Green Lag
Q: I’ve been sitting on the sidelines, I guess I’m sorry to admit. Wasn’t very interested in taking the environmentally friendly vehicle approach because it seemed to me that we as a country were on a good trajectory energy- and environment-wise and any little contribution I might make would be of little consequence. Now I’m scared that previous progress will be set back during this administration, and I need to step up and do my part. Will be buying a 2017 vehicle in a few months. Where do I start to find out which are the most environmentally friendly in the various categories? I don’t know if I want a small SUV or a sedan.
A: You didn’t specify if you want a hybrid, electric vehicle or a conventional vehicle with a decent environmental footprint, probably because you really don’t know yet (just as most people don’t when they begin taking first steps into this new arena).
There are a couple of places I suggest you start.
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy releases environmental ratings each year (and has been doing so for 20 years). If you go to greenercars.org you will find the greenest choices and advice on how to buy green when you’re shopping for a new (or older) vehicle (including conventional gasoline-powered vehicles – some of which, as you know, are better than others when it comes to energy consumption and other factors related to the environment). This group rates every vehicle according to what it terms the environmental damage index (EDX), which estimates pollution from vehicle manufacturing, the production and distribution of fuel, and vehicle tailpipes.
You can also go to fueleconomy.gov, operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, and compare fuel efficiency of specific cars; get in-depth information on hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles; and get details about how the vehicles are tested.
Know that real-life results can/will vary from what the testers find because of driving style and other factors.
Good luck. This is a big step and it’s good to do early research. Just the vocabulary alone takes some getting used to and it’s best to be confident before you’re actually at dealerships trying to make the best choice for your needs.