA

http://autos.msn.com/home/newsadvice.aspx

http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/;_ylc=X3oDMTE5cDF2bXZzBF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHN...

I have lots of info that I think you will find quite helpful and enlightening:

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Along with lots of environmental info, amazing environmental pictures and videos (These videos show the beauty of this world and what life can be like if people take the time to appreciate life’s true beauty).

Let us all strive for a greener/brighter future by helping to create a solid foundation for future generations to build upon, so we can hand them a beautiful world, filled with never ending awe and wonders!!

Where peoples differences and uniqueness are accepted, where we all live as one, helping one another so that we can all play our own mysteriously beautiful melodies in the never ending, awe inspiring, song of life :-)

I truly have faith in humanity and believe that someday our lives and the world in which we live will truly be transformed for the better.

Answer 7

None of them are "good" for the environment..but some are less bad for it: hybrids and small compact or sub-compact cars.

Answer 8

Total electric... but I don't believe Republicans, major auto manufactures, and oil corporations will allow it to happen.

Especially since "GM killed the electric car!!!"

Answer 9

Lowriders.

Answer 10

The ones that run on electricity instead of gas.