7 Green Concept Cars to Drive in the Next Five Years

Are you concerned about soaring gas prices and global warming? Do green concept vehicles lure you?

We have 7 concept green cars you might be able to lay your hands on in next 5 years.

The Mazda Nagara is still a concept car.Mazda Nagare
Nagare means flow in Japanese. The design of this Mazda concept imitates flow in every sense. The Ex-design director of Mazda, Mr. Laurens van den Acker, tried to develop a truly futuristic design, and at the 2006 LA Auto Show, came out with Nagare.

Its steep angled windshield, wheel position, elliptic control panel, wrap-around rear lounge, and centrally positioned driver’s seat show one of the ways for how future cars may look. The concept prototype runs off of a hydrogen fuel cell. Though Mazda3 and Mazda5 drew design inspiration from Nagare, there is not a true production-ready Nagare (yet).

This is the Daihatsu UFE-III.  I like the way it opens.Daihatsu UFE-III
If you really want bang out of every cent you spend on gas, this could be a perfect car for you. UFE III covers 86 kilometers on a liter of gas. That means this car has a fuel efficiency of 203 miles per gallon.

It sports a 660 cc 3-cylinder Atkinson engine and 2 electric motors. In addition to that, the car is highly aerodynamic with drag coefficient of only 0.17.

From the US standard, the UFE III sports really nifty engine, but its fuel economy is what North Americans need most. However, this green concept car has not entered the production line (yet).

This is the Volvo 3CCVolvo 3CC
The concept was made public at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum (the name of the Michelin Man). This event was held in Shanghai in 2004. Unlike many futuristic concepts, Volvo tried to build a green car within a sport-sedan frame. Light weight yet sturdy material usage and streamlined design lower the aero-drag on the car.

It can fit 2 adults in the front, while the rear seat accommodates 1 adult or 2 kids. The car runs on lithium-ion batteries, tucked inside the floor like a sandwich.

It reaches 0 to 60 mph within 10 seconds and boasts a touring range of 180 miles, depending on the driving style. You can expect this car to be on the production line by 2015.

Ford Airstream
Do you love old Airstream RVs? Then you would like this concept crossover SUV, dubbed Airstream, from Ford. It is a plug-in hybrid, driven by a hydrogen-fueled engine. The interior of the vehicle is reminiscent of the spacecraft ambience of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The secondary driver seat can be swiveled backward.

The Rear seats are lounge type, with 4 point fastening for secured sitting. The vehicle sports one side hatch for passengers, while the rear side hatch is used for loading cargo (the groceries).

This is the Toyota FT-HSToyota FT-HS
If you want a greener sports car, FT-HS could be a perfect choice. With a 400 hp hybrid powertrain, it can reach 60mph from standstill in just 4 seconds. FT-HS achieves this feat with 3.5L V6 engine and an electric motor.

Toyota used unique capacitor based fast charging technology in this concept for better performance. FT-HS allows 2+2 seating and a sporty retractable roof.

However, as of now, there is no news of this concept entering the production line.

Honda is leasing FCX Vehicles on a 3 year long monthly lease (limited).Honda FCX
FCX is a series of cars from Honda which run on fuel cells. You can take one home too. The Concept FCX first came out in 1999. At this moment, Honda is leasing out a limited number of FCX Vehicles on a 3 year long monthly lease.

It’s a zero emission car with an electric powertrain.

The latest FCX features a balancing technology called Vehicle Stability Assist™ , as well as an automatic braking control system called Collision Mitigation Braking System™, which can make driving safer and more comfortable.

The Chevrolet Volt is a production ready car and is available for purchaseChevrolet Volt
This is another production ready car and is rated as the most fuel-efficient in North America. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Volt can achieve a jaw-dropping combined FE equivalent of 93 miles per US gallon!

The Volt is a plug-in hybrid with a battery-fed motor which is the primary driving force in the vehicle. When the battery charge drops to a pre-determined level, the gas-fed engine kicks in.The gas engine powers an electric generator, which again drives the primary electric motor to extend the car’s driving range. After a $7500 federal tax incentive, the Volt would cost you $31,645.

While all of these vehicles could be coming in the near future, right now, you have only Volt or FCX ready for your garage.

However, over the next 5 years, you can expect other concepts to enter the assembly line and become more affordable as the price decreases while the demand for more efficient vehicles increases.

About the Author: Isabella is 23 and loves to spend her spare time writing and sharing her writing. Most recently, Isabella has been amazed to learn new things about Suzuki Motorcycles and plastic pollution.

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