- All State Parks in Big Sur Area Closed Due to Highway 1 Road Slip Out - 04/01/2024
- Giveaway Alert - 03/20/2024
- Climbing Bolt Prohibition in National Parks - 03/19/2024
Which are the most fuel-efficient hybrid and/or all-electric cars available to consumers today (just the affordable ones, please!)?
— Jack Madison, Chicago, IL
Given increased environmental awareness, high gas prices and a continually slumping economy, itโs no wonder that more fuel efficient cars are all the rage these days. The best deal going may be Hondaโs hybrid, the 42 miles-per-gallon (MPG) Insight ($18,350). Meanwhile, the newest version of Toyotaโs flagship hybrid, the Prius ($23,015), garners an impressive 50 MPG. Other solid choices include Toyotaโs 41-MPG Camry hybrid ($25,900), Fordโs 39-MPG Fusion hybrid ($28,700), Lexusโ 42-MPG CT 200h ($29,120) and Lincolnโs 39-MPG MKZ Hybrid ($34,755).
For even greater efficiency and lower sticker prices, consider going electric, whereby you can charge your vehicle at ordinary electric outlets at home or work. Mitsubishiโs new MiEV ($29,125) electric is the most fuel efficient car available to U.S. consumers in the 2012 model year, achieving 112 โMPG-equivalentโ (the U.S. Environment Protection Agencyโs rating for electric vehicles that swaps in electricity for gas in its calculations) and a 62 mile range per full chargeโnot bad considering four adults can fit fairly comfortably inside. Another option is Smartโs FourTwo Electric ($28,752), a two-seater with an 87 MPG-equivalent. And Nissanโs all-electric Leaf ($35,200) achieves 99 MPG efficiency for a range up to 100 miles.
So-called โplug-inโ hybrids also allow drivers to charge their vehiclesโ electric batteries via common power outlets, but also can use gasoline as needed for a longer range. Though pricey at $39,145, the Chevy Volt may save you money in the long run because it gets a whopping 94 MPG-equivalent in its preferred all-electric mode. An onboard gas generator produces more electricity as the vehicle is driven, extending the carโs range with a full tank of gas to some 375 miles. Toyota released a plug-in version of its Prius ($32,760) this year, as well. It gets 87 MPG in electric mode (but this will only get you 15 miles without gas assistance) and a respectable 49 MPG in regular hybrid mode.
Another factor to consider when deciding which of these new uber-efficient vehicles may be right for you is the availability of additional incentives. Buyers of a new Volt, MiEV, FourTwo Electric or Leaf, for example, can cash in on a federal tax credit of $7,500โand some states may offer additional incentivesโbringing the overall cost of these cars down to within the range of similarly sized traditional car models. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) posts all of the relevant federal tax incentives online at its Fuel Efficient Vehicle Tax Information Center website. For state-by-state incentives, check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE), a free online resources maintained by the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).
Of course, consumers donโt have to go hybrid or electric to enjoy improved fuel efficiency these days. Scionโs iQ ($15,265) and Hondaโs CR-Z ($19,545) each get 37 MPG out of sporty little gas-powered internal combustion engines. Kia, Toyota, Chevrolet, Hyundia and Nissan also make smaller traditional cars that get a respectable 33-34 MPG for sticker prices under $15,000.
CONTACTS: DOEโs Fuel Efficient Vehicle Tax Information Center, www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxcenter.shtml; DSIRE, www.dsireusa.org; Edmundsโ โDecoding Electric Car MPG,โ www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/decoding-electric-car-mpg.html.
EarthTalkยฎ is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E – The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.