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Why should you think about energy when buying a new or used car? In the
long run, doing a little bit of shopping and research BEFORE you buy
will save you both energy and money.
Most of us only think about how much we can afford when shopping for
a car. But if the car we purchase is a gas-guzzler, it will soon be
costing us a lot more each and every week.
Before heading out to the dealerships, take some time to do some
comparison shopping.
Pick up a copy of
Consumer
Reports or automobile magazines that compare the models. Read
about various vehicle "families" and try to determine which size is best
for your needs: do you need a subcompact, a compact, a sedan, a
two-door?
Compare the mileage ratings for the various cars or trucks you're
considering. All new cars have window stickers listing the latest U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's mileage ratings. These ratings are
scientifically determined using state-of-the-art testing facilities that
run the cars and trucks through simulated city street and freeway
driving. The mileage you get on your vehicle, however, may differ from
this rating, depending on your driving habits and the actual vehicle
itself.
The EPA mileage rating is a good guide about how much the car will
cost you to run. If, for example, you had to make a choice between a
sport utility vehicle car rated at 20 miles per gallon and a car rated
at 30 mpg, it would be wise to go with the more efficient car with
better mileage.
If you traveled 12,000 miles per year at a cost of $2.50 a gallon of
gasoline, the 20-mpg SUV will cost you $1,500 to operate. The 30-mpg car
would cost $1,000, so you would save $500/year with the 30-mpg car. If
you own the car for five years, you will have saved $2,500!
You may also want to consider a hybrid vehicle. While the initial
cost may be higher, it will pay itself back in a few years by gasoline
saved.
Besides efficiency and mileage, also consider how much of a car do
you really need. If you will never venture into the backwoods and ride
on hilly, dirt roads; if you only use the car to drive to and from work
on freeway...do you really need a sport utility vehicle? SUVs, because
of their weight and horsepower, are some of the most inefficient
vehicles on the market. They typically get only about 16-18 mpg or less
around town and 20-24 mpg or less on the freeway.
A smaller car that gets excellent mileage may be what you need for
that short daily commute. Most people don't need a super, ultra-fancy
luxury car to go back and forth the 10 or 20 miles to their jobs. And if
you do commute very long distances, mileage should be a prime
consideration along with vehicle comfort and safety.
Another consideration before you buy a car should be how much of the
vehicle can be recycled after it has out-lived its usefulness. Auto
companies are now making vehicles that can be nearly 100 percent
recycled: the plastics can be chopped up and reused, the light metal can
be stripped off and reused, the steel can be melted down and re-forged.
So rather than being thrown into a scrap yard to sit and rust, vehicles
are disassembled, and the parts recycled back into raw materials.
Finally, when planning a new car purchase...consider an alternative
fuel vehicle as your main commuting car. The majority of automobile
trips are made by a single person who drives less than 25 miles a day.
This is the perfect range for an electric or hybrid vehicle. If you own
a company with a fleet of vehicles, you may want to consider compressed
natural gas (CNG). The cost per mile of using CNG is typically lower
than gasoline, and you can refuel them overnight while they are in your
parking lot.
Tips About Buying A Used Car
If you're thinking about buying a used vehicle, be sure to have the
car carefully inspected by your mechanic to make sure it is running
properly. A car that is improperly tuned or that has a bad engine or
transmission will run poorly and use energy inefficiently.
Used vehicles have many more years of life in them, and driving them
helps extend their total energy life cycle - the amount of energy needed
to get the raw materials to build and deliver the vehicle to the
consumer.
You may consider buying a used hybrid vehicle, but be aware that
these cars may carry a premium because they are in relatively high
demand.
Resources:
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DRIVERS
