What are the cleanest cars? Where would I purchase one?
The cleanest gas burning vehicles score a 1 on the Auto Asthma Index. The newer vehicles (model years 2001-2006) that score a 1 meet California’s Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) or the national Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) standards. They are not widely available. Most can only be purchased in California, and some Northeastern states (Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Maine). We highlight the availability of clean models when we provide the Index value for the typically sold, dirtier versions of the same vehicle. Automakers claim that it is expensive to make the cleanest versions of vehicles, such as those meeting California’s PZEV standards, so they continue to sell much dirtier versions throughout the US. However, California air quality officials estimate the cost of the improvements needed to produce these clean vehicles at less than $200 per vehicle, a tiny contribution to the overall price of new cars and trucks. [Healey 2003] Automakers should provide all th