Judging by the prevailing realities, car buyers can now pick from a long list of eco-friendly car models, with some coming with competitive prices and top-notch features.
However, knowing the right one to pick can be a bit daunting to individuals looking to buy an eco-friendly car. The American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has offered such people a way out.
The ACEEE Draws a Green Line
The ACEEE has generated a list of the top 12 environmentally friendly cars already up for sale at major dealerships. Some of the criteria used in the research that produced the list of “greenest cars” are affordability, energy efficiency, eco-friendliness, and mileage.
When EVs first hit the market, their prices were pocket-draining. However, manufacturers have started offering multiple incentives, such as rebates and tax credits.
A List of Eco-friendly Cars
Also, about seven of the 12 cars on the 2024 ACEEE’s greenest list have a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of less than $35,000.
The energy efficiency of these eco-friendly vehicles helps reduce gas expenses. Likewise, it cuts the emissions so prone to combustion engines. So, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, check out ACEEE’s top 12.
How Was the List Generated?
The ACEEE also brought the manufacturing process of these eco-friendly cars under the lens. The emissions during production, the waste generated during production, the recycled percentage, and the overall environmental impact also played a role in the ranking.
Likewise, the energy source used in recharging plug-in vehicles on the list also determined which cars were worthy of mention in the ranking.
How Can an EV Score Low for Eco-Friendliness?
So, if an EV car is energy efficient and the production process eco-friendly but uses charging points powered by a coal-fired power plant, its ranking may drop. If it expends a huge volume of power for short distances, it becomes energy-inefficient.
Once more, if you want to join the army of people fighting the war against global greenhouse emissions, ACEEE’s greenest cars are the way to go. Interestingly, the shocker of the year is that Tesla did not make the list.
Hybrids Ruling the Car World
Another shocker is that the top-ranking vehicle on the ACEEE’s 2024 list is not an EV but a hybrid car.
Unfortunately, some non-plug-in hybrids do not qualify outright as EVs and may not earn their owners incentives like the full federal EV tax credit. However, the good news is that most of the 12 cars are cheaper than $44,000.
Toyota Prius Prime PHEV: $32,975
Over the years, iterations of the Toyota Prius are the very embodiment of fuel-efficient designs. The cars are usually sleek and have an added advantage of earning their drivers gas savings.
Interestingly, the latest model takes fuel efficiency to an eco-friendly pedestal. It is a hybrid, meaning it can run on a fuel-efficient engine after exhausting the electric charge.
Lexus RZ 300e EV: $55,150
This Lexus has the highest MSRP on the 2024 ACEEE list, which is unsurprising since Lexus is a luxury brand.
However, despite being the most expensive on this list, the Lexus RZ still outranks the Tesla Model S in affordability. The Model S has a price tag that is $19,840 higher than that of the Lexus RV. Beyond pricing, the ACEEE affirms that the Lexus is ‘greener’ than Model S.
Mini Cooper SE EV: $30,900
The Mini Cooper is a cutie that anyone would want to drive, even when it was running solely on hydrocarbons.
Now, it has gone fully electric and retains all the trappings of a prestigious car. The Mini Cooper is one of those brands that maintains its niche and gets dynamic with it rather than being all over the place.
Nissan Leaf EV: $28,140
Nissan finally decided to get adventurous with its Leaf model. The EV is spacious for cargo and passengers and is one of the cheapest on the market.
The Nissan Leaf boasts a 212-mile range at full charge. If you want an EV car with a similar Interior feel to the Nissan Rogue but still want an EV, then go for the Leaf.
Toyota Z4X EV: $43,070
The Toyota Z4X is the automakers’ first plunge into the realm of EVs. All along, Toyota has been trying its hands on electric integration into its vehicles, with Toyota Prius as their labrat.
Toyota bZ4X is a compact SUV, unlike the Toyota Prius. In their review of Toyota’s first EV, Kelley Blue Book suggests that the vehicle has a range of up to 252 miles.
Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV: $43,690
Toyota seems to have done very well for themselves, as far as the ACEEE rating is concerned. To think 5 of the 12 cars in the ACEEE list are from the Japanese automaker. Meanwhile, renowned EV makers like Tesla didn’t make the list.
KBB.com suggests that this car can go 42 miles on solely battery power, but fear not, as it is a hybrid and can complete long-distance journeys on gas.
Hyundai Elantra Blue HEV: $26,250
Hyundai’s Elantra Blue is a hybrid sedan with a sleek design. Still, it remains one of the cheapest cars on this list.
The incorporation of its advanced power train technology makes its transmission between automotive and battery power seamless. This car is reliable and smart and gives off the aura of a sports car.
Hyundai Kona Electric EV: $34,050
For a bit more expense than Hyundai’s hybrid cars, you can drive home this futuristic EV. At approximately $34,000 and a travel range of between 200 and 260 miles, this car is a good bargain for the average middle-income earner.
Like ACEEE, caranddriver.com has hailed the car’s design for the extra legroom its interior offers and its overall look.
Toyota Camry Hybrid HEV: $28,855
Naturally, the Toyota Camry car models are about the highest-selling sedans in the United States.
However, with the introduction of its hybrid version, its competitiveness has improved. The Camry hybrid is fuel-efficient and still retains the nice designs that endear car users to this model.
Kia EV6 EV ($43,975): Green Score 63
The greenest car for 2024, the Toyota Prius, comes in with a Green Score of 71. Kia EV6 straggles in behind nine other cars with a score of 63.
The Kia EV6 is an all-electric SUV with an impressive range of 310 miles. This car also boasts short pit stops, as it comes with fast-charging technology. Kia EV6s can charge from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid HEV: $23,500
Like the Camry model, the Toyota Corolla has also improved its energy efficiency by introducing a hybrid version in its latest iteration.
Despite being a hybrid, this car delivers up to 138 horsepower and has an all-wheel electronic drive feature. Its batteries can support a journey of up to 45 miles.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV ($41,650): Green Score 62
Hyundai follows hard after Toyota for the price of highest vehicle entries on the ACEEE’s greenest car list.
Hyundai Ionic 5 is all-electric and has a range of 303 miles after each full charge. The exterior design is prestigious and futuristic, while the interior comes with cool electronic features. The added advantage of the Ioniq 5 is that its interior is quite spacious.
The Environmentally Meanest Cars of 2024
Interestingly, the ACEEE did not stop with the top-rankers on the green list, they equally mentioned a couple of the bottom-rungers.
According to ACEEE, Mercedes Benz’s AMG G63 SUV is the worst offender. The gas-guzzler scored a paltry 20 on a green scale of 0 to 100.
Even EVs Can Be Culpable
While many of the top greenest cars sell for less than $35,000, the worst offenders mostly sell for $100,000 and above.
Thankfully, many will be unable to afford the worst offenders. Consequently, we have fewer of them on our roads and fewer emissions from them. A shocker is that one of the worst offenders, a GMC Hummer, is an EV.