How green is my smart?

[dancote]

Here are the six greenest vehicles of the 2008 model year, in descending order, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy:


1 HONDA CIVIC GX* 1.8-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
2 TOYOTA PRIUS Hybrid 1.5-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
3 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID Hybrid 1.3-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
4 SMART FORTWO 1-liter 3-cylinder, automatic transmission
5 TOYOTA YARIS 1.5-liter in-line 4, manual transmission
6 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRIDâ€* Hybrid 2.5-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission

Read the Full Article here

[bmx43]

Originally Posted by dancote

Here are the six greenest vehicles of the 2008 model year, in descending order, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy:


1 HONDA CIVIC GX* 1.8-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
2 TOYOTA PRIUS Hybrid 1.5-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
3 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID Hybrid 1.3-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
4 SMART FORTWO 1-liter 3-cylinder, automatic transmission
5 TOYOTA YARIS 1.5-liter in-line 4, manual transmission
6 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRIDâ€* Hybrid 2.5-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission

Read the Full Article here

funny how it's listed as an "automatic transmission"

[angel]

Originally Posted by dancote

Here are the six greenest vehicles of the 2008 model year, in descending order, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy:


1 HONDA CIVIC GX* 1.8-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
2 TOYOTA PRIUS Hybrid 1.5-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
3 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID Hybrid 1.3-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission
4 SMART FORTWO 1-liter 3-cylinder, automatic transmission
5 TOYOTA YARIS 1.5-liter in-line 4, manual transmission
6 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRIDâ€* Hybrid 2.5-liter in-line 4, automatic transmission

Read the Full Article here

Seems a lot of the scoring has to do with MPG. No mention of being able to recycle or the impact of disposing of battery packs in hybrids. Seems most of the information for that article came from http://www.greenercars.org/highlights.htm.

Thus the overall numbers for greenness could be vastly inaccurate based on environmental impact of disposing of vehicles and components later. Surely someone can do testing based on more than just estimated MPG and emissions testings.

[angel]

Originally Posted by bmx43

funny how it's listed as an "automatic transmission"

The news article came from information posted at this link
http://www.greenercars.org/highlights.htm
The link lists the smart as
1.0L 3, auto stk [P]
With a footnote of
"auto stk" denotes manually adjustable automatic transmission.

Seems even the person writing the article didn't really pay attention to the details and just winged it with "auto."

[08-4-2]

According to this (or one of the links), this should be astounding. I'm guessing we won't see it over here until 2010 though.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/02/vw-unveiling-an.html

[SnakeFarm]

The worst part about all the Gorbal Warming nonsense is that it stands in the way of ACTUAL environmental concerns. The smart is MUCH more environmentally sound than ANY car with a chemical battery array no matter how much CO2 it spews. And the non-painted (black, yellow, white) body panels are even green-er because of their non-painted-ness. This theroy is not based on computer models of what might happen in fifty years. Paint and battery acid are bad news here and today. As a matter of fact, there are already labels on those products that warn of the dangers of improper disposal.

As a matter of yet another fact, if you blew off the greenhouse myth, I think most SUVs would have less impact than the darling electrics because of all that lead/exotic metal and acid.

The good news about Gorbal Warming is that serious scientist have been documenting it for several years now and in three to five years it will be patently obvious that it was a (lucrative) mistake.

Ok, but a guy CAN hope can't he?

[iwantmysmart]

in my opinion smart should be above the prius... found this really interesting article

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/edito...asp?NewsID=188

[NY Smartie]

Originally Posted by SnakeFarm

The worst part about all the Gorbal Warming nonsense is that it stands in the way of ACTUAL environmental concerns. The smart is MUCH more environmentally sound than ANY car with a chemical battery array no matter how much CO2 it spews. And the non-painted (black, yellow, white) body panels are even green-er because of their non-painted-ness. This theroy is not based on computer models of what might happen in fifty years. Paint and battery acid are bad news here and today. As a matter of fact, there are already labels on those products that warn of the dangers of improper disposal.
As a matter of yet another fact, if you blew off the greenhouse myth, I think most SUVs would have less impact than the darling electrics because of all that lead/exotic metal and acid.
The good news about Gorbal Warming is that serious scientist have been documenting it for several years now and in three to five years it will be patently obvious that it was a (lucrative) mistake.
Ok, but a guy CAN hope can't he?

well said man. agree 100%.

[factor9]

Originally Posted by SnakeFarm

The worst part about all the Gorbal Warming nonsense is that it stands in the way of ACTUAL environmental concerns. The smart is MUCH more environmentally sound than ANY car with a chemical battery array no matter how much CO2 it spews. And the non-painted (black, yellow, white) body panels are even green-er because of their non-painted-ness. This theroy is not based on computer models of what might happen in fifty years. Paint and battery acid are bad news here and today. As a matter of fact, there are already labels on those products that warn of the dangers of improper disposal.

As a matter of yet another fact, if you blew off the greenhouse myth, I think most SUVs would have less impact than the darling electrics because of all that lead/exotic metal and acid.

The good news about Gorbal Warming is that serious scientist have been documenting it for several years now and in three to five years it will be patently obvious that it was a (lucrative) mistake.

Ok, but a guy CAN hope can't he?

Snake Farm - The "Recorder" article proves you out on the batteries and the poor environmental choices made by many big businesses. But, don't blame the environmentalists and scientists for the mismanagement of "energ-savings" policies. It has been the corn lobby and our President who has been pushing biofuels and the use of corn, when there are many organic alternatives like switch grass, etc. that do a much better job and don't steal our food at the same time. The same thing goes with nuclear - France already has nuclear plants that are 80% recyclable, and they could become 100% reusable with a little international cooperative research. Our government stopped funding the Fusion program at Lawrence Livermore in order to give oil companies a few more years of sky-high profits instead of funding its final stage of development. So, sadly you're right, but due to the fact that we've allowed big business to direct energy policy in this country for the past few decades. Sooner or later, we'll decide to take that power back! Driving our smart cars is but one answer. But, if you don't think global-warming is real, just take a trip up to Alaska or take a boat out onto Lake Powell.

[AnitaInKC]

iwantmysmart:

Good article!! Good find! Veeeerrrryyyy interesting....(a la Artie Johnson)