Current talk about green cars invariably segues to whether manufacturers will have enough green to make cars at all. GM is putting the brakes on the construction of a Chevrolet Volt plant. And while the Tesla Roadster is getting its fair share of press, so is the company. Depending on your point of view, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is either threatening to delay the Model S sedan or is simply thinking aloud about how nice it would be to get a slice of Detroit’s bailout bread.
So, while those two and a few others are getting most of the attention, there are a lot of green cars you haven’t heard of. Here are 10 of the best that are either on the road already or are in development.
No.10 - Tango T600
The Tango comes off, at first glance, rather like a giant wedge of cheese or maybe an oversize Trivial Pursuit wedge on wheels. However, if it’s good enough for a car guy like George Clooney, maybe it’s not all that bad. The tandem, two-seat electric car performs amazingly well, with 0-60 mph achievable in 4.0 seconds and a top end of over 130 mph, according to the manufacturer. Cool, yes, but not cheap. The T600 is sent to you as a mostly completed kit for $108,000 with a $10,000 deposit.
No.9 - Nissan Altima Hybrid
The Nissan Altima itself is no surprise, but the hybrid model hasn’t been widely offered. Unless you live in one of the nine New England or West Coast states where the Altima Hybrid is sold, it’s probably another of the green cars you haven’t heard of. And no, your local Nissan dealer won’t have one on the lot -- which is too bad. Most of what’s great about the gas Altima is also found in the Altima Hybrid. It has a great ride, looks good, handles well, and returns up to 35 mpg.
No.8 - Honda Insight
Don’t let the reincarnated name fool you, this won’t be a two-seat coupe like before. This time around the five-door gas/electric hybrid draws style cues from the Honda FCX Clarity and Toyota Prius. Coming in spring 2009, the new Insight will borrow heavily from the Civic Hybrid. EPA testing isn’t complete, but expect mileage in the 40 mpg to 45 mpg range. Pricing hasn’t been announced either, though it’s expected to undercut the Prius; figure about $19,000 and change.
No.7 - Subaru R1e
Of the major automotive players you’d expect to produce green cars, Subaru has been rather quiet on the matter. We did see an example of what they’ve been up to with the New York demo of the R1e. As a very compact hatchback, the R1e is all about electric power and efficiency. That means no off-roading with Foresters or autocrossing with the WRX. Ultimately, we’re not sure this car is the answer. However, with the automaker already behind in bringing a truly green car to market (its PZEVs don't really count), Subaru either needs to refine this car or develop another answer quickly.
No.6 - Mitsubishi i MiEV
In case you haven’t noticed, Mitsubishi loves odd acronyms for its concept cars. This time around, though, one of the green cars you haven’t heard of might also be tough to read. Get used to saying “i-meev,” since there’s a chance the Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle will reach your neighborhood. Based on the fairly refined home-market “i” minicar, the i MiEV makes a smart fortwo look huge. Mitsubishi is apparently serious about the car’s potential, having a stake in the joint-venture Lithium Energy Japan, manufacturing lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries.
No.5 - Wheego Whip
Its name does nothing for the machismo, and the looks remind us instantly of the smart fortwo. In actuality, this green car you've never heard of is based on the Chinese Shuanghuan Noble. The Wheego Whip, at least in a green sense, was built to be smarter than both. As a commuter car, the Whip could work. An eight-hour charge will be enough to travel 50 miles in this $19,000 two-seater, expected to reach the U.S. in May 2009.
No.4 - SSC Ultimate Aero EV
We’ve already gotten hints of green vehicles’ performance potential. The Tesla and the Tango both nail 0-60 mph runs in the 4.0-second range. If you want even more serious acceleration with supercar looks to match, look to the makers of the world’s fastest production car. Shelby Supercars is basing Ultimate Aero EV on its 256-mph Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo. We presume looks will be similar and the performance equally impressive. It’ll be February 2009 before we peek at the prototype, but Shelby asserts the green machine will be available for sale by the end of ’09.
No.3 - Tesla Model S
As we mentioned at the outset, Tesla clearly doesn’t want to be a one-hit wonder. Its follow-up to the Tesla Roadster lets you bring the family along for spirited zero-emissions driving. Known as the Model S, Tesla is planning to move operations and construct new facilities just to build the sedan. As if that doesn’t show commitment, Tesla has also tapped Mazda North America’s ex-design chief Franz von Holzhausen to ready the Model S for a late 2010 launch.
No.2 - MINI E
It isn’t low-dosage ecstasy, it’s high-voltage fun, MINI style. Five hundred people are testing the electric MINI Cooper in the Los Angeles and New York metro areas on one-year, closed-end leases of $850 per month. Besides a few other stipulations, participants are just expected to drive the MINI E and offer feedback. When it comes to the driving experience, reactions will likely be favorable. Zero to 62 mph is covered in 8.5 seconds, with a top speed of 95 mph. It’s no MINI Cooper S, but it does still have great handling and a lot of character.
No.1 - Honda FCX Clarity
Unless you know one of the 200 Southern Californians on board with this hydrogen/electric car, this will most likely be among the green cars you haven’t heard of. From regular folks to Jamie Lee Curtis, Honda has them roped in to three-year, $600-per-month leases with their second-generation fuel-cell car. With similar looks to other Hondas and roughly the size of an Accord, the FCX Clarity has room for four and returns an EPA-estimated mileage equivalent of 77 mpg in the city and 67 mpg on the highway.
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