The World Green Car category is a recent addition to the annual World Car Of The Year Awards. The car review is underway with the first round of voting to take place on January 6-16, 2009 for the Top Ten World Cars and the World Performance Car finalists.
The World Green Car category's first round is February 23–27, 2009.The top three from each group is announced on March 9th, 2009. Then, on April 9th, 2009 the final winners from each group are made public. It is a prestigious award and one that helps greatly in promoting the final winner in terms of car sales. The World Green Car category's shortlist of eligible vehicles for 2009 includes:
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI: a high-tech diesel that is 20% more fuel efficient than its gas equivalent and meets the ULEV-II emission standard.
BMW 335d Blue Performance: a high-tech diesel, 0-60mph (0-100kph) in 6 seconds, with 23mpg (city) and 36mpg (highway), 9.1km/liter and 14.3km/liter.
Chevrolet Tahoe / GMC Yukon Hybrid: two-mode hybrid with cylinder deactivation technology 300-volt 60-kilowatt electric motor; and a 6-liter 332-horsepower V-8 engine which can operate as a V-4, 14mpg/19mpg, 5.6/liter and 7.5km/liter.
Citroën C1: 1.0 L 3-cylinder engine, 43.4 mpg (17.2km/liter) mixed driving. A 1.4 liter 4-cylinder diesel 48.8 mpg (19.3km/liter).
Fiat Palio Weekend Electric: all electric, ZEV, plug-in with nickel hydride batteries, 75mile (120km) range with 20hp electric motor, 3 hour recharge cycle.
Fiat Siena Tetrafuel: 1.4 liter that can use moisturized alcohol, Brazilian gasoline (25 percent alcohol), pure gasoline and natural gas in its standard fuel tank and 6.5 cubic meters of natural gas in pressurized tanks. An onboard computer decides which fuel to use, the natural gas is used mostly as it is the most economical but the car switches to liquid fuel when more torque is required.
Honda FCX Clarity: a fuel cell powered ZEV using hydrogen. It has an equivalent fuel consumption of 78mpg (30.9km/liter) that uses 1kg of hydrogen for every ‘gasoline’ gallon (3.8 liters) equivalent.
Mazda Hydrogen Rotary RX8: burns hydrogen instead of gasoline, uses regenerative braking and a motor driven turbo-charger.
Mercedes-Benz ML/R/GL 320 BlueTEC: uses an urea injection diesel engine to reduce nitrous oxide levels, 23mpg (city)/ 32mpg (highway), 9.1km/liter and 12.7km/liter.
MINI Cooper D: 1.6 liter 108bhp diesel engine, 42mpg (city), 63.3mpg (urban), 16.6km/liter and 25.1km/liter.
MINI E: 150kw asynchronous 220Nm (162 ft-lbs) motor, 0-62mph (0-100km) in 8.5 seconds and top speed of 95mph, 35kWh battery, ZEV, 150miles (240kms) range.
Mitsibishi iMiEV: electric drive ZEV, 112 mph, 330-volt lithium-ion batteries, 47kW permanent-magnet electric motor, with an 80mile (128km) range.
Nissan X-Trail 20 GT: 2.0 liter diesel, 171 hp with self repairing minor paint scratch technology.
Smart ED: electric drive Smart car, 62mph (0-30mph in 6.5 seconds), 72 mile (115km) range, Smart claims it has a 300 mpg (118.9km/liter) equivalent consumption – that amounts to a saving of up to 80% compared to the Smart ForTwo.
Subaru Legacy/Outback PZEV: manufactured in a Subaru plant that recycles 99.3% of unused manufacturing material. The car uses a charcoal canister in the air intake to absorb unburned fuel, its catalytic converter has a finer mesh and more catalyst material than a regular one. It warms up the exhaust quickly to warm the catalyst as well.
Tesla Electric Roadster: 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 3.9 sec., with a 244 miles (393 km) range.
Toyota iQ: 1.5 liter gas engine, or possibly a 3 cylinder hybrid or diesel.
Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe: 53.8mpg (22.7km/liter) (C30), low 115g/km emissions. A host of aerodynamic improvements, and lower rolling friction.
Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe: 55mpg (23.2km/liter), low 118g/km emissions. A host of aerodynamic improvements, and lower rolling friction.
Volvo S80 2.5 FT (Flexifuel): 23.0mpg (9.8km/liter) combined city/highway based on European driving cycles and can use E85 bioethanol or 95-octane unleaded petrol. When running on E85 the consumption is 30-40% higher due to the lower energy content of E85 versus regular gas.
Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe: 55mpg (23.2km/liter), low 120g/km emissions. A host of aerodynamic improvements, and lower rolling friction.
Volvo V70 2.5 FT (Flexifuel): 23.0mpg (9.9km/liter) combined city/highway based on European driving cycles and can use E85 bioethanol or 95-octane unleaded petrol. When running on E85 the consumption is 30-40% higher due to the lower energy content of E85 versus regular gas.
It is interesting to see purely electric vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles make it onto the list of best green vehicles. It is a clear indication that the auto industry is undergoing a green revolution, starting slowly but hopefully picking up the pace as technology becomes mature and the market-place start demanding more fuel-efficient and lower emission vehicles.
References
All mileage figures are in US gallons.
ULEV II: Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle.
SULEV II: Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle.
PZEV: Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle.
ZEV: Zero Emissions Vehicle.
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SHELLY KANE
written by Z4 , September 04, 2009