# Green Volt Car vs Fully Electric Vehicles Comparison

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/02/green-volt-car-vs-fully-electric-vehicles-comparison/
- Published: 2011-02-16T03:03:01-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## The Green Chevy Volt Misses “ACEEE’s Greenest List”, But It’s Still a Strong Choice

I love the green Chevy Volt. Yet, every year, the American Council for an Energy-
Efficient Economy (ACEEE) releases its list of the “Greenest Vehicles.” These rankings
focus on the most efficient, low-emission cars on the market. This time, the Chevy
Volt didn’t make the top tier.

That might surprise some fans. But it doesn’t mean the Volt isn’t a great car. In
fact, it remains one of the most innovative vehicles in its class.

### Why the Volt Missed the Top List

ACEEE uses a strict formula to rank cars. It prioritizes fuel economy, tailpipe 
emissions, and even the environmental cost of manufacturing. Fully electric cars
like the Nissan Leaf scored higher because they use no gasoline and have zero tailpipe
emissions.

The Volt, on the other hand, is a plug-in hybrid. It can run on battery power for
shorter trips, but it also has a gasoline engine for longer distances. That gasoline
use raises its emissions score just enough to miss ACEEE’s greenest cutoff.

### Still a Remarkable Green Car

Even though it didn’t make the top list, the Volt is still a major step forward.
It offers electric-only driving for daily commutes, cutting gasoline use and emissions
for many drivers. When you need longer range, the gas engine kicks in—removing “
range anxiety” entirely.

For many buyers, that flexibility is a real advantage. It helps more drivers move
toward electric power without sacrificing convenience or confidence on the road.

### More Than Just Rankings

Lists like ACEEE’s are helpful guides, but they don’t tell the whole story. The 
Volt’s design encourages drivers to rely on electric power as much as possible. 
In practice, many owners report using little or no gasoline in daily driving.

Meanwhile, the Volt helps introduce more people to electric driving. It’s a gateway
to full EV adoption. Even if it’s not the “greenest” on paper, it’s still pushing
the market in a greener direction.

### Conclusion

The Chevy Volt may not top every green ranking, but it remains an important, practical,
and innovative choice. It bridges the gap between traditional gasoline cars and 
full electrics. For drivers wanting to cut emissions without giving up flexibility,
it’s still one of the best options available.

Source: CNN

According to this lovely study, the fully electric Nissan Leaf ranked second among
all [2011 model year cars on the same lis](https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/autos/1102/gallery.aceee_greenest_cars/index.html?iid=EL)
t.

Source: General Motors

 [⌊Chevrolet volt saves supertanker worth gas⌉](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/redvolt.jpg?quality=52&ssl=1)

Vehicles are ranked according to a “Green Score,” factoring fuel economy and emissions,
including emissions from electric power plants. The relative impact of a vehicle’s
manufacture and disposal, based on the car’s weight, was also considered.

[For the entire story from CNN.](https://money.cnn.com/2011/02/15/autos/aceee_volt_green/index.htm)

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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