A revolution in fits and starts

If revolutions can begin in fits and starts, then the green revolution is here. Two weeks ago, the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) tested 17 “green” vehicles. The car awarded the top spot in polling — the all-electric Fiat 500e — can be had only in California. It can’t be purchased in any of the Northwest states. Nor can another attractive newcomer, the Honda Fit EV. Fortunately, the competition wasn’t limited to EVs. The writers also rated a selection of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and diesel-powered vehicles, with varying levels of price, efficiency and purpose. They ranged from the $25,695 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel (27 mpg city/46 mpg highway to the $120,805 Lexus LS 600h L hybrid (19/23). A few conclusions: 1. Manufacturers like Fiat and Honda are focusing their green efforts in markets most likely to respond. Ford is playing it both ways; its attractive newcomer, the Focus EV ($39,995) will be available in the Spokane area, but only by special order. 2. Going green comes at a cost. Green technologies are more expensive more than their conventional counterparts. Buyers must weigh the higher cost of entry against potential savings at the pump — or, in the case of the truly green — the environmental benefits. 3. Diesel is gradually making inroads in the U.S. Volkswagen, which showed a pair of diesels (counting Audi’s magnificent A8 Diesel), says 25 percent of Passat buyers choose diesel, a number limited by production capabilities. Impressions EVs The EV field ranged from the cute-as-a-button, two-passenger Fiat 500e ($33,495) to Ford’s electronics-laden Focus Electric. Personal Pick: Nissan’s Leaf ($36,910), whose range, roominess and overall utility — and availability — are first-rank. The Focus impressed, as did Honda’s Fit EV. My personal Honorable Mention — based entirely on style points — goes to the Fiat. NWAPA Winner: Fiat 500e Notes: 1) All EVs are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit; 2) Although GM calls its Volt an EV, the EPA calls it a hybrid, which is where NWAPA judged it. Diesels This growing segment produces vehicles as diverse as the Cruze and Audi’s $83,395 A8L Diesel. My top picks: the A8 which, despite its limo-like heft earns EPA ratings of 24 city/36 highway, and the VW Beetle TDI Convertible ($28,690), the only diesel convertible available in the States. NWAPA Winner: Chevrolet Cruze Turbo Diesel Notes: 1) Today’s diesels are quiet and refined. They make bundles of torque while producing up to 30 percent fewer emissions than comparable gasoline engines; 2) the Cruze Diesel is being introduced in a limited number of markets, but will be available nationwide by late summer. Hybrids/Plug-in Hybrids Both varieties of hybrid outsell the other categories by wide margins — and the competitors keep getting better. I liked the Volt ($45,540) and found it impossible to deny a spot to the Prius V ($35,704), which is roomier, though somewhat less efficient, than the original hatchback. NWAPA Winner: Chevrolet Volt Notes: This segment produced the day’s priciest competitor, the Lexus LS 600h L, a lovely car whose 19/23 mileage ratings seem to more or less defeat the purpose. The green revolution will be a revolution of tipping points; as fuel prices continue their inexorable rise and the cost of green technologies edge downward, more buyers will take the plunge. In the near term, though, expect this revolution to be a bumpy one. Don Adair is a Spokane-based freelance writer. Contact him at don@dadair.com.