Numerous strides have been made over the past few years to make our vehicles more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Because the traditional cars that we drive run on the energy from burned fossil fuels, namely gasoline, every time we drive somewhere, we are contributing to the hazardous greenhouse gases that are polluting our atmosphere. Since we do a lot of driving every day, this problem can multiply very quickly, and we need a solution to this problem. That is why car companies are striving toward making energy efficient and environmentally friendly cars that not only perform well, but are economical as well. Here are some of the top environmentally friendly cars made today.
Chevrolet Volt: The Chevy Volt is one of the most eco-friendly and fuel efficient cars on the road today. The annual fee for this electric car is only $650, and it has a gas mile equivalent of 95 in the city and 93 on the highway. Running purely on electricity, the mileage for this vehicle is 25 to 50 miles, and it only takes 4 hours to charge (on 240 volts). The annual cost for a fuel recharge is $1.55. Now that’s a deal compared to the price of gasoline these days.
source: toyota.com
Toyota Prius C: The Prius C is one of the least expensive eco-friendly cars on the market. The base price for this vehicle is $19,710. At 53 mpg, it has the highest rated city mpg for any car without a plug. This nimble hatchback hybrid is great for running errands in the city, and has an annual fuel cost of $1,150.
Nissan Leaf: The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric, compact hatchback with a gas mileage equivalent of 103 in the city and 92 on the highway. While the up front cost of the car is rather expensive at $28,550 after the federal tax credit, the annual fuel cost is only $600. The range of this car is 62 to 138 miles, which is a lot of mile compared to other electric vehicles, and makes up for the long charging time of 7 hours on 240 volts (20 hours on 120 volts).
Volkswagen Passat TDI: This diesel sedan is the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid sedan on the market. It was named the 2012 car of the year by Motor Trend, and the annual fuel cost is only $1,800. It is a bit pricey at $27,895, but it has the traditional durability of a diesel vehicle.
Mitsubishi i: This compact hatchback runs completely on electricity, and has a driving range of 62 miles. It has the greatest gas mileage equivalent at 126 in the city and 99 on the highway. The annual fuel cost is only $550. Of all the completely electric cars available, this one is the most affordable at $22,475 after the federal tax credit. The average cost for a full tank of energy is $1.92, which only adds to its affordability.