Purchasing a car is likely the second largest investment you will make – and one that you will likely have to live with for at least the next few years – so you want to make the best, cleanest, most fuel efficient, safest, and cost effective decision. For my husband and I this decision has lead us beyond the land of hybrid vehicles and into the land of diesel engines.

The 2009 Green Car of the Year award went to a Turbo Diesel Injected (TDI) vehicle – the Volkswagen Jetta Clean Diesel (TDI). This is the first time the award has gone to a clean diesel vehicle. For Americans, a diesel car probably sounds like an old, dirty engine, but its time for all of us to get back on the diesel bandwagon. Europeans have been driving these new diesels for years, but these cars have only recently been able to meet the stringent American emissions standards. In fact while adventuring to Copenhagen, Denmark, it was hard not to see one of these (or the wagon version) cars on the street — even as taxi cabs!

Hands down, this is a performance vehicle. Its powerful, even though it is only a four cylinder vehicle. Because my husband and I have been seeking a car that would allow us to become a one car family and yet still have plenty of space for lugging things home, someday growing a family, and hopefully space for a dog, we looked at the sportwagon version of the VW TDI. Testing driving this car, we were nearly sold, but it was the little bonuses for the price that really sealed the deal. This car has gadgets galore — and most of them are standard! Between the Bluetooth (which even allows you to play music over the speakers that is streamed from your iPhone), the touch screen radio, and the digital dashboard readouts, this car has just about everything a geek could want! Further, the seats fold down perfectly flat, the front seats (and back!) are heated, and the side view mirrors have a defrosting option. All around, this car is fun to drive.

Its not all fun and games in these cars though. Some of the toys genuinely help the driver drive more efficiently. Much like the Ford and the Toyota hybrids which display the fuel efficiency of the car, the VW and Audi clean diesel cars show the average fuel economy for your current driving trip and your tank of fuel. They also show you instant fuel economy based on the speed you are traveling. These gauges help drivers learn which driving styles generate the best fuel efficiency for the vehicle. Of course, also like most of the hybrids, most clean diesel cars also offer built in navigation which can also help you increase your fuel economy by showing you the most efficient way to get from place to place.

But what’s so great about the clean diesel technology and how is it different today than it was years ago? First of all, today’s diesel engines are highly efficient. The VW Jetta Sportswagon, for example, gets 30mpg in the city and 41mpg on the highway. Best yet, these mpg stats are likely to be surpassed. (It is a Jetta TDI that currently holds the world record for best fuel efficiency with 67.1mpg.) With 236 foot pounds of torque, this vehicle is powerful to say the least, able to move quickly from a standing start and pass other moving cars with a light tap of the petal. In comparison, old diesel engines were known for being loud, hard to start, and belching smoke, a far cry from these clean engines, even if they were efficient for its time. With prices for diesel fuel not much more than that of gasoline and the prices staying far more steady, its no wonder why Americans are beginning to again look towards these new technologies.

Interestingly, the Audi A3 clean diesel TDI is the 2010 Green Car of they year. This makes two years running for a clean diesel cars to win the coveted award.

So if you are wondering what it is my husband and I purchased… you guessed right! The VW Jetta Sportswagon TDI. We call her “Gretta the Jetta.”

As I mentioned some time ago, my husband and I have been in the market for a new vehicle – but not any old car! As professional advocates on climate change issues, it is extremely important to us to make a choice that supports our daily efforts to improve fuel efficiency, keep our air clean, and reduce our carbon footprint.

When we’ve spoken about out interest in purchasing a new car with our friends, they all seem to simply think the obvious choice for us is a hybrid vehicle. But just because the vehicle includes hybrid technology, does not always mean that it’s the most fuel efficient. New technologies are always coming out and while we rely on manufacturers to tell consumers about the benefits, most have done a pretty lousy job. The educated car buyer is challenged to keep up with the innovations, learning the benefits, which manufacturer is using the technologies and when they will be brought to the marketplace. It’s not an easy task.

All hybrid technology is not created equal – and they differ from one manufacturer to another.Learn more about hybrids by checking out a post I wrote about them some time ago. You cannot rely upon car salesmen to tell you about the technology as many have not taken the time to learn about it or will be able to explain it well. Do your own research.

Compare vehicles that include hybrid technology with conventional models making sure to look at price, miles per gallon, and even maintenance. If you are more of a long distance, highway driver, hybrid vehicles may not increase your mpg enough to make it worth the extra money. For you, it may make more sense to seek out a conventional or diesel (TDI – Turbocharged Direct Injected) vehicle with excellent highway ratings. More on TDI another day… For those of you who are more short distance, city traffic drivers, hybrids may better suit your needs since the vehicle recharges the battery while breaking and operates utilizing the battery while slowing and stopping.

It’s important to also realize that hybrids will soon be coming out with another big improvement – plugs! No, this doesn’t mean you will be required to plug in your car or park near an electricity source. What it means is that you will have the option to charge the battery of the car with electricity from your home, allowing the vehicle to rely on the battery more than the gas tank. Still you can always fill up at the local station and still recharge the battery through slowing and stopping. Best of all, this improvement to the hybrid technology will come with a battery with much improved energy saving capacity. Hopefully, theses cars are only right around the corner, so if you are not quite in the market for a new car but are just starting to think about it, look out for new plug-in hybrids coming to a car dealer near you in the next few years – if not sooner!

Still, while the U.S. market has just barely more than a handful of hybrids currently available, they simply do not seem to fit our bill when it comes to picking a car. Sure the Toyota Prius, the best selling hybrid currently on the market, is worth a look and remains on our list, it does not have the hauling capacity we had hoped to maintain. The capacity is ok, and certainly doable but for a young couple likely to one day use the car for cross country trips, kids, and our occasional furniture shopping, it is only barely as big as we want – even with the seats folding down flat (a major perk in our book!). We do not prefer the relative low quality and lack of comfort of the Ford Escape and while the Saturn Vue was a pretty good ride, we felt it had very few tech options we wanted for the price, not to mention that we learned just after test driving that GM would be closing the line at the end of this year.

If price were no matter, the Lexus RX450h would be on the top of our list. It’s gas mileage is excellent (though could always be better!) and truly is an exquisite design of luxury. Unfortunately, that luxury comes with a hefty price tag that happens to be out of our ideal range.

So the question remains, will we find a vehicle that is both fuel efficient and family friendly in size which fits into our (hardly meager) price range at under $35,000? Stay tuned!

The time has finally come when my husband and I will be consolidating to just one car and I can hardly wait! While car shopping is certainly not my favorite pastime, the prospect of getting to vote with my wallet for the cars that should be on the road is exhilarating.

Considering that in the United States, the largest group among American’s owning at least one car, actually own three, it’s no small feat to go from two cars to one. We live close to a metro train stop and usually take public transportation to work. We rarely are using two cars at the same time, these days, so it make this transition to stepping down to one car that much easier.

We currently lease a small, but efficient 2007 Honda Civic and own a small, but as efficient as she can be 2001 Toyota Rav4. The Rav4 is my baby, surviving the worst car crash I have ever been in, experiencing Vermont winters (she’s only a 2×4), and seeing me through my tumultuous 20s. While she may not have been the most fuel efficient cars of her time, she has been a dear friend. Replacing her towing capacity, reliance, and comfort while maintaining top notch fuel efficiency is our number goal in finding the perfect vehicle – the question is: are there any new automobiles on the market up to the challenge?

The simple answer right now is: we just aren’t sure yet. We have looked at the obvious choices like all the hybrid models currently available to the U.S. market. We have researched the conventional engine models which have “good” gas mileage, and we have begun the investigation into new diesel technologies which are not only cleaner than your father’s diesel engines but more efficient too. But there are other aspects to consider too – do they have the room we need? Are they something I want to be in for a long ride half way across the country when we visit the family? Will they last and have excellent resale value five to eight years from now? And sadly, will the manufacturer even exist by year’s end let alone for the life of the vehicle?

We are both professional environmentalists, who both even advocate for strong climate legislation for a living, so it is important to us to make the right decision in a time when consumers can really make a statement just by their purchase.

Over the next few days and weeks, I will be chronicling our efforts to find the perfect auto and hopefully making it easier for you to follow suit when you are ready to look for your next four wheel best friend. Have a question or have advice, comment below!

It’s clear that the chemicals used to keep the winter’s ice at bay which we have grown to love over the last few decades do not benefit the environment. While keeping ice off of your driveways and sidewalks is one thing, it’s another thing to keep it off of your car without damaging your paint job.

Try these simple, non-toxic methods for both preventing ice and deicing your vehicle:

• Pour lukewarm (NOT HOT) water over your windshield before you scrape (only good if the temperature is not too much below 32 degrees F.)
• Plan ahead – if you know an ice storm is pending, place a rug or towel over your windshield to keep the ice off.
• Use 1part vinegar to 2parts water on your windshield to help repel the ice. It may help make it easier to scrape as well.

While it may not be fun or what you really wanted to hear, the most environmentally friendly and effective method of removing ice from your car actually is simply and carefully scraping it off.

To Warm or Not to Warm

Many of you may have grown up hearing that if the weather is cold, you should start your car and let it idle for a few minutes before you drive away. This used to be fairly truthful years ago, before cars evolved to have fuel injected engines.

Everyone should take the time to read what their owner’s manual says about warming up your car, especially if you drive a hybrid vehicle. Today’s cars generally do not need time to idle before driving when the weather is cold because they have computers and fuel injected systems which carefully monitor the amount of fuel needed. Small tweaks are made by the system to accommodate for the temperature.

When cars idle, they operate at their most inefficient levels, increasing the amount of emissions (pollution) they emit. The engine, because it is most inefficient when not moving, wastes more fuel than if you were driving.

So, moral of the story is that you should never leave your car idling both for your health and the car’s.

Have another natural deicing method you think works? Share it with us below in the comments!

Yesterday we chatted about renting green cars, but what if you want to purchase a green car? Increased fuel efficient vehicles are entering the market all the time and if some in Congress have their way, new requirements that American automakers produce green cars could add many more. Still, it’s up to you to do your homework to find a car which bests suits your driving habits, budget, and shade of green.

For drivers who commute to work long distances driving highway miles without stop and go traffic, an efficient conventional vehicle may be better for you. Sound shocking? It’s not. Most hybrid vehicles generate energy through braking, making them more efficient for city driving than highway driving. If you were, for example, to compare the costs and benefits of purchasing a Honda Civic with that of a Hybrid Honda Civic, you may find that your driving habits do not make the hybrid worth the added costs because you use your car to take long trips with little stop and go. The same can be said if you take public transportation most of the time and drive very few miles.

Take the time to understand hybrid technology so that you can best decide if it’s worth the extra cost based on they type of driving you do and the alternative car you would drive if it weren’t a hybrid.

Besides hybrids, there are other types of fuel efficient, low emissions vehicles on the market or soon to be on the market. Relatively small groups of people are taking it upon themselves to retrofit their cars to accept biodiesel, a fuel which usually comes from used oils such as restaurant frying oil. Soon to be on the market are hybrid plug-in vehicles which offer the same technology as the current hybrid with the addition of a plug to help you get a head start at energizing the electric battery and therefore increasing the number of miles you can drive on each tank of fuel.

Still confused about what cars have the greatest fuel efficiency? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a program called SmartWay which might help. Previously focused entirely upon tractor trailer fleets, this new program now offers a green leaf logo which you can look for on consumer cars and trucks. Much like other certification programs, the green leaf shows that these vehicles are more fuel efficient and have cleaner emissions than others on the market. If you already have a car in mind and want to see how it ranks, check out the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide.

But there is more to consider about your future car than just the emissions and fuel efficiency. While most of us think of are concerned about the emissions at the tailpipe, few realize that there are also toxic emissions from a car’s interior. That “new car” smell isn’t just a clean scent auto manufacturers spray at the end of production; it’s the off gassing of chemicals used to make upholstery, dashboards, the foam in seats, and other interior parts. The Ecology Center offers a project called Healthy Car which tests hundreds of cars and rates them based on their toxicity. The most common chemicals found in cars are flame retardants (found to be endocrine disruptors), lead, and polyvinyl chlorides (PVC). Take a look at the most and least concern vehicles for 2008.

Lastly, more car manufacturers are making a concerted effort to clean up their manufacturing plants by recycling, reducing waste, and eliminating many toxic chemicals. Subaru celebrates their fourth year as a zero waste manufacturer this year. These efforts not only reduce the waste going into landfills but also the chemicals to which workers are exposed.

When purchasing your next vehicle, look at the whole picture, not just what goes in the gas tank and out the tailpipe.