Green Energy Times Staff
Every year we like to do a review of what good fuel-efficient vehicles are available. This year we started by asking Beth Bassett, communications director at Grappone Auto Group from Bow, New Hampshire.
GET: What, in your estimation, are the best fuel-efficient vehicles for 2015 and why?
Bassett: I don’t think anything really compares to the Prius. I prefer the smaller and sportier Prius C which you can buy for under $20,000! Then there is the traditional looking mid-size Prius Three and Prius Four which run in the mid $20K range. We still have a lot of people that buy the Prius V Wagon for the added space and the great gas mileage of 44/City and 40/hwy.
Toyota also has the Prius Plug-in but they are VERY hard to find.
GET: We have heard good things about Fords. What about them?
Bassett: Ford is doing a great job of getting in the “fuel-efficient” arena. The Ford Fusion Energi is a gorgeous luxury sedan. Ya, it’s a little pricey at $30,000 but it is super roomy and a really sharp looking car. Plus, it’s rated for 44/City and 41/Hwy.
More and more charging stations are popping up including at the new rest areas they built on I-93 in Hooksett. These ‘quick charge’ stations, like we have at Grappone, can charge this vehicle in just a couple of hours. Since we use solar panels to charge our charging stations, they are free to the public.
The 2015 Ford Fusion Energi. source: www.ford.com
You can plug also plug it in when you get home at night (the cord comes with the car and runs on regular 110 volt) and it will stop drawing electricity once it’s charged. The full charge gives you about 20 -22 miles of full electric operation. After that, it’s full hybrid, meaning that it uses no gas at stops and regenerates electricity when you apply the brakes. How sweet is that?!!
GET: What do you think about the price of gas going down lately?
Bassett: Gas prices may be low right now but you and I both know this is a temporary situation. I would certainly take advantage of the great deals right now and save even more.
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We felt two cars stood out in reviews at Popular Mechanics webpage. One is a 50-MPG Family Car, which can be found by visiting :
2015 Honda Accord Hybrid Price: $30,095; MPG (City/Hwy): 50/45
A driver who has only experienced gas-powered cars can get into a Honda Accord Hybrid and feel at home driving it. Its hybrid technology is not a distraction from the basic fact that the car is very enjoyable to drive. The electric motor delivers 166 horsepower, giving it a good deal of power. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine comes alive when it is needed and goes asleep when it can. When the engine is off, the car is powered by its lithium-ion battery. One thing the driver might notice is that the car has a range of 750 miles between fill-ups.
The other car we noticed, which can be found at , is the 2015 BMW i3; Price: $42,275; MPGE (City/Hwy): 137/111
The BMW i3 is all about combining efficiency with comfort. To do this, it relies on advanced technology as a backdrop for a piece of automotive art. It provides the driver with a possibility of enjoying luxury without feeling guilty about an environmental impact.
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