Filed under: EV/Plug-in, MPG, Chevrolet, Ford, USA



Chevrolet is one of the Top Global Green Brands of 2014, according to brand consultancy firm Interbrand. Chevy ranks number 32 on the list, which cover brands across a wide variety of segments. The report measures brand perception and brand performance, and the gap between the two is small for Chevrolet. "The company is not only actively demonstrating its environmental commitment," says Interbrand CEO Jez Frampton. "It's communicating those efforts in an authentic way that resonates with customers." Chevrolet cites its Spark EV, Volt and Cruze models as reason for its green cred.
Being 32nd is good and all, but other automotive brands ranked much higher than the Bowtie. Ford, Toyota, Honda and Nissan took the top four spots in the report, respectively, with BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz all besting Chevrolet. The big takeaway here is that Ford topped the list. In the Top Global Green Brand list's four-year history, this is the first time Toyota didn't take the top spot. Ford was second on the list last year, and 15th in 2012. "Ford embodies everything the business of the future must be: efficient, visionary, flexible, adept at problem-solving, cooperative, and focused on creating shared value," Interbrand says on its website. "From unveiling a first-of-its-kind solar-powered vehicle, the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, to partnering with peers across sectors to do the seemingly impossible - like creating bio-plastic out of tomato fiber with Heinz-Ford is showing us what's possible." It bears mentioning that Ford's most recent MPG adjustments came after the study was conducted.

Ford is also making the news for its 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine earning International Engine of the Year for the third straight year. Awarded Best Engine Under 1.0 Liter, the turbocharged three-cylinder motor earned high praise from judges. "This year's competition was the fiercest yet, but the 1.0-liter EcoBoost continues to stand out for all the right reasons - great refinement, surprising flexibility and excellent efficiency," said International Engine of the Year co-chairman Dean Slavnich. "The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is one of the finest examples of powertrain engineering." The 123-horsepower engine powers the Fiesta 1.0-liter EcoBoost, and will be available in a version of the Ford Focus in the US later this year. See more about the award in the press release, below.

The California Center for Sustainable Energy, which administers California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, has published the results of a survey of battery and plug-in EV customers since the third quarter of 2012. The interactive survey dashboard offers a lot of different information, which can be broken down by demographic, vehicle type, manufacturer and more. It also breaks down dealership experience, decision factors and information sources that went into buying or leasing an EV.

The biggest motivator for choosing EVs and plug-ins, according to the survey, was to save money on fuel, with 37 percent of respondents wanting to avoid paying at the pump. 21 percent of customers cite environmental factors as their primary motivator, while 15 percent saw HOV lane access as the biggest draw. 30 percent of customers were aged 45-54, with the second largest buying demographic being drivers aged 35-44. 44 percent of buyers made between $100,000 and $200,000 a year. There are numerous more ways to dissect the information. Check it out for yourself, here.Continue reading Recharge Wrap-up: Ford steals Best Green Brand spot from Toyota, EV buyer survey goes online

Recharge Wrap-up: Ford steals Best Green Brand spot from Toyota, EV buyer survey goes online originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Jun 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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