| Fuel-Efficient Driving Tips to Cut Your Gasoline Bill |
The US now consumes about 20 million barrels of oil every day, approximately 55% of which is imported --
23% from the volatile Middle East. That's our highest dependence on foreign oil ever. Personal automobiles
use more than 40% of all the oil we consume.
Today's motorists have more options when it comes to fuel efficiency, but not all of them make financial
sense. Here's the latest on fuel-efficient driving...
ALTERNATIVE-FUEL VEHICLES
Hybrid vehicles run on gasoline and electricity. They use onboard electric generators and motors to draw
energy from the engine and recover energy that would otherwise be lost when braking. Each can travel more
than 500 miles on one tank of gasoline.
Current leading models include the Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Other automobile
manufacturers are adding new hybrid models each year. Each is considered just as safe and reliable as
comparable gasoline models.
A manual-transmission Insight delivers an astonishing 61 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city, 68 mpg on the
highway. The Civic Hybrid gets 46 mpg city and 51 highway. The Prius gets 52 mpg city and 45 highway.
Gasoline savings: Assuming a Civic owner drives 15,000 miles a year (with 55% city driving and 45%
highway) and gasoline prices stay at about $2.80 a gallon, he/she should pay $1204 annually for gasoline,
versus the $788 that a Civic Hybrid owner would pay.
The downside of a hybrid is the cost of the car. Expect to pay $2,000 to $5,000 more than you would for a
comparable gasoline model.
Example: The 2006 Civic Hybrid's list price is $20,550. The gasoline-only Civic lists for about $16,000. The
Insight and Prius also are priced in the $20,000 range.
On the bright side, the US government now offers a $2,000 tax deduction per car for those who buy hybrids. If
you are in the 38.6% tax bracket, the $2,000 deduction would be worth $772. Add approximately $220 in
annual fuel savings for the Civic Hybrid over the gasoline-only Civic, and the hybrid should approach the
financial break-even point if you drive it for its entire 10- to 12-year useful life. The hybrid could become even
more attractive if gasoline prices continue to go up.
Meanwhile, an increasing number of states are offering incentives. Ask your car dealer.
Diesel-engine cars. While common in Europe, vehicle choices with diesel engines remain limited in the US.
The poor performance and excessive noise that once dogged many diesel engines are things of the past...
and the greater efficiency cuts fuel costs.
Example: A gasoline-powered, 1.8-liter, manual-transmission 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle delivers 24 mpg
city/31 mpg highway. The comparable diesel delivers 42 mpg city/49 highway. That saves the typical driver
$752 a year. The base-model diesel Beetle is also cheaper, listing at $17,195, versus $18,450 for its
gasoline-powered counterpart.
Unfortunately, diesel engines produce about five times as much of the worst pollutants as gasoline engines --
particularly nitrogen oxide, which causes smog, and fine particulate matter, which can harm lungs.
Changing laws required new diesel engines in the US to be more efficient starting in 2004. Expect
automakers to roll out cleaner diesel cars within five years. Until then, diesels might save you a few dollars at
the pump, but only at a significant cost to the environment.
Electric vehicles have been trickling into the US market, mainly in California, which offers the strongest
incentives for zero-emission vehicles. About 25,000 have been sold.
Unfortunately, the current generation of electric vehicles are prohibitively expensive... can cover a distance of
less than 150 miles on a charge... take as long as eight hours to charge... and require professionally installed
charging stations at home. Charging stations are available at some workplaces and public garages, mainly in
California cities. Though these vehicles can cut fuel costs by as much as two-thirds compared with
gasoline-powered vehicles, the savings can't offset the purchase prices.
Example: Toyota's RAV4 EV retails for about $43,000 -- more than $25,000 above the list price of a
manual-transmission RAV4. The RAV4 EV's range is only 136 miles per charge, and its top speed is 78 mph,
well below the 100 mph of a gasoline-powered RAV4. The government-estimated operating cost is $362 for
15,000 miles, versus $861 for the gasoline-powered RAV4 -- but unless you own the car for 50 years or
gasoline prices rise by 400% or more, you won't come close to recouping your investment.
EFFICIENT CONVENTIONAL CARS
The most practical way to buy a fuel-efficient car is simply to pick the most fuel-efficient option among
conventional gasoline-powered cars (see below). Compare fuel-efficiency ratings posted on new-car
stickers... or go on-line to www.fueleconomy.gov.
The typical American car averages 20 mpg. Selecting the Honda Civic instead could cut the average driver's
annual gas bill in half, a saving of more than $500 annually. Selecting the relatively fuel-efficient and
less-expensive RAV4 over a regular-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) could save you more than $300 a year.
You also can increase fuel efficiency by selecting a smaller engine. Choosing a V-6 instead of a V-8 not only
will save on the purchase price, it will improve your mileage by two to four miles per gallon, depending on the
model. Getting 23 mpg instead of 20 means a saving of about $150 a year at current gas prices and with
typical use.
FUEL-EFFICIENT DRIVING
How you drive can mean as much to your fuel efficiency as what you drive.
Tires. Tire manufacturers are making tires with lower "rolling resistance," which improves fuel efficiency by 1%
to 2%. These tires now are available only to auto manufacturers placing bulk orders. They come standard with
some models, including the Civic Hybrid. In the future, tiremakers might market low-rolling-resistance tires to
the public.
In the meantime, inflate your tires to the proper pressure. Underinflated tires reduce mileage by 0.4% for every
pound-per-square-inch (psi) drop in pressure. Seriously underinflated tires can add as much as five cents to
every gallon of gas you buy.
Engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can provide a 10% boost in engine efficiency -- up to 28 cents a gallon. If
a car is out of tune enough to fail an emissions test, a tune-up can improve fuel efficiency by an average of 4%
-- roughly six cents -- for every gallon of gas.
Using the grade of oil recommended for your engine rather than a lesser grade can improve efficiency by an
additional 1% to 2%, or from one to three cents per gallon.
Cargo. Every additional 100 pounds carried in a vehicle reduces fuel efficiency by 1% to 2%, or one to three
cents per gallon. A roof carrier can reduce fuel efficiency by 5%, or seven cents a gallon.
Drive gently. Sudden starts and stops and other aggressive driving habits reduce fuel efficiency by up to 33%
-- that's as much as 95 cents a gallon. Every five miles per hour you drive over 60 costs an extra 17 cents per
gallon.
Real progress in fuel efficiency will be made only if the American people -- not just the government -- decide
that fuel efficiency is a goal worth pursuing.
23% from the volatile Middle East. That's our highest dependence on foreign oil ever. Personal automobiles
use more than 40% of all the oil we consume.
Today's motorists have more options when it comes to fuel efficiency, but not all of them make financial
sense. Here's the latest on fuel-efficient driving...
ALTERNATIVE-FUEL VEHICLES
Hybrid vehicles run on gasoline and electricity. They use onboard electric generators and motors to draw
energy from the engine and recover energy that would otherwise be lost when braking. Each can travel more
than 500 miles on one tank of gasoline.
Current leading models include the Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Other automobile
manufacturers are adding new hybrid models each year. Each is considered just as safe and reliable as
comparable gasoline models.
A manual-transmission Insight delivers an astonishing 61 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city, 68 mpg on the
highway. The Civic Hybrid gets 46 mpg city and 51 highway. The Prius gets 52 mpg city and 45 highway.
Gasoline savings: Assuming a Civic owner drives 15,000 miles a year (with 55% city driving and 45%
highway) and gasoline prices stay at about $2.80 a gallon, he/she should pay $1204 annually for gasoline,
versus the $788 that a Civic Hybrid owner would pay.
The downside of a hybrid is the cost of the car. Expect to pay $2,000 to $5,000 more than you would for a
comparable gasoline model.
Example: The 2006 Civic Hybrid's list price is $20,550. The gasoline-only Civic lists for about $16,000. The
Insight and Prius also are priced in the $20,000 range.
On the bright side, the US government now offers a $2,000 tax deduction per car for those who buy hybrids. If
you are in the 38.6% tax bracket, the $2,000 deduction would be worth $772. Add approximately $220 in
annual fuel savings for the Civic Hybrid over the gasoline-only Civic, and the hybrid should approach the
financial break-even point if you drive it for its entire 10- to 12-year useful life. The hybrid could become even
more attractive if gasoline prices continue to go up.
Meanwhile, an increasing number of states are offering incentives. Ask your car dealer.
Diesel-engine cars. While common in Europe, vehicle choices with diesel engines remain limited in the US.
The poor performance and excessive noise that once dogged many diesel engines are things of the past...
and the greater efficiency cuts fuel costs.
Example: A gasoline-powered, 1.8-liter, manual-transmission 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle delivers 24 mpg
city/31 mpg highway. The comparable diesel delivers 42 mpg city/49 highway. That saves the typical driver
$752 a year. The base-model diesel Beetle is also cheaper, listing at $17,195, versus $18,450 for its
gasoline-powered counterpart.
Unfortunately, diesel engines produce about five times as much of the worst pollutants as gasoline engines --
particularly nitrogen oxide, which causes smog, and fine particulate matter, which can harm lungs.
Changing laws required new diesel engines in the US to be more efficient starting in 2004. Expect
automakers to roll out cleaner diesel cars within five years. Until then, diesels might save you a few dollars at
the pump, but only at a significant cost to the environment.
Electric vehicles have been trickling into the US market, mainly in California, which offers the strongest
incentives for zero-emission vehicles. About 25,000 have been sold.
Unfortunately, the current generation of electric vehicles are prohibitively expensive... can cover a distance of
less than 150 miles on a charge... take as long as eight hours to charge... and require professionally installed
charging stations at home. Charging stations are available at some workplaces and public garages, mainly in
California cities. Though these vehicles can cut fuel costs by as much as two-thirds compared with
gasoline-powered vehicles, the savings can't offset the purchase prices.
Example: Toyota's RAV4 EV retails for about $43,000 -- more than $25,000 above the list price of a
manual-transmission RAV4. The RAV4 EV's range is only 136 miles per charge, and its top speed is 78 mph,
well below the 100 mph of a gasoline-powered RAV4. The government-estimated operating cost is $362 for
15,000 miles, versus $861 for the gasoline-powered RAV4 -- but unless you own the car for 50 years or
gasoline prices rise by 400% or more, you won't come close to recouping your investment.
EFFICIENT CONVENTIONAL CARS
The most practical way to buy a fuel-efficient car is simply to pick the most fuel-efficient option among
conventional gasoline-powered cars (see below). Compare fuel-efficiency ratings posted on new-car
stickers... or go on-line to www.fueleconomy.gov.
The typical American car averages 20 mpg. Selecting the Honda Civic instead could cut the average driver's
annual gas bill in half, a saving of more than $500 annually. Selecting the relatively fuel-efficient and
less-expensive RAV4 over a regular-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) could save you more than $300 a year.
You also can increase fuel efficiency by selecting a smaller engine. Choosing a V-6 instead of a V-8 not only
will save on the purchase price, it will improve your mileage by two to four miles per gallon, depending on the
model. Getting 23 mpg instead of 20 means a saving of about $150 a year at current gas prices and with
typical use.
FUEL-EFFICIENT DRIVING
How you drive can mean as much to your fuel efficiency as what you drive.
Tires. Tire manufacturers are making tires with lower "rolling resistance," which improves fuel efficiency by 1%
to 2%. These tires now are available only to auto manufacturers placing bulk orders. They come standard with
some models, including the Civic Hybrid. In the future, tiremakers might market low-rolling-resistance tires to
the public.
In the meantime, inflate your tires to the proper pressure. Underinflated tires reduce mileage by 0.4% for every
pound-per-square-inch (psi) drop in pressure. Seriously underinflated tires can add as much as five cents to
every gallon of gas you buy.
Engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can provide a 10% boost in engine efficiency -- up to 28 cents a gallon. If
a car is out of tune enough to fail an emissions test, a tune-up can improve fuel efficiency by an average of 4%
-- roughly six cents -- for every gallon of gas.
Using the grade of oil recommended for your engine rather than a lesser grade can improve efficiency by an
additional 1% to 2%, or from one to three cents per gallon.
Cargo. Every additional 100 pounds carried in a vehicle reduces fuel efficiency by 1% to 2%, or one to three
cents per gallon. A roof carrier can reduce fuel efficiency by 5%, or seven cents a gallon.
Drive gently. Sudden starts and stops and other aggressive driving habits reduce fuel efficiency by up to 33%
-- that's as much as 95 cents a gallon. Every five miles per hour you drive over 60 costs an extra 17 cents per
gallon.
Real progress in fuel efficiency will be made only if the American people -- not just the government -- decide
that fuel efficiency is a goal worth pursuing.
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