This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

January 30, 2013

Hybrid Tops Annual "Greenest" Vehicle List

The Toyota Prius C topped the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) fifteenth annual "Greenest" car ratings in a list released on January 16. The compact, which debuted in the U.S. market last year, had a "Green Score" of 58 in the ACEEE measure of comprehensive eco-performance, which reflects the vehicle's rating of 53 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 46 MPG highway. Overall, the list was dominated by hybrid-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles (EV).

Rounding out the top five were the Honda FIT, Prius 1.8 liter, Prius plug-in hybrid, and the Honda Civic hybrid. The Ford Focus with a lithium-ion battery ranked tenth. The Scion IQ and the Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo coupe were the only non-hybrid, non-plug-in vehicles on the list.

Fuel economy for EVs is provided in miles per kilowatt-hour, while the rating for plug-in hybrids is provided in MPG for gasoline operation and in miles per kilowatt-hour for electric operation. ACEEE is a nonprofit organization that acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. See the ACEEE press release and the full "Greenest" car list.