However green cars are able to get, the process of building thousands of them every year still isn't particularly environmentally friendly.

The manufacturers are doing all they can to improve this. GM's Detroit-Hamtramck factory that produces the Chevrolet Volt is equipped with several solar panel arrays to help power the factory, and now BMW has announced plans to build four wind turbines at its Leipzig factory in Germany.

The new wind turbines are expected to be in use by 2013 and will generate the electricity to help produce 740 BMWs per day. The factory already produces some of BMW's greenest models, the 1-Series compact car range and the BMW X1 crossover available in Europe.

The plant will build even greener models, too. The BMW 1-Series-based ActiveE electric vehicle is being built in Leipzig and the upcoming 2014 BMW i3 electric car and 2014 BMW i8 plug-in hybrid will also be produced at Leipzig, both expected to reach showrooms in 2013.

The turbines are part of BMW's plan to become a leading player in sustainable production and wants the factory to become an example of green energy production.

[Eureka Magazine]