This article was originally published at Environmental Leader by Karen Henry
The 2016 Ram ProMaster City has been named Green Car Journal’s 2016 Commercial Green Car of the Year. The awards, which recognize important environmental achievements in the pickup truck and light commercial vehicle fields, were announced at the San Antonio Auto and Truck Show.
The Ram ProMaster City comes in wagon and cargo versions, can carry nearly 1,900 pounds or 130 cubic feet of cargo, and can tow up to 2,000 pounds. Its efficient 178 horsepower, 2.4-liter aluminum block Tigershark engine is widely used in Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models. The ProMaster City’s EPA rating of 21 city/29 highway mpg efficiency is enhanced by the first-ever use of a nine speed transmission in a commercial van.
This marks the second consecutive year that a Ram brand vehicle has taken the commercial title. The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel won last year’s Commercial Green Car of the Year award.
The Ford F-150 was named the Green Truck of the Year, and the second generation 2016 Chevy Volt was named Green Car of the Year.
Green Car Journal editors conduct an extensive vetting process that weighs the merits of all potential vehicles as contenders for Commercial Green Car of the Year, Green Truck of the Year, and Green Car of the Year. The vehicles are narrowed down to a field of five finalists for each award. Efficiency, emissions, and overall environmental performance are considered along with traditional requirements for pickup and light commercial vehicle buyers like power, performance, functionality, passenger and cargo capacity, towing capabilities and features conducive to various types of personal and business use.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy rated the Ram 2500 truck as the “meanest,” or least environmentally friendly car of the year for 2015.
