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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
