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| Every month unsuspecting vehicles are subjected to the arduous (and not a little scary) rigours of the GreenerMachine-ometer. Few emerge unscathed. We judge supposed Greenermachines on their green credentials, real world usefulness and performance, general ownership proposition, and, well, whether or not we'd cope being seen in or on one. Yes, it's a little bit shallow maybe, but in a world gone mad image counts. Here's how it works...

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| BMW 7 series |
For Worlds first production hydrogen powered car. Emissions so clean you can breath them.
Against Only production cars made thus far being evaluated by BMW importers around the world, almost no hydrogen filling stations outside US or Germany so far...
Summary Clean for a barge
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| Price | N/A | Fuel Type | Hydrogen and unleaded |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 143 mph | 0-60 MPH | 9.5 sec |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Fiat Cinquento |
For Eagerly awaited new small Fiat promises chic charm and excellent economy. Rumours of a 2 cylinder version.
Against Not here yet
Summary Car of the year 2008?
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| Price | £5000 + | Fuel Type | Petrol + Diesel |
| Emisions | N/A | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | N/A | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Fiat Panda 1.3 16v MultiJet Dynamic |
For looks like a fridge...
Against ..but not cool
Summary Cheap, economical, clean 4 wheeled white good. 1.3 16v MultiJet is cleanest engine in Panda line up.
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| Price | £8,160.00 | Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Emisions | 114 g/km | MPG | 76.3 mpg |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | 3 stars |
| Top Speed | 99 mph | 0-60 MPH | 13 secs |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| G-Wiz |
For Worlds best selling electric car. Tiny running costs, on sale in the UK to take advantage of London congestion charge exemption, positive eco-friendly image.
Against Very poor occupant protection in regular EuroNCAP tests, build quality out of step with other small cars, very limited range, low top speed, ugly.
Summary Dryer than a bicycle if it's raining, otherwise less appealing.
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| Price | £6,999 - £8,299 | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | |
| Charge Time | Up to 8 hr | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | Around 40 | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Honda Insight |
For Dan Dare looks, 1.0ltr 3-cylinder lean burn engine classed as Ultra low Emissions vehicle in US, Manual or CVT gearbox, Honda will replace batteries at 150,000 miles.
Against Launched in 1999 but out of production by 2006. Huge depreciation means cheap used
Summary Offbeat 2 seat coupe that still turns heads
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| Price | £5000+ Used | Fuel Type | Hybrid - Petrol/Electric |
| Emisions | 80 g/km | MPG | 66 mpg (ma |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 112 mph | 0-60 MPH | 10.6 sec |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Lotus Exige 265E |
For Drop dead gorgeous, goes like stink, great on the road amazing on a track, wonderful outside a cafe.
Against Tad difficult to get in and out of.
Summary Buy this car and your life will be better.
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| Price | N/A | Fuel Type | E85 or unleaded |
| Emisions | N/A | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 158 | 0-60 MPH | 3.88 |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Mega City - Electric |
For Cute, in a kind of boxy fashion. Significantly less awful than a G-Wiz
Against Rated as a Quadricycle not Car so don't expect contemporary car-like crash performance, build quality.
Summary Chunky and cute rival to Revo/G-Wiz with longer range (50 miles) and marginally better build quality. An ideal urban 2nd or 3rd car.
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| Price | £9,995 | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 40 mph | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Mega multi Truck 2 |
For 12 Battery version has 40-60 mile range.
Capacious and compact, range of cargo area optioins to suit most users
Against 8 Battery version has 25-35 mile range.
Summary Strictly an urban run around for any business that wishes to show it cares about the planet, or just wants to turn heads
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| Price | £8,623 +VAT | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | |
| Charge Time | | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 30 mph | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Mini Cooper D |
For Usual mini sweet handling and style plus excellent economy and hybrid rivaling emissions.
Against Not as fun to drive as previous BMW Mini, or original.
Summary Style Substance Superb!
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| Price | £14,190 | Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Emisions | 104 g/km | MPG | 72.4mpg |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | 5 stars |
| Top Speed | 121mph | 0-60 MPH | 9.9sec |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Skoda Fabia Greenline |
For Under the skin it's a VW Polo Bluemotion with some eco-bits taken off. Feels robust.
Against As dull to behold as a persistant drizzle. Not as clean as a VW Polo Bluemotion
Summary Not sexy but virtuous
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| Price | NA | Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Emisions | 110 g/km CO2 | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | NA | NCAP Rating | 4 Stars |
| Top Speed | NA | 0-60 MPH | NA |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Smart 4Two |
For Tiny, great fun to drive, looks cool, reliable, built by Mercedes, now cheap used
Against too much understeer in the wet, 2 more seats would be nice, Mercedes dealers poor reputation for customer service
Summary A modern motoring icon
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| Price | £6,810 - £12,775 | Fuel Type | Petrol |
| Emisions | 113 - 116 | MPG | up to 70.6 |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | 3 stars |
| Top Speed | 84mph | 0-60 MPH | 18.3sec |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Tesla Roadster |
For Innovative, beautiful, proven lotus Elise derived chassis, neat fabric roof, great interior, well built. Greener than GreenerMachines envy. A modern motoring icon.
Against No plans to sell outside of the US. We have yet to drive it.
Summary Clear conscience motoring with a side order of drop dead sex appeal.
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| Price | $92,000 | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | 135mpg equ |
| Charge Time | 3.5 hours | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 130+ mph | 0-60 MPH | 4+ secs |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Toyota Prius |
For 4-wheeled statement of your green conscience. Congestion Charge exemption
and low company car tax will save money
Against Not as green than you'd think
Summary Congestion charge free Hybrid story adds interest to an otherwise dull car
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| Price | £18,577 + | Fuel Type | Petrol/electric Hybrid |
| Emisions | 104 g/km CO2 | MPG | 65.7 mpg |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | 5 stars |
| Top Speed | 106 mph | 0-60 MPH | 10.9 secs |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Venturi Astrolab |
For A sun powered sportscar. Or solar commuter. Or 'Really weird' looking thing. Gorgeous though.
Against probably very expensive 9we have yet to learn how much), not good in the depths of a bleak winter, you get wet when it rains.
Summary Millionaires and residents of Monaco and California please line up with your credit cards...
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| Price | N/A | Fuel Type | Sunlight/electricity |
| Emisions | None | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | 5 hrs | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 75 mph | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Venturi Fetish |
For Pretty, pretty quick but....
Against ..How much?!
Summary Pretty expensive
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| Price | £370,000 | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | 1 hour | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 100mph | 0-60 MPH | 'under 5 s |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Zap-X |
For Yet to reach market but manufacturers performance and recharging claims are revolutionary. If so, the perfect zero emissions car.
Against Manufacturers claims not yet tested
Summary Lovely to behold, fast, practical. The future of the modern automobile?
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| Price | N/A | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | 10 mins | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 155 mph | 0-60 MPH | 4.8 sec |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| EVT 168 |
For Cute retro scooter with useful 20-25 mile range
Against 28 mph top speed
Summary Perfect for the commute, as long as your not traveling too far or on open roads...
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| Price | £1,840 | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | |
| Charge Time | 6 hours | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 28 mph | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| EVT 4000e |
For Stylish and ideal for the commute and ultra cheap to run
Against Too slow for many roads - pick your journey with care
Summary If the rush hour was made up of these the world would be a nicer place
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| Price | £1,749.99 | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | |
| Charge Time | 6 hours | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 28 mph | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Momo Lancia Bicycle |
For Black, use of exotic lightweight materials will keep technology lovers excited for years
Against Will be expensive
Summary Just the thing to get the rich back in to cycling
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| Price | £TBA | Fuel Type | Human powered |
| Emisions | Zero | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 30 mph dow | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Vectrix scooter |
For looks great, goes well, near zero maintainence needed, far faster than a car though traffic.
Against When it rains you get wet
Summary Convincing alternative to regular petrol scooters
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| Price | N/A | Fuel Type | Electricity |
| Emisions | Zero at point of use | MPG | |
| Charge Time | 2 hours | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 62mph | 0-60 MPH | N/A (0-50m |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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| Clever |
For Leans in to corners like a bike but as stable and safe as a car. Looks like a hoot to drive. Emissions a Toyota Prius could only dream of
Against Yet to reach production
Summary Just the thing to convince commuters to abandon the car and travel more efficiently
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| Price | £6,500 | Fuel Type | Compressed natural gas |
| Emisions | 60 g/km | MPG | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A | NCAP Rating | N/A |
| Top Speed | 60 mpg | 0-60 MPH | N/A |
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GreenerMachine rating -  |
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