It doesn’t matter whether you are an eco-activist or just trying to save money on fuel costs, a hybrid car is an excellent choice. You don’t have to sacrifice size for great fuel economy, nor do you have to lose style for green features. From compact to luxury, there is a green, fuel-efficient car out there for you.

• Chevrolet Volt
One of the kinks with electric cars is that they have a limited mileage range before they need to be charged. But the Chevy Volt breaks free of that mold by combining the mpg of an electric car, with a back-up engine that kicks in after 35 miles. The car gets an average of 61 mpg and with its backup engine, the car can go 350 miles before it needs to be charged or refueled.

• Toyota Prius
When it comes to hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius has been around the block. With years of eco-friendly experience, this five-passenger hybrid is one of the most economical vehicles that doesn’t have to be plugged in. The car gets 44 mpg, alternating between electric and gas modes and has a reputation of reliability.

• Ford Fusion Hybrid SE
Affordability meets style in the Ford Fusion Hybrid SE. Besides getting 47 mpg, this hybrid gets high scores for safety, reliability and stylish exterior. Unlike your typical fuel-efficient car, the family-sized Fusion Hybrid has plenty of room. US News & World Report has even ranked the car as No. 1 in affordable midsize cars.

• Honda CR-Z
Green goes sporty with Honda’s CR-Z. The sleek exterior and high performance ratings will appeal to drivers who want to have fun and only need two seats. The CR-Z gets about 31 mpg, putting its fuel efficiency at the low end of hybrid cars. But if you want a car that handles the road well, but you want to be environmentally conscious, this hybrid may be the right choice for you.

• Volkswagen Golf
High-quality interior, spacious cabin and comfortable seats make the Volkswagen Golf a comfortable driving experience. The car also has an above-average safety score, which might be an acceptable trade-off since the car is one of the highest priced in its class. The engine is powerful for a car of its size, but it only gets a mediocre 24 mpg. An alternative Golf model, with a diesel engine, boasts 38 mpg.

• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Eco-savvy families might find the size, technology and fuel economy of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid to be the perfect green car choice. As a mid-size hybrid, the car gets about 35 mpg with hardly any performance trade-offs from a non-hybrid vehicle. It also has a long list of standard features, which can make it a great value.

• Lexus CT 200h
If you’re looking for the car that blends luxury with environmentally friendly, look no further than the Lexus CT 200h. This hybrid hatchback boasts an average of 40 mpg and can sustain itself completely on electric power at low speeds. The car also includes four selectable driving modes and has been rated as one of the best in its class for reliability.

Hybrids aren’t for everyone but if you decide to go all-electric in a car purchase, you may see a spike in your energy bill. You can combat this by finding a lower energy rate by comparing prices between all the different suppliers. Some suppliers even offer green energy options so you can offset up to 100 percent of your home’s energy use.

The catch is you have to live in one of the deregulated areas, like Texas for example. If you are lucky enough to live in one of these deregulated areas of North America, you have the power (pun intended) to choose your own retail energy supplier based on the competitive rates they offer. Again, back to the Texas example, you could use sites like this one: http://www.shopelectricityratestexas.com/texas-electricity-rates/Texas/ to shop electricity rates in Texas to find the best energy plan to fit your green lifestyle.

If you’re looking for the most environmentally friendly car to cruise around in, the obvious choice is an electric car. Unfortunately, most electric cars, if not all, are limited to city driving thanks to their low speeds and long recharging times. If you live out in the suburbs or country, you want a car that will not only take advantage of the open roads, but also protect the environment at the same time.

Luckily, there are other options available other than just electric cars. After some research, we found three green cars that will help you save money on gas and still let you cruise the streets in style and comfort:

Toyota Prius. With an auto transmission and 134 miles per gallon, the Prius is a great alternative to an electric car. The estimated fuel cost of driving 12,000 miles is about $880.

Volvo V60. With the Volvo V60, you’ll look sleek on the road while reducing your emissions. It includes a semi-auto transmission and gets almost 150 miles per gallon. The estimated fuel cost of driving 12,000 miles is about $800.

Hyundai l20. If you’re in the market for something manual, the Hyundai l20 is the eco-friendly car for you. It gets about 88 miles per gallon and the cost of driving 12,000 miles is about $1,380.

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Toronto is taking the next advanced step towards becoming a major green and less congested metropolitan city. Following the lead of Vancouver, the new Car2go Car Sharing Program is getting ready to start on June 30th, 2012, ushering in a new era of transportation options for the city’s population.

The concept is extremely simple. Register with the program, and you gain unlimited access to a fleet of Smart ED cars for use around the city. There are 250 cars total for usage, making meeting early demand easy. No more worrying about gas and parking costs, all you have to pay for is the time you use the car. Not to mention the first 30 minutes are included when you register.

For a limited time only, the company will also waive the $35 registration fee when you use the Car2go Toronto promo code TDOT. For 35 cents a minute, $12.99 an hour, or $65.99 a day, you can take one of these new smart cars out on the road. All you need is a valid Canadian driver’s license and a valid credit card. Once you receive your membership card in the mail you are ready to go. Then all you have to do is drive to pick one of the cars up, handle your driving needs, and then find a registered parking spot within the Toronto home area and the company directly charges your credit card.

This is only the beginning though. The grand plan is to eventually launch this program across the world in 30 cities across America and Europe. We are well on our way to efficient CO2 emissions reductions, and this program is leading the way.

BMW is making history as the official automotive partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. At a recent press junket, the famed automaker revealed their low-emission Olympic fleet – a whoppinh 4000 vehicles, and amongst the army of cars is 240 electric and hybrid cars.

The company worked hard to meet the standards required by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games – who required of the contract winner an average vehicle emission target of less than 120 grams of CO2 per km.

BMW’s Olympic fleet consists of: 160 1-Series ActiveE coupes, 40 Mini E hatches, 40 5-Series ActiveHybrids, 1550 320d EfficientDynamics, 700 520d Efficient Dynamics, 17 X3 xDrive 20d SUVs, 10 X5 xDrive 30d SUVs, 200 Mini Countryman Cooper Ds, 25 R1200 RT motorbikes and 400 BMW Streetcruiser bicycles.

The vehicles will be used for everything during the games, from transporting athletes, to pulling boats out of the water. BMW is hoping that the visibility of their fleet during the games will increase interest in their vehicles, whether people are buying new models, or whether they are opting for the greener choice, buying a used one at sites like motors.co.uk or out of their local paper.

LOCOG Transport Director Richard George said, “From motorcycles to electric vehicles and 4x4s, the requirements of the 2012 fleet are hugely diverse. BMW and MINI have provided a variety of different cars, ideal both for city driving and long distance, to travel to Olympic and Paralympic venues around the country.”

Tokyo based automakers, Honda Motors, want to increase sales for their new Acura, and they are taking the green road to reach their goals. The Acura is Honda’s premium brand, and their new sedan will make use of two electric motors and a V-6 gasoline engine.

The RLX, as its being called, will be the replacement of their RL sedan. The new model will go on sale early 2013, according to company representatives at the New York International Auto Show. The RLX employs a n3.5-liter gasoline engine which, in combination with the electric motors and lithium-ion battery pack, packs a 370 horsepower punch and gets about 48 kilometers to the gallon in combined city and highway driving, Honda said.

How does it stack up against the current RL model? The RLX’s fuel economy is 50% better than the current RL, which averages 20 mpg.

Sales of Acura cars in America peaked at 209,610 vehicles in 2005 but had dropped down to 123,299 last year. Honda wants the brand to sell 180,000 cars and trucks in 2012, a 46% increase in sales.

Porsche fans (and fans of more eco-friendly sports cars) are getting excited at the prospect of the new plug-in hybrid Porsche Panamera that could be available as soon as next year.

The base for the new Panamera will be the same as the 2012 Panamera S Hybrid. The plug-in hybrid will use the same 380-hp direct-injected 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 and eight-speed automatic, and a separating clutch that lets the fuel engine shut dowb while the car is in motion.

Between the transmission and engine on the new Panamera will be an electric motor that will be able to move the rear tires on full-electric for about 19 miles.

Porsche executives at the Geneva Motor Show said that they are working “for the Cayenne and Panamera to offer plug-in hybrids as soon as possible.”

The initial launch of the Nissan Leaf was only in limited markets at the end of 2010, with a slightly more expanded rollout that occurred in 2011. Finally, the Nissan Leaf is available to order all over the United States starting now. Nissan recently sent out a press release which reads:

Nissan Leaf Becomes First Electric Car Available For Order In All U.S. Markets

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Feb. 29, 2012 – Beginning tomorrow, drivers across the country will have their first opportunity to order their Nissan LEAF, as Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) expands availability for all U.S. markets, nationwide.

This new launch phase means residents of 21 new states will be able to select and order a 2012 Nissan LEAF. The LEAF, the world’s first and only electric car, now also is the only electric car ever to be available nationwide.

“More than 22,000 LEAFs are on the roads globally, having driven more than 30 million miles,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing, NNA. “There is no longer any doubt that a 100-percent electric, zero-emissions vehicle fulfills the needs and desires of drivers from around the globe. Nationwide availability of the Nissan LEAF means that now, anyone in the country can opt for a transportation solution that does not harm the environment, provides a pathway to energy independence, and doesn’t use a single drop of gas.”

When Toyota first introduced the ground-breaking Prius to the market, people were impressed, but many consumers were put off by the car’s high price tag. Even though the company claimed that the extra cost would pay for itself within several years of saved fuel cost, that initial price tag was just too daunting to the average family.

Toyota believes that they’ve addressed this concern with their latest Prius- the V Five. The latest iteration is basically similar to the original, boasting a similar powertrain but housed in a more hatchback body style.

A huge bonus in the design of the new Prius is how much roomier it is. More leg room, more head room, and a lot more cargo area(over 34 cubic feet) in the back. Toyota says that this model is the most roomy of all hybrids – and those numbers agree.

And then of course, there’s the price. The factory model of the Prius V Five is $27,000 – which is a significant drop for this brand. Naturally, once you start adding on all the luxury additions like sun roofs and the ultimate stereo system, you’re going to see that price tag shoot up pretty quickly, but if your motive is a car that is better for the environment, then this might be the affordable choice.

Toyota has always prided itself on being a car company that made affordable vehicles that surpassed all safety and emissions standards. They are now bringing the new Yaris Hybrid to the world, and they are presenting it at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The new Yaris Hybrid is surprisingly gutsy for what is typical when one thinks of a hybrid car (and when one thinks of a Yaris.) It’ll get its juice from Toyota’s HSD powertrain that combines the 1.5 liter fuel engine with an electric motor and battery.

Toyota also made some major body changes on the new Yaris Hybrid, with a huge focus on a more aerodynamic exterior, which actually will seriously cut down on fuel usage.

The new Yaris is roomy, too. Something we always appreciated in the compact Yaris, was how much room there seemed to be in the interior. The Yaris Hybrid will feature the same amount of passenger space and the same 286-litre in the boot as the gas and diesel models.

No word yet on the exact price, but Toyota always makes sure that their fleet is affordable for the average car buyer. Plus, because of the safety features, insurers that offer Budget car insurance are usually able to provide owners with extremely competitive rates if they are buying a new vehicle with Toyota safety standards.

Only a month after being named the 2012 North American car of the year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Hyundai Elantra has won the 2012 Canadian Car of the Year award.

Steve Kelleher, Hyundai Auto Canada president, said the win was a “vindication for all the effort Hyundai designers and engineers invested into the project.”

The Elantra gets great gas millage with 4.9L / 100km highway (40 MPG) and 6.9L / 100km (29 MPG) in the city. Running a 1.8L four-cylinder engine that produces 148 horsepower.

This is the second time that Hyundai has won both awards in the same year back to back in the past four years. The Genesis luxury sedan earned both titles in 2009.