MSN takes a dive into history, finding out which cars really are the 'greenest' from around the planet and throughout motoring's history books.

With fuel price rises and the very real prospect of petrol and diesel shortages as tanker drivers threaten industrial action, the minds of UK motorists have never been more focused on what's in their tanks.

Saving fuel might have been catapulted to the top of the agenda but don't think that the desire for greener cars is anything new. Starting way back in 1896, this gallery takes us through ground-breaking green car designs from past to present - and even touches on the future.

All of these vehicles set out to use as little of the planet's precious natural resources as possible but they go about the task in very different ways. Take the trip with us, as we count down some of the greenest cars the world has ever seen...