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The 2002 Green Guide
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| From hybrids to SULEVs, new car shoppers have a variety of environmentally |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:54:11 |
| Rating |
 155 ( 50 +32.25% ) | | Author | Brian Chee, editor |
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Description:
The Green Guide
Green Car Buyer's Guide
Though there are only two available hybrid vehicles, new car shoppers will soon have a variety of environmentally friendly vehicles from which to choose. Check out the top choices here.
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Hybrid Survey
It’s not price or tax rebates, but comparable makes and models that will motivate people to buy green...
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Blue Sky Motor News
Keep tabs on the auto manufacturers as they scramble to build earth-friendly vehicles.
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Green Help
Think CAFE is a place you go to eat lunch and drink SULEVs? Think again, and check out these terms, questions and Internet resources.
Read more... Top Ten Fuel Sippers
Click here to review ten cars sure to never run out of fuel...
Read more... Top Ten Gas Guzzlers
Click here to review ten cars sure to bust your gas budget...
Read more... What's Next:
We may never see a car that runs on bananas, but there are some pretty earth-friendly concepts in development.
Read more... --> Present and Future Technologies
Check out current low-emission, fuel-saving technologies being used, and take a look at what the future has in store...
Current...
Future... Fuel Saving Tips
Stuck with a gas-guzzling, monster SUV? Here are 12 easy tips to improve fuel economy.
Read more... Do Your Part
You can make a difference just by getting a tune-up and maintaining your vehicle.
Read more... Fuel Economy Guide
Download the government's 2002 Fuel Economy Guide.
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Available hybrids and low-emission vehicles
Honda Insight: 61/68 mpg
"The most fuel-efficient car in America" (according to the Environmental Protection Agency's annual report on automotive fuel economy) was also the first gasoline-electric hybrid sold in the United States. Just don't try to haul a sofa with it. The Insight isn't designed for much more than two adults and a bean bag, and while that may not seem too practical, practicality is not in its nature. Honda built the Insight for gas mileage, technology and clean skies. Of the available models, the Insight equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission earned an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 61 mpg city and 68 mpg highway. The Insight equipped with an advanced continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) earned a 57/56 mpg city/highway rating. The Insight is equipped with Honda's exclusive Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system that merges a lightweight 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline automobile engine with a thin and lightweight electric motor for improved efficiency and added power when needed. Since the electric motor acts as a generator during deceleration and braking to recharge the batteries, the Insight's battery pack never requires an external power source for recharging. Standard equipment includes anti-lock brakes, an AM/FM stereo with cassette, keyless entry, and a theft deterrent system. Automatic air conditioning is optional.
Nissan Sentra CA: 26/33 mpg
According to Nissan, the advanced Sentra CA model is the first gasoline-fueled vehicle to meet CARB Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standards (SULEV) with zero evaporative emissions and obtain partial zero emission credits. There are key technologies at work here: double-wall exhaust manifolds, a combustion control sensor, quicker catalyst warm-up (three 3-way catalysts are utilized in the emissions system), hydrocarbon trap catalysts, a non-return fuel system and use of a special electronically controlled swirl control valve that reduces hydrocarbon emissions in cold and warm start situations. The 1.8-liter DOHC Sentra CA engine produces 122 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 122 lb-ft of torque at 2,400 rpm. With a standard 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, its estimated fuel economy is 26 mpg City/33 mpg Highway. The CA looks and drives like any 2002 Nissan Sentra – distinguished only by special ‘CA’ badging on the trunk. The only concession the driver will notice is the vehicle’s need for low-sulfur gasoline, which is currently available only in California. There is no effect on performance or mileage if the CA is driven on higher sulfur content fuel, however SULEV emissions levels may not be attainable.
Honda Civic HX, GX: 36/44, 30/34 mpg
The Civic HX Coupe returns as the fuel-efficient leader in the Civic lineup for 2002. The HX is equipped with an automatic CVT (continuously variable transmission) and a 5-speed manual transmission. The Civic HX models start at $13,610. The Civic GX, equipped with a natural gas powered engine, comes equipped with a CVT. The GX maintains its SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) status in California, the strictest emission standard in the world. Powered exclusively by compressed natural gas (CNG), the GX boasts the cleanest-burning internal-combustion engine in the world. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has certified the GX as a Super-Ultra-Low-Emision Vehicle (SULEV), a standard not required until after the year 2005. In highly polluted areas, the air coming out of the GX's exhaust pipe can actually be cleaner than the air you breathe. In addition to the benefits to your lungs, the remarkably clean GX also benefits society as a whole.
Toyota RAV4 EV: 80 to 100 miles per charge
The RAV4-EV is powered by a maintenance-free, permanent magnet motor, producing 50kW of power (equivalent to a 67-horsepower gasoline engine). It’s a real vehicle with a top speed of 78 mph, and provides style, room, practicality and utility. With a range between 80 and 100 miles per charge, RAV4-EV can be used to meet most daily driving needs. As a compact SUV with seating for five and space for cargo, the RAV4 offers a level of flexible use that other EVs are unable to match. Standard equipment includes such popular features as four-wheel anti-lock brakes, alloy wheels, dual front airbags, air conditioning, power-operated mirrors, windows and door locks, and a deluxe sound system with a CD player. The RAV4-EV will have a manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) of $42,000, but a $9,000 incentive from CARB and a $3,000 IRS credit will bring the price down to $30,000, which includes an in-home charging device. There will also be three special introductory lease options, which also include the use of the charger.
Toyota Prius: 52/45 mpg
The Prius returns for the new model year with a host of new options and two new exterior color choices, Blue Moon Pearl and Brilliant Blue Pearl. Convenience and safety are the emphasis of the new options with the availability of daytime running lights and side airbags. Driving ease is provided with a newly available cruise control system. Taking full advantage of the Prius' standard full-color LCD touch screen is the new optional navigation system. The Prius continues to achieve stellar fuel economy and SULEV emission status with its Toyota Hybrid System. Combining a gasoline engine with a maintenance-free permanent magnet electric motor, this system is able to power the vehicle with electricity, gasoline, or a combination of both. Prius has an MSRP of $19,995, is EPA-rated at 52 miles per gallon city, 45 highway, and certified as a super ultra low emission vehicle (SULEV), which is about 75 percent cleaner than ULEV and nearly 90 percent cleaner than LEV for smog forming exhaust gases. Prius' primary power is provided by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine. Peak power for the engine is 70 horsepower at 4,500 with peak torque of 82 lb./ft. at 4,200 rpm. The engine is equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which helps maximize efficiency across the full rpm range and minimize emissions. The Prius is equipped with a Toyota hydrocarbon (HC) absorber and catalyst (HCAC) system for reduced exhaust emissions. The Prius reduces evaporative emissions through the use of a vapor-reducing fuel tank. The Prius tank utilizes a plastic liner, or bladder, inside the steel gas tank. As fuel is burned, the bladder collapses, minimizing the volume of gasoline vapor that would normally remain in the tank. The electric drive motor is a permanent-magnet design that requires little maintenance as its internal componentry never wears. It produces its maximum power of 33 kW (44 horsepower) from 1,040-5,600 rpm, and maximum torque of 350 N-m (258 lb./ft.) from 0-400 rpm. Coming soon
Honda Civic Hybrid
As far as Honda's competition is concerned, the Civic Hybrid is the real green troublemaker. Sure, the Prius and Insight were first -- but the Civic...with its hordes of devotees...that could signal the beginning of a shift in vehicle buying behavior. It may even put hybrids on the map. It's a safe bet that the Civic Hybrid will outsell all other hybrids next year. Like the Insight, Civic Hybrid incorporates Honda's Integrated Motor Assist technology. Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) uses a gasoline engine coupled to an electric motor (creating a hybrid system) that boosts performance and fuel mileage. The newly developed Civic Hybrid IMA system offers technology that improves performance and provides greater packaging freedom compared to the Insight's IMA system. The heart of the Civic Hybrid's system is a new 1.3-liter i-DSI 4-cylinder engine that is coupled to a high-output electric motor located between the engine and the transmission. While braking or decelerating, energy is re-captured by the electric motor and stored in the battery for later use. As the vehicle accelerates, stored energy is directed to the high-torque electric motor to supplement the engine's performance. All of this takes place automatically without any additional driver input. Since the Civic Hybrid's electrical system is completely self-sustaining, it never needs to be plugged in for recharging like an electric vehicle. The Civic Hybrid will be available in most markets by April, 2002.
Dodge Durango HEV
They call it a Through-the-Road Hybrid - The hybrid Dodge Durango SUV, which means more than clever Dodge marketing phrase. It symbolizes a new powertrain technology that achieves 20 percent better fuel efficiency than a comparably-powered gasoline-only Durango. "Through-the-Road", or TTR, is different than other hybrid systems because the gas and electric motors are not connected, but provide energy to separate sets of wheels. The Durango HEV will be available during the 2003 model year.
Ford Escape HEV
If the Civic Hybrid spells trouble, the Ford Escape HEV may make things even more difficult for non-green automakers. With an electric motor and fuel-efficient, four-cylinder gasoline engine, the Ford Escape HEV will probably be the first mainstream SUV available with hybrid power. According to Ford, there's more to the Escape HEV than the electro-combustion engine. Regenerative braking and instant start-stop capability makes the Escape HEV special, especially in the city. Ford estimates nearly 40 mpg in the city, with a tank capacity of more than 500 miles. The hybrid-electric powertrain used on the Escape also has been developed with additional applications and vehicles in mind to expand the potential impact of the environmentally responsible technology. The Escape HEV will be available during the 2003 model year. |
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