The cleanest cars you can buy

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Green car buying advice

What you can buy depends on where you live. Many automakers make one version of a car for the 11 "green" states, and another for the rest of the U.S.. For example, in Arizona you may not be able to buy that low-emissions version of the Mercury Milan; at the very least, you may have to special order it.
Foggy smog index. New car stickers typically show a confusing smog index that compares the vehicle's emissions to others in its class. A simpler sticker (similar to the EPA's SmartWay label) that features smog and global warming scores, debuts in 2009.
Learn the LEV. California classifies vehicles in six different emission categories, from LEV (Low Emission Vehicle) to ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle.) Starting in 2007, all cars sold in the 11 " green" states must meet the stricter LEV II standards.
Find that LEV! The LEV rating is rarely on the sticker. Dig into the automaker's literature or pop the car's hood and locate the Vehicle Emissions Control Information label. You'll see something like "LEV II SULEV" (the California rating) and "Tier 2, Bin 3" (EPA's equivalent rating). Better yet, go to the California Air Resources Board site, click the model year link on the right, and check the "Emissions Standard" column.
Get lazy. "Buy the most fuel-efficient car in the size class you want," says Green Car Journal's Ron Cogan. "Chances are this will also be a very clean car when it comes to emissions."

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Article discussion: The cleanest cars you can buy

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Latest post:

"Cleanest car is not a car"

by flashtypist (See profile) - May 16, 2008 11:16 AM PDT

If you must drive a car, try to make it a clean car. But if you can walk, bike or take public transportation, that's even cleaner. The more people who try alternatives to the car (... (Read more).

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green vehicles

What a waste when you don't look at what you provide. The toyota fchv is done on... (Read more)

by Gene Evans (See profile) - May 5, 2007 6:08 AM PDT

green vehicles.

a good job that someone takes an interest in the future of our planet. maybe ele... (Read more)

by flowers 61 (See profile) - May 2, 2007 4:33 PM PDT

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