The annual list of the “greener choices” by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) did not feature a single electric vehicle. However, the list can be insightful for potential car buyers seeking an efficient, affordable gasoline or hybrid vehicle. The gas/hybrid Honda Accord topped this year’s list, priced at $33,990 with an estimated annual fuel cost of $982. The ACEEE’s list includes 12 cars, trucks, and SUVs.
The Greener Choices List
The list assembled by the ACEEE is known as the “greener choices” list. This list evaluates various vehicles based on their environmental impact, providing insight for potential car buyers about the most environmentally friendly options available. The gas/hybrid Honda Accord was the top contender in the list, followed by vehicles such as the Kia Niro FE and Mitsubishi Mirage.
Criteria for The Greener Choices List
In making its evaluations, the ACEEE considers the cost to human health from air pollution resulting from vehicle manufacturing and disposal, the production and distribution of fuel or electricity, and vehicle tailpipe emissions. The group also factors in the air pollution generated from EV battery manufacturing, which can be significant.
Greenest and Meanest Cars
The ACEEE also ranks the “greenest” and the “meanest,” or least efficient, vehicles. The organisation selected the Toyota Prius Prime SE plug-in hybrid as the greenest model of 2024 while Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 topped the list as the least efficient vehicle of the year.
Reason for Excluding EVs
The reason for the notable absence of electric vehicles (EVs) including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) on the “greener choices” list is the perceived lack of access to adequate EV charging spots nationwide. As such, preference was given to vehicles with traditionally lower environmental impacts within each vehicle class.
Conclusion
Despite the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, the ACEEE’s list of environmentally friendly cars serves as a reminder that traditional gasoline and hybrid vehicles can also be eco-friendly options. The key to choosing a green vehicle is considering not only its fuel efficiency but also the environmental impact of its manufacturing and disposal processes, an area in which traditional gasoline and hybrid cars can still compete.