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5 Top Green Cars that Changed History

There are a variety of "green" cars out on the road. In fact, we see many of here in Lakeland, FL. Electric, hybrid, hydrogen or solar, environmentally-friendly vehicles function fully or partly on alternative energy sources, which means they produce fewer harmful things to affect the planet as opposed to conventional vehicles. We at Meisner Paint & Body, Inc have seen the evolution of the Green Car Movement throughout the years, and as green vehicles become more popular, we’ve seen how many of our customers realize the benefits behind owning them. In addition to being fuel-efficient, many green cars are now affordable and sometimes cost the same as their comparable gas alternative.

The Top 5 Green Cars

If you’re interested in getting a green car, you may be wondering which one to get. There are many to choose from, so which is the best? Here is our list of the 5 top green cars, based on industry reports: 

1.) Tesla Roadster

You can't mention top green vehicles without including Tesla's Roadster, the all-electric sports car. The California automaker began developing the Roadster in 2004 and released it in the United States in 2008. It was the very first production automobile to utilize lithium-ion battery cells and travel more than 200 miles on a single charge. Tesla's success demonstrated to car manufacturers the demand for more efficient vehicles.

2.) Chevy Volt

In 2007, Bob Lutz, vice-chairman of GM, said the Tesla Roadster inspired him to encourage GM to build the Chevrolet Volt. The plug-in hybrid sedan was introduced in 2010, based on technologies pioneered by the GM EV1 from the 1990s. The 2016 Volt can run up to 53 miles on its battery before the gas-powered engine is activated.

3.) Toyota Prius

It's the best-selling hybrid ever. More than 3.5 million units of the Prius liftback have been sold since Prius was first introduced to the market in 1997. In 2009, it sold more than any other car – hybrid or not – in Japan. It also helped revitalize Toyota and brand the car manufacturer as an eco-conscious company.

4.) Nissan Leaf

Introduced in Japan and this country in December 2010, the Nissan Leaf was the first modern all-electric vehicle produced for the mass market by a major manufacturer. The five-door hatchback emits no tailpipe emissions and has sold more than 200,000 vehicles. The latest 2016 model has a driving range of 107 miles.

5.) BMW i3

The all-electric BMW i3, a five-door electric hatchback, was introduced in 2014. It is the German manufacturer's first zero emissions mass-produced vehicle. One of the most fuel-efficient EPA-certified cars on the road, the i3 uses Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), which is as strong as steel but half the weight. According to BMW, this improves energy consumption and offers responsive acceleration and handling.

Sources: USA Today, GreenCars and Wikipedia