Inaugural
EARTH, WIND & POWER Awards
To Honor Most Environmentally-Friendly Vehicles
For Immediate Release
DETROIT — October 8, 2008 — In response to the increased demand for eco-friendly transportation, the International Car of the Year Awards (ICOTY) announced today that it will debut its EARTH, WIND & POWER Awards, honoring the most environmentally-friendly Car and Truck of the Year.
The inaugural awards will be presented at the 13th annual ICOTY event on January 10, 2009 at the MGM Grand Detroit. ICOTY producer, Courtney Caldwell, and Edmunds.com editorial director, Kevin Smith, will host the 2009 production.
The recipients of the EWP awards will be selected by ICOTY’s jury of 16 respected auto journalists and editors, whose opinions and publications matter to automakers.
Vehicles will be judged on how environmentally progressive they are in reducing greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. To be eligible for the award, vehicles must be driven by a power source that contributes to the reduction of global warming, is conducive to promoting a cleaner environment, and subsequently supports the mission to reach energy independence through alternative sources.
Automakers are making great progress in the environmental arena by reducing the energy they consume through the use of greener power supplies, thereby producing more fuel efficient vehicles and upgrading to cleaner power sources such as hybrids, electric, flex-fuel and ethanol. The EWP Awards will honor this progress.
“With global warming and concerns about dependence of foreign oil becoming more mainstream today, more and more people are turning to fuel-efficient or alternative fuel vehicles,” said Courtney Caldwell, ICOTY creator and producer. “It’s become of vital interest to consumers, automakers, and the future of our planet to produce vehicles that are compatible with our environment, which is why Congress recently approved $25 billion for automakers to develop eco-friendly, fuel efficient vehicles.”
While environmentally-friendly vehicles contribute significantly to returning the planet to its organic state, it’s important to note that cars alone are not the main culprit of global warming. There are many causes for greenhouse emissions from commercial buildings to individual consumption. “Time is running out,” adds Caldwell. “Now is the time to develop alternative power sources that will not only protect the planet but will also improve the quality of our lives.”
In addition to the inaugural EWP Awards, ICOTY will present its 2nd Annual EARTH ANGEL AWARD honoring an automaker for the most progress on its worldwide environmental programs, partnerships, and initiatives.
About the ICOTY AWARDS:
Launched in 1996, the ICOTY Awards honor automakers for outstanding new vehicles in the new model year. Coined the Academy Awards of Cars by industry leaders ICOTY is now the largest auto awards show production in the U.S.
Visit our ICOTY Awards section
Media Contact:
Courtney Caldwell
Interviews available
ph: 248.561.5660 EST
e:icotyawards@gmail.com
