SAVE MONEY ON GAS & HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
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Time for a new car or truck? Make fuel efficiency a priority. These sites list the most efficient cars by year and class:
USA - FuelEconomy.Gov
UK - VCA Fuel Consumption & Emissions Database
Don't be swayed by auto ads or peer pressure. Save money by choosing a vehicle that meets your needs rather than exceeding them. For example, 2004's most efficient large SUV gets 15 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway. Compare that to the most efficient midsize vehicle, which gets 60 MPG in the city and 51 MPG on the highway!
You'll notice that many of the most efficient vehicles are "hybrids", which means that they combine electric and combustion technologies. You can compare hybrids head-to-head here. Toyota Prius owners have the added advantage of being able to convert their vehicles to plug-in hybrids, meaning that they can go further without using any gas at all.
Zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) are the best transportation option for the environment. The only practical ZEVs currently available to the public are electric vehicles (EVs). Although most EVs use electricity generated by polluting power plants, they still reduce overall emissions by up to 90% when compared to internal combustion engines (ICEs), and cost less to maintain.
EVs come in two flavors... "Conversions", which put electric components into a "donor" vehicle's body, and production vehicles built from the ground up to be an EV. We'll focus on vehicles that can drive at highway speeds for a reasonable distance. Find your region and country below for manufacturers:
Production & Conversion EVs:
Asia:
- TianJin QingYuan Electric Vehicle Company (China)
- Reva (India)
Australia:
- BEV Electron (conversion)
- Electric Vehicle Conversions of Australia
Europe:
- Ariana-EV
- AVT (conversions)
- Ecolori Enermove
- e-max 190L
- KAP
- NICE e500
- Twike
North America:
- Classic Electrics (conversions)
- Commuter Cars Tango
- Electric Motorsport GPR-S
- Electro Automotive (conversions)
- Grassroots EVs (conversions)
- Hybrid Technologies
- Meyers Motors
- Phoenix Motorcars
- Revolt (conversions)
- Tesla Motors
- Voltsmobile (conversions)
- Webster EV Electron (conversion)
- World Class Exotics (conversions)
EV Basics For Buyers:
- RANGE - The distance you can drive before needing to recharge. Figure out how many miles you drive a day to learn what is and isn't adequate.
- TOP SPEED - Ask how long this speed can be maintained.
- 0-60 MPH TIME - Look for 15 seconds or less.
- STANDARD & RAPID RECHARGE TIMES - How long before you can drive again?
- PLUG TYPE - Do you have a place to plug it in?
- BATTERY TYPE - Lead acid batteries are inexpensive & common in conversions. However, other types of batteries like Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium Ion (Li-ion) can double or triple your range. Modifications may need to be done before changing battery type.
- BATTERY LIFE - How long will the current batteries last?
- BATTERY COST - How much to replace the battery pack? Remember that EVs cost less to maintain than standard vehicles, so look at the overall maintenance cost when comparing the two.
- AC OR DC? - There is debate as to which is better, but AC seems to be winning. Most conversions use DC, due to cost and availability.
Not all of us can afford a new car. Luckily, there are places to find used environmentally-friendly vehicles:
Europe:
North America:Before you plunk down your cash, be sure to read 'So, You Want to Buy An Electric Vehicle?'.
Another option is to convert a used car or truck into a hybrid, electric or alternative fuel vehicle. Many regions have businesses or hobbyist groups that can help you troubleshoot and complete your project. The Electric Vehicle Discussion List is an excellent online resource, and can help steer you in the right direction. See our Eco-Transportation page for more.
NEXT: Using Somebody Else's Vehicle (It's not what you think!)
