How to Celebrate Earth Day: a Peek at Green Cars

Hyundai Ioniq plug-in hybrid. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars

What should you drive on Earth Day?

A staunch environmentalist might argue that no car should be driven on Earth Day, but the reality is that most Americans need a car at least some of the time. Even if you try to ride your bicycle and rely on public transportation, you often just need to drive. So here are a few new green autos introduced at the 2016 New York International Auto Show.

The Toyota Prius was a favorite among green cars at the New York International Auto Show. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Green cars show they aren’t just for the environmentally conscious

My favorite at the car show was the new 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. This plug-in hybrid gets the equivalent of 120 miles per gallon, with an electric range of 22 miles. And it can go 84 miles per hour in electric mode. But you don’t have to bust out your old Birks to feel comfy in the car – the Prius has advanced touches like color head-up display, pedestrian detection, radar cruise control with full stop technology and blind spot monitor.

Hyundai introduced the Ioniq with three options: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric, with a range of 155 miles. The Ioniq has cool Hyundai tech like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. Safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot detection, and smart cruise control.

Then there’s Tesla

The Tesla Model 3 wasn’t at the New York International Auto show, but Tesla recently opened a showroom in Brooklyn. The Model 3 won’t even be available until late in 2017, but the competitively priced Tesla – the electric car company’s lowest priced model – may be a car worth waiting for (and riding your bike until you get one). The EV has a range of 215 miles, and as the car rolls out, expect more SuperCharger stations.

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Judy Antell

Judy Antell, who is TravelingMom.com's Free in 50 States editor, lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband and three daughters. Between road trips to visit colleges, travel sports and seeing East Coast sights, she spends a lot of time on the road for a city girl.

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