Most Eco-friendly Cars: 20 Best Green Cars.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines eco-friendly cars as producing less pollution and using fuel more effectively. By this definition, many automobiles are eco-friendly, whether they run on gasoline or alternate fuel.

In 2021, 6.6 million electric vehicles were sold, doubling their market share from 2017. As the government of the United States has mandated that all new cars sold in the country have zero emissions by the year 2030, sales of electric vehicles and hybrids in the United States are projected to soar.

Most automobiles now must adhere to tight emissions rules, making them far cleaner than the identical car would have been 10 or 15 years ago. This makes purchasing an eco-friendly car pretty simple. 

Even though electric cars are unquestionably among the greenest alternatives, this does not imply you must choose one as your next vehicle. Numerous petrol and diesel-powered vehicles may legitimately claim to be eco-friendly, at least by the standards of most automobiles.

These cars ensure lower greenhouse gas carbon dioxide emissions and exceptional fuel efficiency, which is good news for your money. Additionally, they emit tiny amounts of hazardous nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particles, tiny pieces of soot that have been linked to premature mortality.

Types Of Eco-friendly Cars

Notwithstanding the broad definition of eco-friendly cars, when consumers think of green vehicles, alternative fuels often come to mind. With so many alternatives available, learning about the various fuels is beneficial before making a purchase. The many green vehicle alternative power sources are covered in detail.

• Plug-in hybrid electric cars

PHEVs have both a battery and an engine that burns fuel. The car can be refuelled by plugging it into a regular 120-volt outlet, using regenerative braking, or running the internal combustion engine.

• Electric cars

EVs don’t have an engine that burns fuel. Instead, they have an electric motor powered by charging the battery. The battery can be charged with a standard 120-volt outlet, but it will charge faster with a 240-volt outlet used for a washer and dryer.

• Fuel cell cars

FCVs are a type of electric car that uses an electric motor to move. On the other hand, FCVs don’t get power from a wall outlet. Instead, they get power from a hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen could be used as a fuel with no pollution and can be made from things like water and biomass that are always available.

• Natural gas vehicles

NGVs get their power from either compressed or liquid natural gas. A dedicated NGV runs only on natural gas, a bi-fuel NGV uses both gasoline and natural gas, and heavy-duty dual-fuel NGVs use both natural gas and diesel.

• Gasoline hybrid

Hybrids have both a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine and an electric motor. This means the cars get better gas mileage and release less pollution than gasoline cars.

• Flexible fuel vehicles

FFVs have an internal combustion engine that runs on gasoline or E85, a mix of gasoline and ethanol. Most E85 has up to 85% ethanol, which is how it got its name. This fuel is better for the environment because it is made from corn and wood, which grow back quickly.

Best Eco-friendly Vehicles

More cars now meet the standards for green cars. This is because car technology has improved, and policymakers have pushed for it. GreenerCars’ rankings of the Greenest and Greener cars were used to put together a list of the most environmentally friendly car to help you decide what to buy next. 

This list includes fully electric cars, cars with internal combustion engines that get good gas mileage, and cars that fall somewhere in between.

Eco-friendly electric car

At least for now, electric cars seem to be the answer, but they also need to get their power from somewhere. Even though many electricity providers say their power is green, it still makes sense to buy a car that uses electricity as efficiently as possible, getting the most miles per unit of power (kWh).

Efficient use of power will reduce the load on power plants and increase the range of the car. It will also allow companies to use fewer batteries, lowering the car’s cost and weight. Here’s a list of electric vehicles

1. Ford mustang mach-e

The 2021 ford mustang mach-e meets all of our top criteria at a time when there seems to be a greater need than ever for cars with no emissions. Even though it’s called Mustang, it doesn’t act like the sports car it’s named after. 

The Mach-E looks like it was modelled after the Mustang, which is a better way to put it. Not that the Mach-E needs to say sorry for what it can do. At launch, five trim levels will be chosen, with either a standard or extended-range battery and rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. 

The standard-range RWD model isn’t a slouch, with an estimated 0-60-mph time of 5.8 seconds. However, the upcoming GT model, with an estimated 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds, should be worthy of that legendary trim.

2. Fiat 500

Fiat still sells mild hybrid versions of the old 500, but this new model can only be powered by electricity. The entry-level model, which is less powerful, has a smaller battery that can go up to 115 miles. On the other hand, the more powerful models have bigger batteries that can go up to 199 miles. 

Fiat claims over 280 miles for urban-only driving. Both models can quickly charge to 80% capacity in about 30–35 minutes. The entry-level model can be charged at 50kW, while 85kw can charge with the other models. No matter which version you get, the Fiat 500 should be able to get well over 4 miles per kWh in the city where it belongs.

3. Hyundai Ioniq

The newest version of the Ioniq promises to be very efficient. The Ioniq Electric’s 38kWh battery means it can go almost 200 miles, but we think it will go closer to 150 miles in real life. In real life, earlier models are more likely to go between 100 and 150 miles, but 50kW DC charging will help fill up 80% of the battery’s capacity in about an hour. 

The Ioniq was made with the environment in mind, which is different from many other electric models. It has three versions: a self-charging hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and this electric model. It has a green score of 68.

4. Renault Zoe

The Zoe was one of the first electric cars that many people bought. Early models were cheap, costing around £15,000 when they were brand new. However, because electric cars are still new, they can only go about 100 miles on a full charge. 

It’s okay if you don’t drive far, but if you like to go farther, a newer version with a 52kWh battery and a range of up to 245 miles should be more to your liking. Renault has also taken away the option to lease the battery. Leasing the battery made the Zoe look cheap on paper, but it cost an extra £100 a month.

Read also: Best Electric Cars for a Greener Climate

Eco-friendly plug-in hybrid car

Hypothetically, plug-in hybrid electric cars are the best of both worlds. They have a large battery that can be charged for several miles of electric-only driving, and they also have a gas-powered engine that can take over when the electricity runs out.

On short trips, the amount of fuel used can be almost nothing, but on long trips, most of the power will come from gasoline, making the fuel economy much closer to that of a regular car. 

Because how the car is driven significantly affects how much gas it uses, the official mpg numbers are almost useless for figuring out how much it costs to run a car. But they are an excellent way to tell how friendly to the environment each one is, so we used them to rank the plug-in hybrids below.

1. Mercedes C300de

The battery in the C-Class is 13.5 kWh, the same size as other plug-in hybrids, but this time it is paired with a 2.0-litre diesel engine. Even though over 200mpg is a big stretch, drivers of the C300de can expect to get over 60mpg thanks to how efficient the diesel engine is at high speeds and how efficient the electric motor is at low speeds. 

Mercedes took what worked and put it into other cars just like they did with the A-Class. So, both the GLC and the GLC Coupe, and the E-Class Estate use the same setup.

2. Renault Megane E-Tech

Recently, Renault has been adding hybrid versions of its cars. So far, the Clio, the Captur, and the Megane have been changed.

In this case, the Megane has a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a 9.8-kWh battery that can power the car for about 30 miles before it needs to be charged again. The first model to get this treatment was the “Sport Tourer” wagon, but the hatchback is now also available with the same plug-in hybrid set-up.

3. Volvo XC40 

Volvo sells two plug-in hybrid XC40s. The T4 has 211 horsepower, and the T5 has 262 horsepower. They both have a dual-clutch automatic transmission, like the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and Ioniq PHEV. 

Some drivers may like this type of transmission better than a CVT transmission, which tends to be noisier. Toyota uses this type of transmission in its hybrid cars. 

They are both efficient, but the cheaper T4, which can go from 0 to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, should be enough for most people. They use a 1.5-litre gasoline engine with three cylinders and a 10.7kWh battery to power an electric motor.

4. Toyota Prius Plug-in

We couldn’t talk about hybrids or plug-in hybrids without talking about the first hybrid car widely used. The latest version of the Prius Plug-in has a gasoline engine with 1.8 litres of displacement and an electric motor powered by an 8.8 kWh battery. 

It can get between 60 and 70 mpg because it isn’t too heavy, but like all plug-in hybrid cars, it will be much more efficient if you keep the battery fully charged and stay within its electric-only range.

See also: Why You Should Diagnose To Make Sure The Emissions Are Under Set Limits; Vehicle Emissions Test

Eco-friendly Hybrid Car

Toyota calls these cars “self-charging hybrids” because you can’t charge them. Instead, their electric motors get back energy from the engine and the brakes when it makes sense.

Electric power can move the car at low speeds, but its main job is to help the gasoline engine when the car is accelerating, which is when fuel use usually goes up the most. 

By making the engine work less, battery power can significantly affect how much gas you use, especially in traffic where speeds change all the time. Toyota just finished a test from April 2016 to June 2021. 

During the test, hybrid versions of its Yaris, Auris, Corolla, C-HR, Camry, Highlander, RAV4, and Prius cars were driven over 137,000 times for a total of 1.9 million miles. 

It concluded that up to 54% of a driver’s time behind the wheel is spent in electric-only mode. In theory, hybrid cars are about twice as efficient as petrol cars.

1. Toyota Prius Hybrid

The self-charging Prius could be a better choice if you don’t have access to a charging station or if the Prius Plug-in is too expensive. Around town, where it belongs, it should get about 60mpg, but on a more extended trip, this could drop to 40–50mpg.

2. Kia Niro Hybrid

If you like the idea of a hybrid crossover but want a car with a dual-clutch transmission, the Kia Niro is an excellent match for the C-HR. Like the Ioniq, it was made with the environment in mind, so it comes in three different types: this hybrid that charges itself, a plug-in hybrid, and an electric version. It may be a little less efficient in the real world, but where it loses, it makes up for it by being better inside and having more equipment. It features greenercar score of 65 and has a fuel economy of 50 combined MPG.

3. Lexus UX 250h

Lexus is a high-end brand that is part of the Toyota group. This means that they have a lot of experience making hybrid electric vehicles. Most of the time, the UX250h has a 2.0-litre gasoline engine. The UX250h E-Four has an electric vehicle on the rear axle, which gives the car four-wheel drive.

4. Toyota C-HR 1.8 Hybrid

Toyota doesn’t just sell hybrid versions of small cars. Even though the RAV4 is available as both a self-charging hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, its 2.5-litre gasoline engine is more extensive and less efficient. 

The Highlander is the same way. On the other hand, this small crossover works better with a smaller engine, which helps it be more fuel-efficient. Thanks to the CVT gearbox, you can still expect to hear the engine rev under load.

Eco-friendly Petrol Cars

1. Kai Ceed

Adding a turbocharger to an engine is a surefire way to make it more powerful. This 1.0-litre gasoline engine makes almost twice as much power as the Picanto. Even though it’s heavier, drivers shouldn’t have to push it as hard, so it should be possible to get more than 40mpg.

2. Kia Picanto

Many drivers might not be ready to fully or partially switch to electric power and would instead stick with what they know best: gasoline. The Picanto has a simple 1.0-litre gasoline hybrid fuel engine that makes 66hp without a turbocharger. 

Be aware that you may have to work the engine hard, as with most low-powered city cars, especially those without a turbocharger. Drivers are more likely to get less than 40mpg than the 58.9mpg claimed.

3. Dacia Sandero

This turbocharged 0.9-litre engine has been tried and tested all over the Renault group to which Dacia belongs. If you want one of these but don’t like the Sandero, you can find it in the rugged-looking Sandero Stepway or Duster SUV and in Renault cars like the Twingo and Clio.

4. Mazda CX-3

Mazda’s philosophy is that a bigger engine should have more power available immediately, so drivers can speed up more slowly if they want to. Most of the company’s cars have 1.5-litre or 2.0-liter gasoline engines. 

This small crossover has a 2.0-litre engine. You probably won’t get 40mpg, but that’s the price you pay for a bigger, heavier car.

Eco-friendly Diesel cars

A few years ago, the idea of the most eco-friendly diesel car might have seemed contradictory, but the newest diesel cars have cleaned up their act. We can say that with more certainty now that new emissions tests look at how well they work in the real world and in a lab. 

Currently, the Euro 6.2 standard (also called Euro 6d-TEMP), which will be required for all new cars starting next year, has the strictest tests. 

A new, more thorough lab procedure called WLTP is used to test cars. In the lab and on the road, cars must meet limits for nitrogen oxide emissions. 

We ranked them based on their official mpg, but as always, you should expect their real-world fuel economy to be worse because, unlike emissions, this isn’t tested outside of the lab.

1. Renault Clio

Renault has stopped making diesel engines, but before it did, the Clio was available with a fuel-efficient 1.5-litre diesel engine. There were 90hp and 110hp versions of this engine for the Clio and Megane, but the 85hp version was the most efficient. In the real world, the Clio could quickly get 60mpg, and NOx levels are also low.

2. Mercedes A-Class

The A-Class is on this list twice, just like the Prius. Mercedes seems to be working hard to reduce the pollution from its cars. The A-Class was one of the first cars to meet the new rules. The A180d and the A200d have a 2.0-litre diesel engine, so if you want a little more power, you can also look at the slightly less fuel-efficient A200d.

3. Peugeot 308

Peugeot’s diesel engines have helped the company sell many cars, and the 1.6-litre diesel engine is no different. With 130hp, it feels pretty powerful, but a driver who is light on their feet could quickly get close to 60mpg. 

Remember that diesel engines work best when the speed is low and steady—like on a long trip where you average about 50 mph.

4. Alfa Romeo Guilia

Alfa Romeo’s answer to the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes C-Class is this sedan with a sporty look. Even though it can’t compete on quality, it holds its own. 

People who like to drive will like the gasoline version best, but even the diesel version, which has a range of power outputs that top out at 190hp, can be fun to drive.

Conclusion

You could lease an electric car if you want to drive one. There are the newest eco-friendly cars that you can pay for every month. You can look at the whole range and ensure you get the best deals.