Think a luxurious vehicle and an eco-friendly lifestyle are mutually exclusive? Think again. The Tesla Model S is just one of a growing number of dream cars that deliver zero-emission performance.

For many generations, the automobile represented America’s lust for independence, self-expression, and yes, wealth. Back in the 1950’s and ’60’s, no one was thinking about carbon emissions or dependence on fossil fuels. All we wanted was a shiny paint job, a big engine, and to feel the wind in our hair as we sped off into the sunset.

Some of us still want these things, but knowledge of what those gas-guzzling engines do to the planet keeps us from indulging. We choose tiny cars that get much better gas mileage, or perhaps we opt to bike or walk whenever possible. But what if it were possible to feel the thrill of screaming down the highway without leaving a trail of pollution behind you? The Tesla Model S, one of the most popular all-electric cars to hit the U.S. market, and the four other dream cars on this list, make it possible.

1. Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S offers two battery size options, with the biggest capable of supplying 300 miles of travel at 55 mph. But who wants to go 55? Top speed for the Tesla Model S is around 130 mph (not your average electric car, eh?). The average annual fuel cost for comparable gas-powered dream cars is over $5,000–the Tesla costs about $934. And have we mentioned it’s stunning to look at?

2. BMW i3

The latest to appear on the all-electric luxury car scene, the BMW i3 was only unveiled a few weeks ago. And while it is a hatchback, it still lives up to BMW’s high standards for aesthetic appeal and performance. “The car is designed to go from zero to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 7 seconds, up to top speeds of 93 mph,” reports Green Biz. About 25 percent of the plastics in the interior and 25 percent of the thermoplastics parts on the exterior were sourced from recycled materials or renewable sources, says BMW. The i3 will hit showrooms in the U.S. in spring 2014.

3. Fisker Karma

The Fisker Karma was one of the first brands to prove that you can have luxury and performance while eliminating carbon emissions. It features a “a very respectable 403 horsepower coupled with a jaw dropping 951 lb-ft of torque” which delivers “a zero-to-60 time of 7.9 seconds and a 95 mile per hour top speed – in electric-only “Stealth Mode,” according to Left Land News. The Karma offered it all, and many had high hopes for the brand. Unfortunately, the company has experienced money troubles in the past year, and some fear it will fold. Silver lining: the once $100,000 car can now be scooped up for about half the price.

4. Venturi America

Venturi calls the America a “high-riding sports car,” and with impressive ground clearance and a dune-buggy like appearance it’s not hard to see why. The valet will never bottom out when parking this two passenger beauty. “Powered by a 53 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, the America has a driving a range of around 186 miles (presumably in Cruising mode) with a top speed of 124 miles per hour,” reports Autoblog. The bad news? Venturi is only making 100 of these door-less electric enduro cars, and in an ironic twist, none of will be sold in the U.S.

5. Rimac Concept One

Developed by a Croatian company called Rimac Automobili, the Concept One is meant to destroy our assumptions about how dream cars operate. The Concept One uses a set of four electric motors, one for each wheel, which allow the car to go from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.8 seconds, not topping out until about 190 mph. The interior, designed by the leather-specialists from Vilner, makes you feel like you’re in a well-appointed space ship, right down to the high-tech dials and ergonomic, hand-tailored seats.

Related Reading on Ecosalon:

The Next Tesla Could Feature Google’s Autopilot Tech

An All-Electric Sedan Made In The USA, For The USA

Images: Tesla Motors, Fisker, thesupermat, Rimac Automobili

The post The Tesla Model S And 4 More All-Electric Dream Cars appeared first on EcoSalon.

Momentum seems to be mounting toward what may be a sea change in the automobile market – and hopefully the beginning of a fundamental downshift in what we do to the air every time we hit the road. In just the last two weeks, we told you about the Nissan Leaf selling out pre-orders, the Mercedes and BMW jumping into the e-market in the not-too-distant future, new electric highways and other infrastructure plans, and how the announcement of an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on the Chevy Volt is making this whole e-car business finally begin to seem real. Adding to this, yesterday’s latest show-us-the-money puzzle piece in the emerging picture: the 2011 Chevy Volt will start at $41,000.

The Volt is an electric vehicle that can drive 40 miles on batteries before a gasoline engine kicks in to extend its range another 300 miles. The $41K price tag, announced by GM yesterday at the Plug-In 2010 conference in San Jose, CA, includes a $720 destination fee. A $7,500 federal tax credit brings the net purchase price down to $33,500.

As reported by CNET, GM hopes to sell 10,000 cars in the first year and 30,000 more in 2012. The base model will have a number of features, including Bluetooth connectivity, a navigation screen, and five years of GM’s OnStar service. Four premium options are also available, including leather seats and steering wheel, rear camera and parking sensors, polished wheels, and one of three premium paints. If you want to throw down big, the fully loaded Volt will set you back $44,600, or $37,100 after the tax credit. (Some states may also offer credits on top of the Federal deal. California will rebate $5,000 for the Nissan’s all-electric Leaf, but that won’t apply to the Volt.)

The Leaf, by the way, is also due out this year and has an anticipated MSRP of $33,000. While the list price of the Bolt is higher, GM also unveiled a three-year $350-a-month lease, with a $2,500 down payment. Says GreenCarReports, “That’s only a dollar higher than the lease for the 2011 Nissan Leaf electric car, despite the Volt’s much higher purchase price.” GM says it’s doing this based on its strong belief in the car’s residual value.

The first Volts will arrive at Chevrolet dealers in November, first in California, followed by the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area, then Washington, D.C., followed by Michigan, and finally Texas.

The post A Fair Charge? Chevy Volt to Start at $41K appeared first on EcoSalon.

I enjoyed going to annual auto shows when I was a kid, checking out the concept cars, getting that special “glimpse of the future.” But there was always this hollow undercurrent as I’d realize just how far away the future really was. It went something like, “Awesome – but it’ll never see the light of day. It’s just too crazy, sexy, cool to ever become real.” I had that same feeling when I saw the first electric car prototypes, my cynicism compounded by the knowledge that Big Oil and the Big Three would be dragging their feet Big Time. I wondered: “What’s it going to take to put Detroit’s back against the wall on this stuff?”

So there was something special about reading late last week that GM had released details on the warranty for the Chevy Volt, its electric-vehicle entry that’s due out in November. Indeed, in recent months there have been ongoing and accelerating signs that the next (first real?) phase of the electric-car era is about to become reality. Right here at EcoSalon, in fact, we’ve written about the Volt’s progress toward hitting the road, Nissan selling out pre-orders for the Leaf, and other car makers jumping into the electric game with both feet.

But this warranty news hits a particular nerve, striking me as something especially real – the sales details/fine print behind these things somehow gives the sense that all systems are go; they’re guaranteed now, ok to buy, ok to drive, ok to use like you would any other product. Maybe it’s that I’m “Old School Detroit,” but where I come from, warranties are a big deal, and this one means that a mass-produced electric GM vehicle is no longer an experiment. (Though, of course, it remains to be seen how the public will take to the $35,000ish car, which still faces some challenges on the electric highways, byways and general infrastructure front.)

The details of the warranty sound an awful lot like warranties for “regular” cars. In fact, they’re a little better: the Volt’s LG Chem lithium-manganese battery will be guaranteed for up to eight years or 100,000 miles, and is transferable to future owners. As reported in the New York Times: “The warranty will cover all 161 battery components – as well as other electric-drive components – and the battery’s liquid thermal management system, which heats or cools the battery while charging in a variety of weather conditions.”

The rest of the warranty looks like this: 100,000 mile/five-year transferable Engine Limited Warranty (for the Range Extender); 100,000 mile/five-year 24/7 Roadside Assistance Program; 100,000 mile/five-year 24/7 Courtesy Transportation Program; 36,000 mile/three-year no-deductible bumper-to-bumper transferable warranty; and 100,000 mile/six-year corrosion protection.

Nissan has yet to announce its coverage plans for the Leaf but, says Autoblog, the automaker is now reaching out to prospective customers (including some of those who made deposits to reserve the right to purchase the all-electric vehicle) to find out what they’re looking for in such a warranty.

The post Making It Real: GM Announces Warranty for Chevy Volt appeared first on EcoSalon.

I liked reading this quote in the New York Times from Nissan’s chief executive, Carlos Ghosn: “We wanted to do a zero-emission vehicle. I don’t want gasoline in the car, period.” Apparently, neither do a lot of you – Nissan announced last week that it has received 19,000 orders for its 100-percent-electric car, the Leaf, that it will start selling in the United States and Japan at the end of the year. That translates into no new orders, or SOLD OUT.

As Tonic mentioned on EcoSalon last Friday, the Nissan Leaf is scheduled to enter the market around the same time as the Volt, General Motors’ electric entry. But, unlike the Volt, the Leaf has no gasoline engine in it at all. This means it’s limited to a 100-mile range on a single charge. Evidently, this isn’t a problem for at least 19,000 drivers out there who put their money down to reserve one of these potential game changers.

Speaking at a gathering at the Detroit Economic Club, Ghosn said Leaf sales will be limited to certain areas in the United States where infrastructure already exists or is being created to support electric vehicles. (Hello, California!) This way the consumer won’t end up in “a situation where he buys the car and he doesn’t know how to charge it.”

Before you get too fired up about the Leaf, there are some obstacles to keep in mind, says AutoblogGreen’s Sam Abuelsamid. “So far, the orders are comprised of refundable $99 deposits, so it will be interesting to see how sales and orders hold up once people begin getting calls from dealers,” he writes, also noting 2008’s Smart ForTwo, “which also received thousands of orders before deliveries began – and we all know how well that turned out. While the Leaf will undoubtedly be a much more pleasant and practical car to drive than the Smart, it remains to be seen how customers will react once they get used to the real world electric range.”

After initially building the car in Japan, Nissan plans to assemble the Leaf and other electric models at a new plant in Smyrna, Tennessee starting in 2012. The automaker’s goal is to sell a minimum of 500,000 electric cars a year beginning in 2013.

The post They Buy the Auto Electric: Nissan Leaf Is Sold Out for 2010 appeared first on EcoSalon.

Once upon a time, green cars weren’t exactly hot. Only hardcore treehuggers knew much about them, let alone owned one, while most of the world continued to carry on the grand love affair with SUVs.

It’s 2010, and the times have definitely changed. Now, fuel-efficient cars of all stripes, from compact clean diesel cars to luxury hybrids, are just as sexy and powerful as those increasingly archaic gas guzzlers. These 10 green cars stand out as examples of just how great green really is.

Ford Fusion Hybrid
Base Price: $27,950
MPG: 41/36

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid wasn’t voted green car of the year – it was voted car of the year, period. It faced some stiff competition, including its own non-hybrid version and three fuel-efficient vehicles – the Honda Insight, the Toyota Prius and the Volkswagen Golf TDI. North American Car of the Year juror Csaba Csere said, “Though not the first hybrid on the market, or even the second or third, the Fusion Hybrid is simply the best one ever built. In addition to delivering terrific mileage, it looks and drives like a regular car – and a very good one indeed.”

Audi A3 TDI
Base Price: $29,950
MPG: 30/42

Clean diesel got its due this year with the Audi A3 TDI, named Green Car Journal’s 2010 Green Car of the Year. With a sporty, aggressive look and all of the extras expected from the Audi brand, this upscale compact car certainly escapes the stereotype that green vehicles aren’t as fun as their less environmentally friendly counterparts. Classified by the EPA as a small station wagon but described by Audi as a “Sportback”, this high efficiency vehicle is both significantly less expensive and significantly greener than another notably fuel-efficient luxury car – the Mercedes-Benz S400.

Nissan Leaf
Base Price: N/A
MPG: N/A

It won’t be available until December, but the Nissan Leaf is already generating buzz of epic proportions. Winner of Green Car Journal’s 2010 Vision Award, this all-electric vehicle will hook up to a special charging system that runs off a home’s 220-volt power, refilling a drained battery in about eight hours. It can travel up to 100 miles between charges with a reported 107 horsepower and top speed of about 90mph.

The exact price of the Leaf hasn’t been set just yet, but Green Car Journal believes it will be “approachable” and will include the home charger and the battery, likely as a monthly lease fee.

Volkswagen Golf TDI
Base Price: $21,990
MPG: 30/41

It’s roomy. It’s fuel efficient. Oh yeah, and it’s crazy fast. Just ask Jalopnik’s Wes Siler, who got to test drive the Volkswagen Golf TDI on the Autobahn last fall before anyone else had their hands on one. Powered by clean diesel, this powerful little car is almost as green as a hybrid and the four-door model can comfortably seat six adults. The Golf TDI has the same engine as the popular VW Jetta but at 250 pounds lighter, its performance is even better.

Smart ForTwo
Base Price: $11,990
MPG: 41/33

It won’t be blowing anyone away on the Autobahn anytime soon, but where the Smart ForTwo really shines is in its intended environment: the city. This tiny car, with room for two adults and minimal cargo, is the ideal urban vehicle, fitting into the smallest of parking spaces and getting awesome fuel mileage that rivals that of hybrid cars.

Lexus HS 250h
Base Price: $34,650 M
PG: 35/34

Sure, it’s on the pricey side – but hey, luxury consumers want fuel-efficient, earth-friendly cars too, and Lexus delivers with the HS 250h. This hybrid sedan was described by HybridCars.com as “a luxury Prius with a trunk”, but it’s far more than that. As Lexus’ first dedicated hybrid, the HS 250h improves upon previous “mild hybrids”, which didn’t exactly get impressive fuel mileage. It’s got features galore including a front-view monitor with a 190-degree angle of view and a navigation system with real-time traffic and weather. As for the Prius comparison – it costs considerably more, but it’s also 40 percent more powerful.

Mercury Milan Hybrid
Base Price: $31,915
MPG: 41/36

Some people might say the Mercury Milan Hybrid is just a Ford Fusion by another name. That’s true – almost. Under the surface, it’s the same exact car, down to the lauded features like “Smart Gauge with EcoGuide”. It just looks a bit different, with a more rounded nose and the signature Mercury grille.

Honda Insight
Base Price: $19,800
MPG: 40/43

Green Car Reports says the Honda Insight “may be the best bang for your hybrid buck.” The Insight’s fuel mileage may not be quite as impressive as that of the Toyota Prius, but it costs several thousand dollars less. It may take some hybrid drivers time to get used to the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, which starts the car with the internal combustion engine first and glides into using the silent electric motor after idling, stopping or going under 10mph.

Honda Fit
Base Price: $14,900
MPG: 28/35

It may not be a hybrid or run off of electricity, but the highly acclaimed Honda Fit is still a great, green little car and an excellent value. The 2010 Fit is actually no different from the 2009 model, but that’s because they got everything right the first time. The manual transmission gets slightly better fuel mileage than the automatic version at a combined 31mpg. The best thing about this hatchback is its surprising roominess, with a “magic seat” that folds down to accommodate so much cargo, you’d think it was an SUV (without all the gas guzzling.)

Toyota Prius
Base Price: $22,800
MPG: 51/48

Is it totally predictable to include the Toyota Prius on a “hot green cars” list? It may be ubiquitous, but the Toyota Prius is popular for a reason. Despite the Japanese automaker’s recent pedal woes, which have led to a massive recall, the Prius remains among the greenest cars on the market.

The 2010 model has even better fuel efficiency than ever, and adds not just a solar moon roof – which powers a solar ventilation system – but the world’s first remote air conditioning system that can function on battery power alone. Drivers also have more control over the experience with three driving modes: EV-Drive for driving at low speeds on battery power alone, Power Mode for increased throttle sensitivity and Eco Mode for maximum fuel efficiency.

Be sure to check out our review of the Greenest Cars of 2009, too.

The post 10 Hottest Green Cars of 2010 appeared first on EcoSalon.