Hybrid Scorecard
Encyclopedia
The Hybrid Scorecard was created by the Union of Concerned Scientists
(UCS) to give consumers a comprehensive comparison of hybrid electric vehicle
s available in the U.S. market. The UCS Hybrid Scorecard ratings take into considerations fuel economy
as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the environmental benefits as compared to its similar or closest conventional internal combustion engine
counterpart; how cost-effectively a particular hybrid achieves its environmental performance; and premium features that are bundled on a hybrid as standard equipment raising its purchase price.
The Hybrid Scorecard is available to the public through the Hybridcenter.org website, created in 2005 by the Union of Concerned Scientits to provide consumer and technology information about hybrid vehicles. The first scorecard was published in January 2010, for 2009–10 model year
hybrids. The 2011 Hybrid Scorecard was published in July 2011, and evaluated 34 hybrids from the 2011–12 model years available in the U.S.
available in the U.S. market is assessed considering the following four variables: combined miles per gallon, environmental improvement score, hybrid value, and forced features.
rating for highway/city as estimated by the U.S. EPA and expressed in miles per gallon.
-forming and global warming pollution performance of a hybrid against its similar or closest conventional gasoline counterpart, and thus, it does not reflect the vehicle’s overall greenhouse gas emissions performance relative to the average vehicle.
Global warming emissions reduction
The greenhouse gas emission reductions are calculated as a percent reduction based on the combined city/highway fuel economy ratings for both the hybrid and non-hybrid model according to the ratings published in EPA's fuel economy guide available online at www.fueleconomy.gov. The score is measured in a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is the best rating. The scores are assigned in relative terms, then a 10 is assigned to the hybrid with the largest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while a zero is assigned to the hybrid with the smallest reduction. The values assigned to the models are calculated through linear interpolation between the two end points. For purposes of updating the scorecard, if new hybrid models are introduced during the year, the scale has to be re-calculated to take account of the new arrivals. For the 2011 Scorecard, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid was rated a 10 while the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid was rated 0. The Toyota Prius
was rated a 9.4.
Particulates and Smog-forming Emissions
Tailpipe emissions
are considered through EPA’s air pollution score for each hybrid vehicle and not relatively to the improvement over the similar conventional model. Even though EPA rates air pollution scores for both California and federal standards, the Hybrid Scorecard ratings use only the California emissions certification level in order to introduce the maximum potential to reduce tailpipe emissions . The score is measured in a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is the best rating and 0 is the worst. Then, using the legal definitions established by the California Air Resources Board
(CARB), a zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) is assigned a 10, a partial zero emissions vehicle (PZEV) a 9, a super ultra low emission vehicle
(SULEV II) an 8, and so forth.
Combined Environmental Improvement Score
The final Environmental Improvement Score is determined through the average (and rounded to the nearest tenth) of the values for global warming emissions reductions and tailpipe emissions. As an example, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid achieved a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with its sibling gasoline-only model. Because this is the largest percent reduction achieved among all hybrids the MKZ Hybrid earns a global warming emissions score of 10. As a California certified Partial Zero Emission Vehicle, the MKZ Hybrid earns an EPA air pollution score of 9.0. When both scores are combined, the MKZ Hybrid earns an overall Environmental Improvement Score of 9.5.
, the Prius emits 44% less global warming pollution
. The Prius score on forced features was rated relatively good, as the car came with worth of forced features. For the 2010 Hybrid Scorecard the evaluation found that the worst offender was the luxury Lexus LS 600h L hybrid which came with more than in forced features compared with the conventional, base model Lexus LS 460L
. The 2010 Scorecard was updated on April 2010 to include new hybrids that have been launched in the U.S. market such as the Mercedes-Benz S400 and the BMW ActiveHybrid X6.
The Toyota Prius remained the top nonluxury model in the environmental improvement category by emitting 40% less greenhouse emissions than comparable nonhybrid models. In the luxury category, two new additions, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and the Lexus CT200h accomplished similar performance, an achievement the UCS attributed to their relatively small gasoline engines, as the carmakers downsized these vehicles’ engines from six to four cylinders to maximize fuel economy. The evaluation found that the MKZ Hybrid reduces greenhouse emissions by 46.2% as compared to its sibling gasoline-only MKZ, and the Lexus CT200h a 42.9% reduction.
Besides the Prius, the 2011 evaluation found that more automakers are using hybrid technology to increase fuel efficiency and decrease tailpipe emissions without imposing significant price premiums for those benefits, and other hybrids scoring high on environmental improvement include the Ford Fusion Hybrid
, Honda Civic Hybrid
, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid. In the non-luxury category, the worst offender is the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, which reduces less than a 10% of greenhouse emissions, an all-time low on the scorecard. According to the UCS, the "Touareg was singled out as an example of a "muscle" hybrid that emphasized power over fuel efficiency." The UCS also singled out among the worst worst-rated hybrids for environmental improvement the new Porshe Cayenne S Hybrid, the BMW Active Hybrid 750i, and the ActiveHybrid X6.
Hybrid Scorecard for non-luxury models available in the U.S.
(model year
2011–2012)
Hybrid Scorecard for luxury models available in the U.S.
(model year 2011–2012)
The UCS explained that the Chevrolet Volt
plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was not included in the evaluation even though the Volt could have been compared with the Chevrolet Cruze
as the conventional similar. The reason for the exclusion is that PHEVs are affected by a variety of factors that affect their environmental performance, such as the type of fuel used (coal, wind, solar, etc.) for generating electricity to charge the vehicle, and also by the driving habits, including how often the vehicle is plugged in and the number of miles driven on electricity-only mode.
Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit science advocacy group based in the United States. The UCS membership includes many private citizens in addition to professional scientists. James J...
(UCS) to give consumers a comprehensive comparison of hybrid electric vehicle
Hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
s available in the U.S. market. The UCS Hybrid Scorecard ratings take into considerations fuel economy
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the environmental benefits as compared to its similar or closest conventional internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
counterpart; how cost-effectively a particular hybrid achieves its environmental performance; and premium features that are bundled on a hybrid as standard equipment raising its purchase price.
The Hybrid Scorecard is available to the public through the Hybridcenter.org website, created in 2005 by the Union of Concerned Scientits to provide consumer and technology information about hybrid vehicles. The first scorecard was published in January 2010, for 2009–10 model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
hybrids. The 2011 Hybrid Scorecard was published in July 2011, and evaluated 34 hybrids from the 2011–12 model years available in the U.S.
Variables
All hybrid vehicles are grouped into two broad categories, non-luxury and luxury models, and the Hybrid Scorecard score for each hybrid electric vehicleHybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
available in the U.S. market is assessed considering the following four variables: combined miles per gallon, environmental improvement score, hybrid value, and forced features.
Combined miles per gallon
This category considers the combined fuel economyFuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
rating for highway/city as estimated by the U.S. EPA and expressed in miles per gallon.
Environmental Improvement Score
This category measures the smogSmog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
-forming and global warming pollution performance of a hybrid against its similar or closest conventional gasoline counterpart, and thus, it does not reflect the vehicle’s overall greenhouse gas emissions performance relative to the average vehicle.
Global warming emissions reduction
The greenhouse gas emission reductions are calculated as a percent reduction based on the combined city/highway fuel economy ratings for both the hybrid and non-hybrid model according to the ratings published in EPA's fuel economy guide available online at www.fueleconomy.gov. The score is measured in a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is the best rating. The scores are assigned in relative terms, then a 10 is assigned to the hybrid with the largest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while a zero is assigned to the hybrid with the smallest reduction. The values assigned to the models are calculated through linear interpolation between the two end points. For purposes of updating the scorecard, if new hybrid models are introduced during the year, the scale has to be re-calculated to take account of the new arrivals. For the 2011 Scorecard, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid was rated a 10 while the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid was rated 0. The Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
was rated a 9.4.
Particulates and Smog-forming Emissions
Tailpipe emissions
Motor vehicle emissions
Motor vehicle emissions are composed of the by-products that comes out of the exhaust systems or other emissions such as gasoline evaporation...
are considered through EPA’s air pollution score for each hybrid vehicle and not relatively to the improvement over the similar conventional model. Even though EPA rates air pollution scores for both California and federal standards, the Hybrid Scorecard ratings use only the California emissions certification level in order to introduce the maximum potential to reduce tailpipe emissions . The score is measured in a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is the best rating and 0 is the worst. Then, using the legal definitions established by the California Air Resources Board
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB or ARB, is the "clean air agency" in the government of California. Established in 1967 in the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, CARB is a department within the...
(CARB), a zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) is assigned a 10, a partial zero emissions vehicle (PZEV) a 9, a super ultra low emission vehicle
Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle is a U.S. classification for conventionally powered, natural gas powered, or gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle designed to produce minimal emissions of certain categories of air pollution at their exhaust, typically 90% less than that of an equivalent ordinary full...
(SULEV II) an 8, and so forth.
Combined Environmental Improvement Score
The final Environmental Improvement Score is determined through the average (and rounded to the nearest tenth) of the values for global warming emissions reductions and tailpipe emissions. As an example, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid achieved a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with its sibling gasoline-only model. Because this is the largest percent reduction achieved among all hybrids the MKZ Hybrid earns a global warming emissions score of 10. As a California certified Partial Zero Emission Vehicle, the MKZ Hybrid earns an EPA air pollution score of 9.0. When both scores are combined, the MKZ Hybrid earns an overall Environmental Improvement Score of 9.5.
| Hybrid value rating | |
|---|---|
| Rating category |
Incremental cost of global warming emissions reductions (US$/%) |
| Superior | Less than |
| Very good | to |
| Good | to |
| Poor | to |
| Very poor | or more |
Hybrid value
This category measures how cost-effectively a particular hybrid achieves its environmental performance, and the scores vary from "Very Poor" to "Superior." Each hybrid model is evaluated by dividing the estimated cost of hybrid technology used in the vehicle by its reduction in global warming emissions over the conventional model expressed as a percentage. The ratings are assigned to each model based on the resulting incremental cost according to the range values shown in the table in the right. When a hybrid achieves a better smog certification level than its conventional counterpart, the hybrid technology cost should include the cost of any additional emissions controls used in the hybrid model.Forced features
This category measures how many premium or upgraded features, called forced features, are included on a hybrid model as standard equipment in comparison to its sibling conventional model. UCS considers that these forced features make it less economical for consumers to buy a base hybrid model. UCS calculates the cost of forced features as the difference in MSRP between the base conventional model, with no upgrades, and the base hybrid model, and then the estimated cost of the hybrid technology is subtracted. This category is scored quantitatively from None to $$$$$. Vehicles with no forced features are assigned a rating of “None” meaning that the additional costs for the vehicle only cover the cost of the hybrid system. Vehicles that have or more of forced features are assigned the maximum of “$$$$$.” The other scores are defined in intermediate ranges of .2010 Scorecard
The U.C.S. evaluated 31 hybrids from the 2009–10 model years for the 2010 Hybrid Scorecard. The 2010 Toyota Prius scored top marks in the categories regarding environmental benefit and hybrid value. The UCS found that, compared to its closest conventional counterpart the Toyota MatrixToyota Matrix
The Toyota Matrix, sometimes officially referred to as the Toyota Corolla Matrix, is a compact hatchback manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation in Canada, to be sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico...
, the Prius emits 44% less global warming pollution
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
. The Prius score on forced features was rated relatively good, as the car came with worth of forced features. For the 2010 Hybrid Scorecard the evaluation found that the worst offender was the luxury Lexus LS 600h L hybrid which came with more than in forced features compared with the conventional, base model Lexus LS 460L
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive, although since 2006 all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants have also...
. The 2010 Scorecard was updated on April 2010 to include new hybrids that have been launched in the U.S. market such as the Mercedes-Benz S400 and the BMW ActiveHybrid X6.
2011 Scorecard
The 2011 Hybrid Scorecard evaluated 34 hybrids from the 2011–12 model years sold as of April 2011. The 2011 evaluation found that only 13 of the 34 hybrids avilable in the U.S. market reduce more than 25% of greenhouse emissions compared with their gasoline engine counterparts, but the 2011 scorecard now includes more top performers than it did in 2010.The Toyota Prius remained the top nonluxury model in the environmental improvement category by emitting 40% less greenhouse emissions than comparable nonhybrid models. In the luxury category, two new additions, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and the Lexus CT200h accomplished similar performance, an achievement the UCS attributed to their relatively small gasoline engines, as the carmakers downsized these vehicles’ engines from six to four cylinders to maximize fuel economy. The evaluation found that the MKZ Hybrid reduces greenhouse emissions by 46.2% as compared to its sibling gasoline-only MKZ, and the Lexus CT200h a 42.9% reduction.
Besides the Prius, the 2011 evaluation found that more automakers are using hybrid technology to increase fuel efficiency and decrease tailpipe emissions without imposing significant price premiums for those benefits, and other hybrids scoring high on environmental improvement include the Ford Fusion Hybrid
Ford Fusion Hybrid
The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a gasoline-electric hybrid powered version of the mid-size Ford Fusion sedan developed by the Ford Motor Company, and launched to the U.S. market in March 2009 as a 2010 model, together with its twin the Mercury Milan Hybrid. The Fusion Hybrid is manufactured at Ford's...
, Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
The Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model...
, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid. In the non-luxury category, the worst offender is the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, which reduces less than a 10% of greenhouse emissions, an all-time low on the scorecard. According to the UCS, the "Touareg was singled out as an example of a "muscle" hybrid that emphasized power over fuel efficiency." The UCS also singled out among the worst worst-rated hybrids for environmental improvement the new Porshe Cayenne S Hybrid, the BMW Active Hybrid 750i, and the ActiveHybrid X6.
(model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
2011–2012)
| Hybrid vehicle | EPA combined miles per gallon |
Environmental improvement score |
Hybrid value |
Forced features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius | 50 | 9.2 | Very good | None |
| Honda Civic Hybrid Honda Civic Hybrid The Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model... |
41 | 7.2 | Very good | $$$ |
| Honda Insight | 41 | 6.5 | Good | None |
| Ford Fusion Hybrid Ford Fusion Hybrid The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a gasoline-electric hybrid powered version of the mid-size Ford Fusion sedan developed by the Ford Motor Company, and launched to the U.S. market in March 2009 as a 2010 model, together with its twin the Mercury Milan Hybrid. The Fusion Hybrid is manufactured at Ford's... |
39 | 7.8 | Very good | $$$ |
| Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | 37 | 6.8 | Good | None |
| Honda CR-Z Honda CR-Z The Honda CR-Z is a compact hybrid electric automobile manufactured by Honda and marketed as a "sport hybrid coupe." The CR-Z combines a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain with traditional sports car elements... |
37 | 6.2 | Very good | $$ |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | 33 | 6.1 | Good | $ |
| Nissan Altima Hybrid | 33 | 5.7 | Good | $$ |
| Ford Escape Hybrid FWD | 32 | 7.0 | Good | $$ |
| Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD | 29 | 6.5 | Good | $$ |
| Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 28 | 7.1 | Good | $$ |
| Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2WD | 21 | 4.3 | Poor | $$$$$ |
| GMC Yukon Hybrid 2WD | 21 | 4.3 | Poor | $$$$$ |
| Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid 4WD | 21 | 4.3 | Good | None |
| GMC Sierra Hybrid 4WD | 21 | 4.3 | Poor | $ |
| Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 4WD | 21 | 4.3 | Poor | $$$$$ |
| GMC Yukon Hybrid 4WD | 21 | 4.3 | Poor | $$$$$ |
| Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid 2WD | 21 | 3.7 | Very poor | None |
| GMC Sierra Hybrid 2WD | 21 | 3.7 | Poor | $ |
| Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid | 21 | 3.0 | Very poor | $$$$$ |
(model year 2011–2012)
| Hybrid vehicle | EPA combined miles per gallon |
Environmental improvement score |
Hybrid value |
Forced features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus CT 200h | 42 | 8.6 | Superior | None |
| Lincoln MKZ Hybrid | 39 | 9.5 | Superior | None |
| Lexus HS 250h Lexus HS The Lexus HS is a dedicated hybrid vehicle introduced by Lexus as a new entry-level luxury compact sedan in 2009. It is classified as a compact under Japanese regulations concerning vehicle exterior dimensions and engine displacement... |
35 | 7.0 | Very good | None |
| Lexus RX 450h Lexus RX The Lexus RX is a crossover sport utility vehicle sold since 1998 by Lexus, the luxury division of the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. Three generations of the Lexus RX have been produced to date, the first being compact in size, and the latter two classified as mid-size... FWD |
30 | 6.8 | Good | $ |
| Lexus RX 450h Lexus RX The Lexus RX is a crossover sport utility vehicle sold since 1998 by Lexus, the luxury division of the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. Three generations of the Lexus RX have been produced to date, the first being compact in size, and the latter two classified as mid-size... AWD |
29 | 6.9 | Good | $ |
| Infiniti M35h | 29 | 5.5 | Good | None |
| Lexus GS 450h | 23 | 4.5 | Good | $ |
| Mercedes-Benz S400 | 21 | 5.2 | Superior | None |
| Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 4WD | 21 | 5.6 | Very good | $$$$$ |
| Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 2WD | 21 | 5.0 | Very good | $$$$$ |
| Porshe Cayenne S Hybrid | 21 | 3.7 | Good | None |
| Lexus LS 600h L | 20 | 4.1 | Very poor | $$$$$ |
| BMW Active Hybrid 750i | 20 | 3.7 | Very poor | $$ |
| BMW ActiveHybrid X6 | 18 | 3.2 | Very poor | $$$$$ |
The UCS explained that the Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was not included in the evaluation even though the Volt could have been compared with the Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated models. The original iteration, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM...
as the conventional similar. The reason for the exclusion is that PHEVs are affected by a variety of factors that affect their environmental performance, such as the type of fuel used (coal, wind, solar, etc.) for generating electricity to charge the vehicle, and also by the driving habits, including how often the vehicle is plugged in and the number of miles driven on electricity-only mode.
See also
- Government incentives for fuel efficient vehicles in the United States
- Green vehicleGreen vehicleA green vehicle or environmentally friendly vehicle is a road motor vehicle that produces less harmful impacts to the environment than comparable conventional internal combustion engine vehicles running on gasoline or diesel, or one that uses alternative fuels...
- Hybrid electric vehicleHybrid electric vehicleA hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
- Hybrid electric vehicles in the United StatesHybrid electric vehicles in the United StatesThe fleet of hybrid electric vehicles in the United States is the largest in the world, and since their inception in 1999, more than 2 million hybrid electric automobiles and SUVs have been sold through May 2011. The top selling hybrid car in the U.S. is the Toyota Prius, which reached 1 million...
- List of hybrid vehicles