Yesterday, the three finalists for the World Green Car of the Year were announced. The Honda FCX Clarity, the Mitsubishi iMiEV and the Toyota iQ were picked as the top contenders. The choices show that advancements have been made since last year when the winner was the BMW 118d - a 60 mpg diesel engine car. Here's a quick synopsis of the finalists.
The first contender, the Honda FCX Clarity, runs on a hydrogen fuel cell and can travel 270 miles per tank of hydrogen. The drawback to the car, of course, is that you'd have to live in one of the few areas that have a hydrogen filling station and stay close to it, but the upside is that the Clarity runs gasoline and emission-free.
The Mitsubishi iMiEV is a subcompact, all-electric vehicle that has been praised for its great handling and quick acceleration. The EV can reach a top speed of around 80 mph and has an 85-mile range on a full charge.
The Toyota iQ is a tiny four-seater with a 1.0 liter engine that has already won its share of accolades, including Japan's Car of the Year Award. The manual transmission model can get up to 67 mpg.
The winner will be chosen on April 9, 2009.
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written by Murphy, March 10, 2009
Driving your Clarity 270mi from your hydrogen refueling station would kinda leave you stranded when you tank runs to Empty...you need to leave something for your return trip.
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written by mark, March 10, 2009
For the current in place hydrogen filling stations - where is the hydrogen sourced? Is it solar electrolysis? Or is it cracked from natural gas?
I'd say whilst the clarity runs "emission and gasoline" free, the hydrogen stations don't.
I'd say whilst the clarity runs "emission and gasoline" free, the hydrogen stations don't.
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written by Ben, March 11, 2009
I'm a big fan of the iMiev, mainly for the in-wheel motors, which strike me as a brilliant design choice. I wish more proposed electric cars used them (Volt).
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written by JonnyUtaw, March 11, 2009
Honda has been playing with the FCX for a long time now but will never see mass production until we get hydrogen fueling stations AND cheap fuel cells. This does not exist and I don't know how this vehicle is even in the running for "World Green Car of the Year" when no one can afford to drive it.
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written by Kyle, March 12, 2009
By judging the 'green car of the year', I don't think one should consider the lack of hydrogen fueling stations THAT much. If it's a car that wins over the mentality of those who won't wait for a charge, then why not give it the prize?
How many people would likely go: 'After 80 miles, I have to charge it for hours? Sometimes I drive more than 80 miles.. why would I want that?'. Eco geeks and the like would change their routine around the electric car, but MOST likely wouldn't.
How many would go 'That car is so small! How safe is that if I get hit by a larger car? I can't put my daughter in that.'. Even if you don't agree, how MANY do you think would say that?
Granted it has to be a hard choice between it and a cheap car that goes 67mpg, but still, there have been more efficient cars than that built before. The Lupo diesel does over 70.
The Clarity looks like a normal sized car. It fuels up alot like a normal car. You can keep GOING if you want, like a normal car. It would absolutely sell if the market if the stations were there, so why shouldn't it be embraced?
To quote Top Gear on the Honda Clarity:
"Why is it the car of the future? Because it's exactly like the car of today." -- James May, Top Gear
How many people would likely go: 'After 80 miles, I have to charge it for hours? Sometimes I drive more than 80 miles.. why would I want that?'. Eco geeks and the like would change their routine around the electric car, but MOST likely wouldn't.
How many would go 'That car is so small! How safe is that if I get hit by a larger car? I can't put my daughter in that.'. Even if you don't agree, how MANY do you think would say that?
Granted it has to be a hard choice between it and a cheap car that goes 67mpg, but still, there have been more efficient cars than that built before. The Lupo diesel does over 70.
The Clarity looks like a normal sized car. It fuels up alot like a normal car. You can keep GOING if you want, like a normal car. It would absolutely sell if the market if the stations were there, so why shouldn't it be embraced?
To quote Top Gear on the Honda Clarity:
"Why is it the car of the future? Because it's exactly like the car of today." -- James May, Top Gear
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written by Larry, March 15, 2009
Like anyone should take that show seriously. Hydrogen production isnt anywhere near as green as electricity can be (solar/wind etc), not to mention the Clarity costs more to make than a Tesla. Hydrogen is the 'personal jet-pack' of the auto industry, always just around the corner. Electric is here now, and will only get better as we invest/adopt in it.
Hybrids now
Range extended plug ins
Plug in short range full electric
Plug in long range full electric!!!
it wont happen overnight, but we will get there.
Hybrids now
Range extended plug ins
Plug in short range full electric
Plug in long range full electric!!!
it wont happen overnight, but we will get there.
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written by russ, March 18, 2009
Emission free H2?
CH4 or naphtha is reformed to H2+CO+CO2 then to a shift reactor where the CO is shifted to CO2+H2. The reformer is probably fired by the CH4 or heavy oil. Steam runs some of the equipment while electric power runs the rest.
H2 is one of the future fuels but from present sources it is quite dirty.
CH4 or naphtha is reformed to H2+CO+CO2 then to a shift reactor where the CO is shifted to CO2+H2. The reformer is probably fired by the CH4 or heavy oil. Steam runs some of the equipment while electric power runs the rest.
H2 is one of the future fuels but from present sources it is quite dirty.
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written by Bob, March 19, 2009
It's time to get real, and get focused on technologies that can be made to work in the marketplace.
Hybrids work now, hybrids drive battery development in a cost-effective way, and battery development is the quickest route to low-carbon transportation. The future of cars is pure electrics and biofuel hybrids.
If your electric won't carry you as far as you want, hook up a little trailer with a small (probably biodiesel) engine and generator. Run the engine at constant speed and it'll be reasonably efficient, and build the intelligence to operate it into the car's control system. Basically a Volt but with a removable engine so you don't drag it around when you don't need it.
Hybrids work now, hybrids drive battery development in a cost-effective way, and battery development is the quickest route to low-carbon transportation. The future of cars is pure electrics and biofuel hybrids.
If your electric won't carry you as far as you want, hook up a little trailer with a small (probably biodiesel) engine and generator. Run the engine at constant speed and it'll be reasonably efficient, and build the intelligence to operate it into the car's control system. Basically a Volt but with a removable engine so you don't drag it around when you don't need it.
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written by markb, March 20, 2009
I very much appreciate the quality of all the comments on this site. Are we being edited for coherence, or is everybody just pretty smart?
You all are giving me a lot to think about re- emerging tech for truly green cars.
You all are giving me a lot to think about re- emerging tech for truly green cars.
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written by Marci, March 20, 2009
What I don't get is why the Toyota Tercel was ever dropped. I used to get 50mpg highway, 40 mpg city and 45 mpg combined. When my '89 needed to have it's clutch replaced in 1999 with 150,000 miles on it (I was commuting a long way), I thought it was time to get a new car as it was beginning to seem rickety. I got the shock of my life to find out they no longer made it. When I needed to replace the car that replaced my Tercel last year because it was on it' last leg, I felt I had no choice but to buy a Prius. I was appalled to discover that it gets no better than my ten year old Tercel did. Why can't we have a hybrid five speed manual Tercel that gets at least 75 mpg? My Prius is like a second mortgage and you have to pay a lot more attention to how you are driving to do as well as those Tercels did. I loved my Tercels and would buy new ones even if they only got 50mpg highway. But I would love one that did better. And how affordable they were. Okay a hybrid Tercel would cost more, but not more than the Prius I'd bet. Isn't how much the auto makers make off of us what is driving the market?
I agree that electric is better if the electricity is produced in green ways. I hope to re-fi my house to include improvements including solar and an electric or a hybrid-electric rechargeable would be of great interest to me. I agree that whether hydrogen fuel is produced in a green fashion is equally important to it's green-ness when burned.
I agree that electric is better if the electricity is produced in green ways. I hope to re-fi my house to include improvements including solar and an electric or a hybrid-electric rechargeable would be of great interest to me. I agree that whether hydrogen fuel is produced in a green fashion is equally important to it's green-ness when burned.
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