A paler shade of green?

Did you hear the one about the Ram 1500 diesel beating Ford’s aluminum-bodied F-150 for the 2015 Green Truck of the Year Award?

“The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel exemplifies what a ‘green’ truck should be,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal, which bestowed the award. He told The Detroit Bureau that the Ram is a “heavy-hitter that pulls off exceptional fuel economy with its impressive EcoDiesel engine and array of efficiency features like active grill shutters and aero suspension. Pickup buyers get the best of all worlds with the beefy torque and environmental performance offered by this full-size and stylish pickup.” (Szczesny, 2014).

Cogan certainly has his p.r. schtick down cold. But I have to ask: Really? Ford’s switch to an aluminum body for the F-150 represents a much bigger — and riskier — move that throwing a V6 diesel into a largely conventional full-sized truck. Granted, the Ram offers interesting design details such as an air suspension that lowers the truck at higher speeds (Cogan, 2014). Nevertheless, these are timid steps toward a truly “green” truck.

The Ford F-150 was given what strikes me as a consolation prize — the 2015 Green Car Technology Award for its all-aluminum body (Cogan, 2015).

The Detroit Bureau article goes on to note that the “award boosts Chrysler Group’s efforts to grab a larger share of the full-size truck market while archrival Ford, which is in the midst of a sweeping changeover of the F-150 that will take months to complete” (Szczesny, 2014). Mere coincidence? I haven’t followed the Green Car Journal enough to offer an opinion, but it does give me pause.

Share your reactions to this post with a comment below or a note to the editor.

---

RE:SOURCES

• Cogan, Ron; 2014. “Ram 1500 EcoDiesel: 2015 Green Truck of the Year.” Green Car Journal. Posted Nov. 6.
• ——–; 2015. “Green Car Awards in Washington DC.” Green Car Journal. Posted March 3.
• Szczesny, Joseph; 2014. “Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Drives Off with Green Truck of the Year.” The Detroit Bureau. Posted Nov. 7.