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TORONTO, Ont. — In what is likely the tightest competitions in its five-hear history, expert judges have selected six vehicles as finalists for the 2017 Canadian Green Car Award.
The overall winner will be revealed Friday, April 7th, at the Green Living Show, in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The finalists were selected after extensive testing and assessment by the judges, all leading Canadian automotive journalists, who picked the top entries in six technology and style categories.*
The finalists are:
Zero Emission: Chevrolet Bolt
Plug-in Hybrid: Chevrolet Volt
Hybrid: Hyundai Ioniq
Efficient Internal Combustion: Honda Civic
Efficient Three-Row Family Vehicle: Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Fun Car: Jaguar XE 2.0D
The Canadian Green Car Award recognizes vehicles that offer impressive “green” attributes combined with strong mass-market appeal, based on the understanding that any product can have a significant environmental impact only if it sells in large numbers.
To achieve this result, the assessments combined “objective” criteria, such as fuel economy, emissions and price, with the judges’ evaluations of performance, driving experience, value, features and “green” qualities.
“The task for the Canadian Green Car Award judges gets more challenging as automakers continue to raise the bar in technology, fuel economy and quality,” says Laurie Simmonds, President and CEO of Green Living Enterprises, which operates the annual Green Living Show. “The six finalists are all outstanding ‘green’ vehicles, and the judges once again have their work cut out for them in making the ultimate choice.”
The competition began with the Award Steering Committee selecting three nominees in each of the six categories, based on meeting essential “green” criteria related to technology type and fuel economy. The judges then evaluated the nominees, including test drives, data from manufacturers and their own experience. Those scores produced the six category winners announced today.
“This year our judging panel was struck by how mainstream green cars have become,” notes Eric Novak, Co-creator of the Canadian Green Car Award. “The six finalists have demonstrated that by owning a vehicle with minimal environmental impact, one doesn’t need to feel they are making sacrifices in other areas. Seeing green cars as normal instead of alternative is critical to achieve wide-spread acceptance among car buyers and our finalists this year go a long way towards proving that.”
This open process, in which eligibility doesn’t depend on whether a manufacturer is willing to pay a substantial entry fee, is in line with other global green car awards and makes the program a very meaningful gauge for consumers.
The overall 2017 Canadian Green Car Award winner will be revealed at 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 7, at the Green Living Show in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building. Andrew Horsman, Executive Director of Ontario Tire Stewardship, will present the trophy. In addition to declaring the winner, Mr. Horsman will announce an exciting environmental achievement in tire recycling.
All six finalist vehicles will be on display throughout the three-day Show, last year attended by more than 35,000 visitors.
*Basic criteria for each category:
· Zero-emission: Battery electric, fuel cell or other zero-emission technology.
· Plug-in hybrid: Hybrid electric vehicle that uses rechargeable batteries, or another energy storage device, that can be recharged by plugging it in to an external source of electric power.
· Conventional hybrid-electric: Must have combined fuel economy of 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres or lower, according to the five-cycle Natural Resources Canada Fuel Consumption Rating or, if that is not yet available, the equivalent U.S. EPA rating.
· Gasoline or diesel internal combustion: Must have combined fuel economy of 7.0 litres per 100 kilometres or lower.
· Efficient Three-Row: A passenger vehicle of any propulsion technology with at least three forward-facing rows of seating, accommodating at least six occupants. If powered by gasoline or diesel internal combustion, or a conventional hybrid, it must have a combined fuel economy of 10.0 litres per 100 kilometres or lower.
· Fun car: Any passenger vehicle of any propulsion technology that accelerates from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 7.5 seconds or faster. If powered by gasoline or diesel internal combustion, or a conventional hybrid, it must have a combined fuel economy of 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres or lower.
For more details on the 2017 Canadian Green Car Award, including the list of all vehicle nominees and the judges who assessed them, visit www.canadiangreencaraward.ca.
The Green Living Show takes place April 7th to 9th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For more information on living a healthier more sustainable lifestyle, please visit greenlivingshow.ca. Join the conversation on Facebook, follow the Green Living Show on Twitter and Instagram @GreenLivingPage.
About Green Living Enterprises
Green Living Enterprises is Canada’s leading cause-marketing agency focused on social and environmental program development. Our team is led by award-winning industry experts in the fields of brand and program development; custom content; advertising, marketing and communications; and event management. Green Living Enterprises also includes Greenlivingonline.com and The Green Living Show, Canada’s largest consumer show, dedicated to simple solutions for leading a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
About the Green Living Show
The Green Living Show is Canada’s largest consumer show dedicated to simple solutions for leading a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. This three-day event offers inspiration for all ages and features influential speakers; innovative products; eco home and garden design; local and organic food and wine tastings; health, wellness and yoga pavilions; eco fashion and green beauty makeovers; electric car test drives; nature exhibits and fun activities for the entire family.
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