Are you kicking off 2008 with "go green" on your list of New Year's
resolutions? Intending to be more successful, expand your business and hit that
multimillion-dollar profit mark are admirable goals. But did you forget to add a
decision to check out greener pastures this year?
"Greener" refers to the hybrid and other alternative-fuel cars and trucks
that are economically and environmentally friendlier than standard
internal-combustion vehicles. One alternative is hydrogen, although I'm not
suggesting that a bucket of water can fuel your sedan. Right now,
hydrogen-powered vehicles are in limited production and restricted to leasing
programs.
If this is your year to purchase new company vehicles or to roll over leases,
you can easily and quickly cross "go green" off your resolutions list because
dealers' 2008 inventories include a large range of pickups, sedans, vans,
crossovers and SUVs that are rated green. Plus, premium prices for hybrids are
tumbling as they join the mainstream with no waiting lists, unlike the Honda
Insight when it first came out in 2000 with several months' wait for delivery.
Toyota's Prius carries no extra premium for its hybrid engine.
Aside from improving your image to clients as a socially conscious company
helping to lessen the effects of global warming, going green means your gasoline
expenses will be considerably lower. Aside from championing cleaner air, 88
percent of female respondents in a J.D. Power survey said that fuel economy is
very important to them. Tax benefits are another advantage of buying green. Many
alternative-fuel vehicles bought between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010,
may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $4,000.
What exactly is a green car? In general terms, it's a vehicle fueled by a
low-emission/high-efficiency standard gasoline engine or by a combination of a
gasoline engine and an electric motor; clean diesel; E85 (85 percent ethanol/15
percent gasoline) or hydrogen. New green models in dealerships for 2008 include
the behemoth Chevrolet Tahoe full-size SUV hybrid, which won Green Car Journal's
Green Car of the Year award for achieving 21 mpg with its V8 gas/electric
engine.
Be aware, though, that some regular gasoline cars, such as Toyota's small
Corolla and Yaris, and Honda's Fit wagon, are considered green, delivering more
than 30 mpg, while Ford's Focus wagon and Ranger pickup attain 27 mpg and 24
mpg, respectively. They are among others rated as super ultra low emission (SULEV)
and partial zero emission vehicles (PZEV) by the American Council for an
Energy-Efficient Economy. Other ACEEE-rated models include the Honda Odyssey and
Ridgeline, Nissan Sentra, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Jetta, Volvo V70 and Mazda
MX-5. Another caveat: Some alternative fuels, such as diesel and ethanol/FlexFuel,
can cost more than regular gas and are not as readily available.
It is worth noting that new EPA fuel-economy estimates are due to be reduced
this year, in line with more realistic and accurate figures. They will fall by
an average of 12 percent city and 8 percent highway.
You can check out vehicle miles per gallon, along with estimated annual fuel
costs, at the fuel economy site presented by
the U.S. Department of
Energy and the EPA, which includes calculators showing that you could save
$200 to $1,500 a year by choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle. For example, the
Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetech diesel gets 26/35 mpg with annual fuel costs at
$1,324, while the maker's non-diesel E350 (granted, the engine is larger) only
achieves 19/26 mpg, at a cost of $2,035 per year.
Here's a rundown on some of the alternative-fuel cars and trucks on sale this
year:
Hybrids. Chevrolet Malibu, Mazda Tribute, Nissan Altima, Ford Escape,
Saturn Aura, Honda Accord and Civic, Toyota Prius and Highlander, Lexus RX400h,
Chevrolet Silverado, Saturn Aura, Mercury Mariner, Chrysler Aspen and Dodge
Durango.
Ethanol/FlexFuel. Mercedes-Benz C230, Chrysler Sebring, Lincoln Town
Car, Dodge Ram and Caravan, Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Uplander and
Express, and Nissan Titan.
Diesels. Mercedes-Benz E-320 CDI, BMW 3-Series, Volkswagen Jetta,
Touareg TDI and Passat, Dodge Sprinter, Ford F-250, Hummer HR2 (set for launch
in 2010), GMC Yukon (to be launched in 2009), Jeep Grand Cherokee and Audi Q7.
Electric. Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell, Daimler's Smart ForTwo, Phoenix
Motorcars pickups and SUVs.
Hydrogen. Honda FCX Clarity and Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE.
Compressed Natural Gas. Honda Civic.