2016 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe on 2040-cars

Auto blog

ACEEE's greenest car for 2014 is Smart Fortwo electric, Tesla Model S just average

Every year, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) looks into the soul of the American automobile market and figures out which vehicles are evil. This is how it comes up with a "meanest" vehicle rating. Wait, no, that's not right. In reality, ACEEE rates vehicles using Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board fuel economy data and "other specifications reported by automakers" to find both the meanest and greenest vehicles of the year. In other words, the least and the most efficient. For 2014, the greenest vehicle is the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive while the meanest is the Class 2B Ram 2500. The results are published over on Greener Cars. The highest possible score in ACEEE's formula would result in 100, but the Smart ED won with a 59, showing just how much further the industry has to go to really green up its act, according to ACEEE. Aside from fuel use, ACEEE looks at pollution - particulates, greenhouse gases, etc. - from vehicle and fuel production and its effect on health. The average vehicle, ACEEE says, scores a 37 while those mean ones only manage a 17 or so. It's interesting to note that 59 is the highest score ACEEE has ever handed out, but the calculations were also changed for 2014 (detailed PDF here). Oh, and in case you were curious about the ever-popular Tesla Model S? The ACEEE said the 85-kWh model was totally average with 37 points, mostly because it's so heavy. Other highly ranked green vehicles this year included the Prius family (shocker) as well as the Honda Civic Hybrid, the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Lexus CT 200H. Last year, the Toyota Prius C was named the greenest vehicle and Ford drove away with the meanest title, thanks to three vehicles, the F-350 FFV and F-250 FFV trucks and the E-350 Wagon van. You can see winners of earlier years here and this year's rankings below.

Daimler's Car2go carsharing service expands to Los Angeles

The Beach Boys typified the Southern California lifestyle by famously singing about hot rods, drag races and convertibles (not to mention surfer girls). So we never would've guessed that their hometown would help host a carsharing service featuring squat two-seaters. But times have changed. Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler is bringing its Car2go carsharing service to Southern California on June 6, marking the service's 14th market in North America and its 27th worldwide. Car2go, which features Smart ForTwo two-seaters (almost exclusively) and has more than 700,000 users worldwide, is actually making it a South Bay affair, offering the service in the 28-square-mile area that ranges from El Segundo to Lomita and includes the Beach Boys' hometown of Hawthorne. Fun, fun, fun indeed. Car2go, which says it will provide the Los Angeles region's "first point-to-point" carsharing service, will make 150 ForTwos available at a rate of 41 cents a minute and is offering free registration and 30 minutes of free cruising for a limited period of time. Car2go started service in Rome in mid-March and has been adding new cities at quite a clip since starting out in Ulm, Germany, in 2008. It debuted stateside in Austin, TX in 2009. Check out Car2go's press release about its Los Angeles South Bay operations below, and get more LA details here. car2go Expands Network In Southern California With Point-to-Point Carsharing In The South Bay First Point-To-Point Service in the Los Angeles Region to Be Available On June 6th Free Registration Begins Today For a Limited Time AUSTIN, Texas, May 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- car2go North America LLC, the fastest-growing global carsharing company, announced today that it will be expanding its network in Southern California with its pioneering point-to-point carsharing service in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County on June 6th, marking the South Bay as car2go's 14th market in North America and the first in the Los Angeles region. Beginning today, car2go will offer free member registration along with 30 minutes of drive time credit for a limited time at LA.car2go.com using the promotional code SURF. "We are thrilled to become part of the South Bay community by providing the most convenient, true point to point and technologically-advanced carsharing service in the world," said Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go North America.

Car2go turns your smartphone into carsharing key with Mobile Access

For all the smarts in the Smart cars used in Car2go, the cars haven't been smart enough to talk to users' smart phones. At least, not in the way you might want them to talk to each other. Until now, Car2go users have had to carry a special card with them to gain access to the broad network of carsharing vehicles. Now, you can get in and drive using your phone and the Car2go app. Previously, the app would let you find a Car2go vehicle, but an update to allow Mobile Access. As long as you can update your app to version 2.0 (on iOS or Android), you can now use your phone to find, reserve and unlock a Car2go to start your trip and then lock up and end your trip when you're done. The standard card still works, as well. The slick new feature works on all 12,500 Car2go vehicles in North America. The service was also recently updated with Regional Access to allow any user in North America to use a Car2go in any other North American city. When the European fleet gets integrated, we'll be even more excited. Read more below. With your phone replacing the card, Car2go has gotten a lot easier to use. I've certainly missed out on drives when I've forgotten my cars. With one less thing to carry, I've got one more reason to share a car. CAR2GO OFFERS MOBILE ACCESS TO ITS GLOBAL FLEET Members Will Now Be Able to Begin car2go Trips with their Smartphone Free Membership and Drive Time For a Limited Time AUSTIN, TX (November 24th, 2014) -- car2go North America LLC, the largest, fastest-growing global carsharing company, announced today the launch of Mobile Access, an upgraded app feature that allows members to not only search for and reserve a car2go vehicle, but begin their car2go trip via their smartphones. Beginning today, Mobile Access will serve as an alternative to the company's member card, which was, until now, the only way to access a car2go vehicle and end a ride. "At car2go, we are focused on improving our service and providing the best experience for our members with their feedback," said Paul DeLong, CMO of car2go North America. "With the addition of Mobile Access, we're making it easier for our members to get in a car2go. Having options are everything – now, our members won't have to carry their membership card – they'll be able to drive in no time." Mobile Access works similarly to the member card, allowing members to unlock a car2go and start their trip. Members can also continue to use their member card if they prefer.