Kevin McCormally: I am Kevin McCormally of Kiplinger's and I am here with Mark Solheim, the Auto Editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine to talk about Green cars. Mark, which cars are best for the environment?
Mark Solheim: Well there is a list that comes out every year from a Washington, D.C. chain called American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy that's a mouthful I know, but they list 10 or 12 cars that are very good for the environment.
Kevin McCormally: How do we pick those cars? What it's based on?
Mark Solheim: Their criteria include tailpipe emissions, fuel efficiency as well as the manufacturing process and even whether the car is recycled at the end of its life time.
Kevin McCormally: Okay, what's the greenest car of 2007?
Mark Solheim: The greenest car is not a hybrid, it is a car that's available only in California in New York State, Honda Civic GX, it's the car that runs on natural gas.
Kevin McCormally: Okay what's next?
Mark Solheim: Then you get your hybrids, you get the Prius, the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Nissan Altima Hybrid which is new for the 2007.
Kevin McCormally: Do any gasoline powered cars make this list?
Mark Solheim: Yes, they do. Toyota's two smallest cars the Yaris and the Corolla make the list next, simply because they are so fuel efficient that their green scores are boosted.
Kevin McCormally: One final question, diesels are supposed to be the part of the future. Are any of the diesel cars make the green car list.
Mark Solheim: There are no diesels on the green car list. Diesels still are struggling to meet certain pollution standards. Right now, they have got certain help to contribute to this mark, may be next year there will be a big break through in the diesels.
Kevin McCormally: But for now the best car for the environment is one that runs on the natural gas?
Mark Solheim: That's right, Kevin.
Kevin McCormally: Okay, thank you Mark.
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