When looking at the overall environmental impact of new cars and trucks, it’s important not just to consider the transmission system, according to a new analysis from the American Council on Energy Efficiency Economy (ACEEE). movement but also limited weight.
This group annually publishes a “Greenest List” of 12 vehicles estimated to be the least damaging to the environment, determined by looking at overall emissions, manufacturing and exhaust emissions. , as well as emissions associated with electricity or fuel production. It also published a “Average List” of the 12 worst environmental crimes.
The 2023 “greenest list” includes all small electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids—with electric vehicles in the top five spots. The Mini Cooper SE was named the most green, followed by the Nissan Leaf, Mazda MX-30 EV, Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. You can browse the full list at ACEEE Cars are greener website.
Environmental damage comparison from ACEEE 2023
ACEEE also compiled a “Greener List” of vehicles estimated to have a low environmental impact, but that did not make it to the “Greenest List”. The team is led by the Honda Accord Hybrid, with the Mitsubishi Mirage, Lexus ES 300h hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid making the top five.
Remarkable redesign Toyota Prius 2023 were not included in both listings. The Prius Prime was celebrated as the greenest car of 2022, but the redesigned version came too late to be included in the 2023 list. The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid came in second ahead of the Prius in 2022, but Hyundai has discontinued the model since then.
The “average list” mainly consists of pickups and full-size SUVs, with the Ram 1500 TRX ranked worst for the environment, followed by the Ford F-150 Raptor R, Cadillac Escalade V, Dodge Durango SRT and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
Environmental damage comparison from ACEEE 2023
The analysts also directly compared vehicles available with both all-electric and internal-combustion powertrains, including the Mini Cooper Hardtop, Ford F-150 and Volvo XC40, with all-wheel drive versions. electricity is expected to account for 46%, 30% and 38% less environmental damage, respectively.
The gasoline-powered Mini Cooper SE also has a lower predicted environmental impact per mile than the Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck, the authors note—again emphasizing the importance of the gas-powered Mini Cooper SE, the authors note. weight.
Lighter weight has long been the preferred way to improve efficiency and increase the EV . range, but it’s not cheap. A 2020 report predicted that, given the expensive materials needed to significantly reduce weight, improving the battery’s energy density might be a better option. Lighter vehicles can carry more people may be a last resort, but this goes against the vehicle owner’s habits.
Thinking about the overall efficiency of electric vehicles is important as more and more cars hit the road. In addition to publishing its annual “Greenest” and “Average” lists, ACEEE has also previously argued that electric vehicle efficiency and upstream emissions are a lost opportunity in American car standardsCiting potential emissions from the power grid as an area of concern.
