Clean Diesel Cars Top Five Finalists for Green Car Of The Year

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Chevrolet Impala bi-fuel

Clean diesel has been the talk of the industry and general population for a while. Well, as luck would have it when choosing the finalist for the 2015 Green Car of the Year award, five clean diesel vehicles happened to make the cut.  These vehicles are: Audi A3 TDI clean diesel car and the Volkswagen Golf, which offers a new 2.0 liter TDI clean diesel, BMW i3, Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel and Honda Fit, according to Ron Cogan, the editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal which inaugurated the award in 2005.

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Volkswagen Golf

Since the “Green Car of the Year” award was created 10 years ago, clean diesels have had 10 finalists and two winners, with the Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel winning in 2009 and the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel winning in 2010.

“We’re pleased to see the new generation of clean diesel cars recognized again by the 2015 “Green Car of the Year” award and the editors of the Green Car Journal,” said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

“While clean diesel cars make up around one percent of the entire U.S. car market, they have received 20 percent of the finalist nominations since the “Green Car of the Year” award was launched in 2005.  This is a reflection of the impressive fuel efficiency, advanced diesel engine and emission technology, and cleaner diesel fuel that is common to all of today’s clean diesel cars and pickup trucks,” Schaeffer said.

“Today, consumers have more shades of green to choose from than ever before, and the selection panel is really going to have their work cut out for them.  It’s a great success story that there are so many choices and where clean diesel can compete in such a competitive field of advanced technology vehicles.”

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Audi A3

The winner of the “Green Car of the Year” award will be announced November 20th at the LA Auto Show.

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Honda Fit

According to the Green Car Journal: “During the award’s vetting process, Green Car Journal editors consider all vehicles, fuels, and technologies as an expansive field of potential candidates is narrowed down to a final five. Finalists are selected for their achievements in raising the bar in environmental performance. Availability to the mass market is a factor to ensure honored models have the potential to make a real difference in environmental impact, and finalists must be available for sale by January 1st of the award year.”

Schaeffer also noted clean diesel vehicles received another award this year for the new technology as the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickup truck with the highest estimated EPA highway fuel economy of all light-duty pickups at 28 mpg was selected Motor Trend’s”2014 Truck of the Year®”.

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BMW I3

What Is a Clean Diesel Passenger Vehicle?

The fleet of light-duty diesel cars, trucks and SUVs typically achieve a 20-40 percent improvement in fuel economy and 10-20 percent reduction in emissions when compared to a similar gasoline powered vehicle,as reported by Fuel Economy.Gov. Automakers are introducing more diesel-powered models every year and consumers are warming up to the efficiency and unique characteristics of the powertrain.  In fact, many drivers report fuel economy benefits that consistently rival a hybrid. While clean diesel cars make up about one percent of the U.S. car market, when diesel pickup trucks are included the market share increases to about three percent of the total market.  Schaeffer said many analysts predict the diesel market share will increase to 7-to-10 percent of the total market by 2020.

The benefits of the growth in the light-duty diesel market are real.  The number of diesels on the road since 2005 have reduced emissions by 7.6M tonnes of CO2 and saved 29 million barrels of crude oil.  This is equivalent to reducing consumption of gasoline by 1.2 billion gallons or removing 1.6 million vehicles from the road for a year.  The growth in the diesel market is expected to reduce a further 7.7 million tons and save another 31 million barrels of crude oil.

About the author

Nicole Girkey

As an automotive editorial Ninja, Nicole has woven her way in and out of various aspects of the automotive print and editorial industry for over 15 years. Her recent obsession, diesel trucks, with a focus on sled pulling, keeps her in the dirt. In her off time, she is steady working on creating and molding the next generation of “car guy” with her husband and son, little Cooper.
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