Buying Cars the SmartWay

With miles-per-gallon on every driver’s mind, and transportation accounting for two-thirds of U.S. oil consumption and one-third of GHG emissions, fuel-efficiency is both a consumer priority and an environmental necessity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finds itself in a perfect position to educate consumers about ‘smart’ vehicle choices – cars that are fuel-efficient, and less harmful to the environment.

The campaign is called SmartWay Leaf ®, and it involves an easy-to-understand vehicle rating system based on a 1-10 Air Pollution Score and a Greenhouse Gas Score. To obtain the SmartWay® designation indicative of good environmental performance, a car must receive a score of six or better in each category, with totals amounting to at least 13.

Vehicles are organized by model year, make, brand, and fuel type; their scores depend on the number of cylinders, engine capacity, transmission, and other engine specs. Ratings are catalogued in EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide, printed versions of which are found at dealerships. Online visitors can plug in the information themselves for immediate results.

As a brand, SmartWay® is raising awareness of fuel-efficiency at the point-of-sale – a strategic way to reduce GHG emissions in the transportation sector. Expect to see the branded leaf decal at qualified point-of-sale locations for cars, on promotion materials and in advertising. Currently, Chrysler, Ford and Mazda are using the SmartWay® certified logo for media/marketing capacities.