(Note: I am a co-originator of this award as well as a member of the steering committee and a judge. I am very proud of the way this award has progressed and is being received by the automotive industry and the general public at large.)
TORONTO — April 17, 2014 — Six vehicles have been selected as finalists for the 2014 Canadian Green Car Award.
The overall winner will be revealed Friday, April 25 at the Green Living Show, in Toronto’s Direct Energy Centre.
The finalists were selected after extensive testing and assessment by 19 leading Canadian automotive journalists, who picked the top entries in five technology and style categories. The list includes six because of a tie in the hybrid category.
The finalists are:
Battery-electric: Nissan Leaf
Plug-in hybrid: Ford C-Max Energi
Hybrid: Honda Accord Hybrid & Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid (TIE)
Efficient internal combustion: Mazda3 2.0 Litre
Efficient three-row family vehicle: Mazda5
The Canadian Green Car Award, in its second year, recognizes vehicles that offer impressive environmental attributes and strong mass-market appeal, since any product can have a significant impact only if it sells in large numbers.
As a 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.
“I congratulate the category winners – in fact, all of the manufacturers – and the judges,” said Laurie Simmonds, President and CEO of Green Living Enterprises, which operates the annual Green Living Show. “Whether powered by batteries or highly efficient engines, today’s green cars come in all shapes, sizes and price levels, creating great choice for consumers and difficult decisions for the judges.”
The competition began with judges submitting five nominees for each category. They could choose any vehicle as long as it met basic “green” criteria based on technology type and fuel economy. The top picks from those lists became the 16 entries – four in the Battery-Electric category; three in each of the others. 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 more meaningful gauge for consumers.
The overall 2014 Canadian Green Car Award winner will be revealed at 9:30 a.m., Friday, April 25, at the Green Living Show in the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. David Miller, President of WWF-Canada and former mayor of Toronto, will present the trophy. All six finalists will be on display throughout the three-day Show, last year attended by nearly 40,000 visitors.
Apart from the finalists, the 16 entries included the Tesla Model S, Kia Soul EV and Ford Focus in the battery category; the Cadillac ELR and Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid for plug-in hybrids; the Infiniti Q50 in hybrids; the Chevrolet Cruze diesel and Volkswagen Jetta TDI Diesel in efficient internal combustion; and the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid and Kia Rondo in three-row vehicles.
More information on the award, including the list of judges can be found at www.canadiangreencaraward.ca
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; eco home, cottage and garden design; local and organic food and wine tastings; health, wellness and yoga pavilions; eco fashion and green beauty makeovers; electric and hybrid car test drives; nature exhibits and fun activities for the entire family. www.greenlivingshow.ca
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