Filed under: Etc., LA Auto Show
Got a guess for the 2008 Green Car of the Year yet?
We're still catching our breath from the Frankfurt Motor Show and the LA Auto Show is still two months away, but that isn't stopping the LA show promotion team from getting our minds ready for the 2008 Green Car of the Year announcement that is coming November 15. Last year's winner was the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid won the award in its inaugural year.So, we've got some time to chat between now an November 15, let's do so. What cars do you think have a shot at winning this year's award? 'Course, if you are of the opinion that COTY awards are a bunch of hooey and we needn't waste our time with them, go ahead and share that feeling, too. We'll take it under advisement.
What cars are up for the award? Any production models that will be on sale by the first day of 2008. The jury pool this year includes Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club; Christopher Flavin, president of Worldwatch Institute; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; Jonathan Lash, President of the World Resources Institute; Automotive icon Carroll Shelby; and four Green Car Journal editors. Perhaps some of you can make a fine educated guess by looking down that list. In any case, we're all ears.
[Source: Los Angeles Auto Show]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Franklin 9:54AM (9/19/2007)
Well, I think it has to be the Phoenix. It's the most commercially viable of the totally electric vehicles, having pre-sold over 500 fleet vehicles for 2008.
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BlackbirdHighway 11:04AM (9/19/2007)
Has to be the Tesla.
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Joyce 11:06AM (9/19/2007)
My vote goes to the Smart Car.
Joyce
http://www.greenstrides.com
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stevejust 2:55PM (9/19/2007)
Franklin: the Tesla's outsold the Phoneix in pre-sales.
Joyce: The smart car costs $12k, seats two, is half a car, and gets "about 40mpg." A Geo Metro used to get "about 50 mpg."
My 2004 Civic Hybrid cost $18,600 seats four, is a whole car, and gets 48.8 mpg over the 28,000 miles I've driven it. For me to remotely consider the smart car "smart," it'd have to better the mileage in my car by 40%.
My guess is they might elect a clean diesel just to mix things up a bit (maybe the new Mini, but rumors are it's not US-bound.)
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Alan 3:05PM (9/19/2007)
If they can start actual sales by Jan. 1, AND the judges aren't swayed by the existing automakers, I'd guess it'd be the Tesla Roadster.
http://www.teslamotors.com
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stevejust 3:07PM (9/19/2007)
This concept came up on www.treehugger.com, and the comments were about the same. Basically, no one needs to be an engineer to figure out roofs are better places to put solar panels than roads.
I had a Tudor style house, and when I was thinking about space issues for PV panels, the idea of those driveways where grass grows between two strips of concrete came to mind, and lining up a row of PV panels between where the car tires would drive crossed my mind for about 15 seconds. The notion was quickly replaced with the more practical idea that it'd make more sense to build a trellis over the patio and put more panels on it.
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Chris M 3:38AM (9/20/2007)
I had wondered why they didn't award it to the Tesla Roadster last year, but maybe they limit it only to cars in production and available for sale. Vaporware need not apply.
Since the Roadster should be in production and have some delivered before the LA auto show announcement, Tesla will likely win.
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summazooma 7:00AM (9/20/2007)
I'd like to see, instead of just one award, for the LA Show to publicize all of the cars that offer at least PZEV emissions certification. I think we'd be surprised at some of the cars on that list (includes, for example, a California certified Elantra/Spectra- How many know that?). If there's anything that's a bit of a shame is the lack of publicity generated for non-Hybrid/ Diesel/ EV alternatives (and, no, I'm not anti-Hybrid or EV, not by a long shot). The OEMs, likewise, need to actually advertise what they have in their own showrooms; They might be surprised by the response.
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Jean-Guy 8:25AM (9/21/2007)
Well, I think it has to be the Lotus ZAP-X
http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/electric-cars/zap-x
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