The recently concluded 2011 Geneva Motor Show not only showcased the automakers’ latest vehicle productions and concepts, but it also unveiled the top three finalists for the World Green Car of the Year.

A sixty-six member jury chose the top three most environmentally-friendly cars among their earlier list of six green cars. Vying for the World Green Car of the Year title are the following:

• BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition
• Chevrolet Volt
• Nissan Leaf

The Smart Electric Drive, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell weren’t able to make the cut. The three were included earlier in the list but the 320d, Volt and Leaf edged them out of the competition.

But to even be nominated for the title is already such an honor, since the jury has imposed some strict criteria and only a few were able to qualify for the award. Out of the dozens and dozens of EVs, hybrids and natural gas vehicles, the jury only chose six cars which they announced earlier in February, only to wind it down to three this month.

To qualify, the company needs to manufacture at least 10 productions of the vehicle, released in at least one major market from January 1, 2010 to May 30th this year. Emissions, consumption and power plant technology were also considered. Lastly, the car had to be an all-new production, or at least minimally modified.

The winner of the World Green Car of the Year award will be announced on April 2 at the 2011 New York Auto Show.

Electric vehicles are normally costly and high-maintenance. Not too many people could afford and sustain the demands of having an EV in their garage. Only the elite, environmentally-conscious magnates or tycoons can purchase and maintain electric vehicles. But French automaker Renault is planning to break this trend and shatter the pricey EV image with the production of Twizy, the cheapest two-seater EV.

The Twizy doesn’t look like a normal EV. In fact, it probably can’t even be classified as a car with its cutesy two-seater design that looks more like a scooter than an ordinary vehicle. Renault came out with two different versions of this ‘quad-ricycle’: one that could produce a mere nine horsepower with a speed of 28 miles per hour, and another with 20 horsepower with a higher speed of 47 miles per hour. It definitely fails on the speed meter, but really, what can you expect from an electric scooter?

The four-wheeled scooter will probably be the cheapest electric vehicle to hit the market. It has a price tag of around US $ 9,700, a pretty low price for an EV. Renault designed the Twizy for urban city driving and made it available for more people by giving it a budget-friendly price, a breather from all those expensive environmentally-friendly cars out in the market today.

Lightweight at 3,527 pounds and producing zero carbon emission, green car lovers will definitely make this silent scooter on top of their to-buy list. The Twizy will be available in Europe early next year.

BMW Group will reach greater heights in electric vehicle technology this year with its recently launched BMW ActiveE, the second phase of the German automaker’s “electro-mobility development strategy”.

Following in the footsteps of the group’s earlier launched electric vehicle MINI E, the BMW ActiveE is also emission-free and will be mass-produced. It is a continuation of BMW Group’s Project I concept, specifically the Megacity Vehicle (MCV) concept, an EV that could live up to the demands of city driving while being environmentally-friendly as well. The ActiveE is a test of the MCV concept and it has been incorporated with the technologies that will soon enhance the BMW MCV series—a line up of EVs that will center on the concept of “electric mobility for everyday driving”.

As BMW’s second electric vehicle production, ActiveE has an improved 170 horsepower and a maximum of 184 lb-ft torque, helping it achieve a faster acceleration of zero to 60 miles per hour in traffic-congested urban areas. This EV can also run up to 100 miles daily using lithium-ion batteries.

Unlike the MINI E, BMW enhanced the ActiveE’s interior and space, equipping it with four fully-fledged seats and a roomy luggage compartment. It is also installed with the Central Information Display which informs the driver everything he needs to know while driving, including the energy flow, battery charge level and vehicle range. Optimum driving efficiency can also be achieved with the ECO PRO Mode which the driver can activate using a center console switch. Energy is conserved while acceleration range is improved with just a single press of the switch.

The BMW ActiveE will make its first public appearance in April at the New York International Auto Show. It goes on sale beginning this fall in major US cities.