Geocaching Colorado

Attention hybrid owners!  Is it really worth it?..

Think GREEN get a Jeep!

Lowest Lifetime Energy Cost

Hybrids may use a little less fuel on the road than many of the other new models, but they're really poor performers when you count their lifetime energy costs, and when it comes to which vehicles use the least energy it's wrong to judge a vehicle by its cover.

(Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

1. Jeep TJ (Wrangler): $0.604
2. Chevrolet Tracker: $0.694
3. Toyota Echo: $0.703
4. Saturn Ion: $0.709
5. Hyundai Elantra: $0.723
6. Dodge SX2.0: $0.728
7. Toyota Corolla: $0.732
8. Chevrolet Cavalier: $0.757
9. Pontiac Sunfire: $0.758
10. Chevrolet Aveo: $0.765
11. Mazda Protegé: $0.772
12. Chevrolet S10: $0.779
13. Ford Focus: $0.0803
14. Hyundai Accent: $0.840
15. Kia Spectra: $0.864
16. Mitsubishi Lancer: $0.872
17. Suzuki Aerio: $0.888
18. Nissan Sentra: $0.962
19. Kia Rio: $0.964
20. Ford Ranger: $0.968

But you could also serve the environment better by choosing a Hummer H2 ($3.027) or H3 ($1.949), a Cadillac Escalade ($2.753), a Lincoln Navigator ($2.617), a Dodge Ram ($2.484), or pretty much anything else for less than an Accord Hybrid ($3.295), Toyota Prius ($3.249), Honda Civic Hybrid ($3.238), or Ford Escape Hybrid ($3.178).

CNW president Art Spinella says his firm spent two years collecting data on the energy necessary to plan, build, sell, drive and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage. "This includes such minutiae as plant to dealership transportation fuel costs, manufacturer and supplier employee driving distances, electricity usage per pound of material used in each vehicle, and literally hundreds of other variables."

To put the data into understandable terms for consumers, it was translated into a "dollars per lifetime mile" figure, Spinella said in an interview from his Portland office. "That is, the Energy Cost per mile driven."

The 20 most Energy Expensive vehicles per mile sold in Canada in calendar year 2005 are as follows:

1. Mercedes Maybach: $11.582
2. VW Phaeton: $11.213
3. Rolls-Royce: $10.660
4. Bentley: $10.555
5. Audi Allroad Quattro: $5.595
6. Audi A8: $4.964
7. Audi A6: $4.963
8. Lexus LS 430: $4.734
9. Porsche Carrera GT: $4.528
10. Acura NSX: $4.453
11. Lexus GS 430: $4.416
12. Infiniti Q45: $4.243
13. Porsche Cayenne: $4.416
14. VW Touareg: $4.134
15. Lamborghini: $4.009
16. Jaguar S-Type: $3.989
17. Mercedes SLK: $3.982
18. Ferrari: $3.962
19. Infiniti M45: $3.876
20. Lexus: GS: $3.861

According to Spinella, one of the reasons hybrids cost more than non-hybrids is the manufacture, replacement and disposal of such items as batteries, electric motors (in addition to the conventional engine), lighter weight materials and complexity of the power package.

"If a consumer is concerned about fuel economy because of its impact on the family budget or social concerns such as depleting oil supplies," says Spinella, "it is perfectly logical to consider buying high-fuel-economy vehicles. But if the concern is centered on broader issues such as the environmental impact of energy usage, some high-mileage vehicles actually cost society more than conventional or even larger models over their lifetime."

Spinella points out that "basing purchase decisions solely on fuel economy or vehicle size does not get to the heart of the energy usage issue. The goal of overall worldwide energy conservation and the cost to society in general, not just the auto buyer can often be better addressed by being aware of a car or truck's dust-to-dust energy requirements."

In the next week or so, says Spinella, a full analysis of the data will be posted on www.PurchasePathOnline.com, including an extensive Q&A section discussing details of the research.

cirrus142:

The 20 vehicles with the lowest lifetime energy costs per mile (in U.S. dollars) are:

1. Jeep TJ (Wrangler): $0.604
2. Chevrolet Tracker: $0.694
3. Toyota Echo: $0.703
4. Saturn Ion: $0.709
5. Hyundai Elantra: $0.723
6. Dodge SX2.0: $0.728
7. Toyota Corolla: $0.732
8. Chevrolet Cavalier: $0.757
9. Pontiac Sunfire: $0.758
10. Chevrolet Aveo: $0.765
11. Mazda Protegé: $0.772
12. Chevrolet S10: $0.779
13. Ford Focus: $0.0803
14. Hyundai Accent: $0.840
15. Kia Spectra: $0.864
16. Mitsubishi Lancer: $0.872
17. Suzuki Aerio: $0.888
18. Nissan Sentra: $0.962
19. Kia Rio: $0.964
20. Ford Ranger: $0.968

....wait a second.....something's not right here.......if the Focus has $0.0803 cost per mile and the Jeep has $0.604 CPM, wouldn't that make the Focus #1?

Team Laxson:

....wait a second.....something's not right here.......if the Focus has $0.0803 cost per mile and the Jeep has $0.604 CPM, wouldn't that make the Focus #1?

K-2:

Team Laxson:

....wait a second.....something's not right here.......if the Focus has $0.0803 cost per mile and the Jeep has $0.604 CPM, wouldn't that make the Focus #1?

I think cirrus had too many Cozmo's when he entered the numbers... what's a decimal point anyway? Gimme another FuzzyNAVY

hahaha

It's obviously a typo... even the linked article had it wrong.

earthcurrent:

CNW's study would be fine and dandy if they'd reveal some of their formulas, and also gave better details and rationale for some of the numbers they used to plug into those formulas  They've certainly been heavily criticied for some of the numbers they did use.

Firstly, they didn't use the same lifetime service or milage for the cars.  At the very least you'd think they'd do this to provide a benchmark of service.  The lack of this seems to suggest some gerry-rigging in order to get the results they wanted.  The Prius, for example is listed in the report as only being servicable for 11.92 years with lifetime mileage of 109K miles.  In several major U.S. markets, notably CA, NJ, NY, Toyota offers a 10-year 150K-mile warranty on Prius' battery and other warranties of varying complexity for other parts of the car.  But the battery, generally speaking, is the part that would potentially be the biggest burden on the car owner were it to fail.  Why would the company offer that sort of coverage if the battery the Prius is built around is expected to die an early death at just 109K?  Another hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid, was also saddled with a projected low lifetime mileage at 113K miles, but CNW never provided a reason for these numbers.  The Toyota Camry was given a lifetime 198K miles, which seems closer to an average number for cars these days.  But what lifetime milage listings did they give to some of the bigger vehicles in their study?

Chevy Tahoe: 268K miles; Ford Expedition: 284K miles; Hummer H2: 197K miles; Hummer H1: 379,000


If it runs and gets you to were you need to go be happy with what you drive, I guess.  But the numbers are just too screwy, and the research group's formulas a little too obscure, to put much faith into the study.

  Go Jeep! 

earthcurrent:

CNW's study would be fine and dandy if they'd reveal some of their formulas, and also gave better details and rationale for some of the numbers they used to plug into those formulas  They've certainly been heavily criticied for some of the numbers they did use.

Firstly, they didn't use the same lifetime service or milage for the cars.  At the very least you'd think they'd do this to provide a benchmark of service.  The lack of this seems to suggest some gerry-rigging in order to get the results they wanted.  The Prius, for example is listed in the report as only being servicable for 11.92 years with lifetime mileage of 109K miles.  In several major U.S. markets, notably CA, NJ, NY, Toyota offers a 10-year 150K-mile warranty on Prius' battery and other warranties of varying complexity for other parts of the car.  But the battery, generally speaking, is the part that would potentially be the biggest burden on the car owner were it to fail.  Why would the company offer that sort of coverage if the battery the Prius is built around is expected to die an early death at just 109K?  Another hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid, was also saddled with a projected low lifetime mileage at 113K miles, but CNW never provided a reason for these numbers.  The Toyota Camry was given a lifetime 198K miles, which seems closer to an average number for cars these days.  But what lifetime milage listings did they give to some of the bigger vehicles in their study?

Chevy Tahoe: 268K miles; Ford Expedition: 284K miles; Hummer H2: 197K miles; Hummer H1: 379,000


If it runs and gets you to were you need to go be happy with what you drive, I guess.  But the numbers are just too screwy, and the research group's formulas a little too obscure, to put much faith into the study.

Please DO NOT believe such BS!!!!! To compare such things means to compare al lot of technical datas.....just think 1 minute!!!!!
Hummer H3 or other SUV:
15-20 litres per 100km lifetime 250'000km =
42'000 l minimum.

Prius: 5 l per 100km lifetime 200'000 km =
10'000 l.

makes 32'500l !!!! that is a big difference
it means a prius takes 4 times more energie beeing produced!!!!!!
to produce cars of course takes a lot of energie to produces batteries takes a lot energie including starter batteries!!!

the question is always: how was the energie produced?
kust to think an other minute:
HOW MUCH ENRGIE AND LIVES DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE ONE LITER GASOLINE? gasoline doesen't
flow in front of your house it has to be explored as crude oil pumpet out of the ground beeing raffinated transported, stored,... the question is how much is left from 1 liter????
and crude oil comes from a lot of unstable countries where there is war it means lives are taken...and if you are talking about recycling and envoirement there is a endless list of waste all over the world EXClUDING the Climate change.
THINK AGAIN!!!
To produce a car electric energie is used if this energie produced by hydropower these stupid comparings show an other new face. DO NOT just believe what the people are talking think by your self if youre not an engineer ask them or better a lot of them overall they
give honest conclusion at least those whom NOT sponsered by EXXON, SHELL,.....!!!!!!!

K-2:

This is what was posted on the site as a comment... (verbatum)

Please DO NOT believe such BS!!!!! To compare such things means to compare al lot of technical datas.....just think 1 minute!!!!!
Hummer H3 or other SUV:
15-20 litres per 100km lifetime 250'000km =
42'000 l minimum.

Prius: 5 l per 100km lifetime 200'000 km =
10'000 l.

makes 32'500l !!!! that is a big difference
it means a prius takes 4 times more energie beeing produced!!!!!!
to produce cars of course takes a lot of energie to produces batteries takes a lot energie including starter batteries!!!

the question is always: how was the energie produced?
kust to think an other minute:
HOW MUCH ENRGIE AND LIVES DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE ONE LITER GASOLINE? gasoline doesen't
flow in front of your house it has to be explored as crude oil pumpet out of the ground beeing raffinated transported, stored,... the question is how much is left from 1 liter????
and crude oil comes from a lot of unstable countries where there is war it means lives are taken...and if you are talking about recycling and envoirement there is a endless list of waste all over the world EXClUDING the Climate change.
THINK AGAIN!!!
To produce a car electric energie is used if this energie produced by hydropower these stupid comparings show an other new face. DO NOT just believe what the people are talking think by your self if youre not an engineer ask them or better a lot of them overall they
give honest conclusion at least those whom NOT sponsered by EXXON, SHELL,.....!!!!!!!

I would have to agree

You must agree with their spelling, punctuation and grammar as well!?

On a a lighter note............................

GO TRACKER!!!!!!!

I always knew I was a smart cookie....!!!

As a former gas-guzzler owner …well, I guess it wasn't all that bad- Ford f-150 w/ a straight 6. Needed a truck that could pull a horse trailer and do ranch work at the time.  It got 22 mpg on the highway… I understand a genuine NEED for a vehicle that does specific jobs.  Moving to Colorado, then to the mountains changed the way I drive. I needed 4wd or Awd. My first car here was an old Subaru wagon (assembled in Indiana), which got 32 on the highway, and 26 in town. I drove it everywhere!

 Lady Coot drives a 2003 Honda civic Hybrid. It's a great car with plenty of power, and averages 60 mpg- living at 9500 feet. After incentives and tax rebates, it cost 2000 less than a regular Honda civic with similar features. I am not factoring in annual fuel savings, but they are significant.  I drive a CR-V, which cannot take jeep roads ;), but has been a wonderful car to drive in snowy conditions when we want to XC ski, snowshoe, or need to drive in snowy conditions. 

I have a good friend who owns 2 jeeps.  She LOVES her jeeps. But, since her ’95 custom Harley Road King gets 3x better mileage, that is her vehicle of choice in warmer weather. If I lived in an area that needed the clearance, or needed a 6-cylinder engine, I would probably have a similar vehicle, like a jeep or smaller 4 x 4 truck.  I would not have a hummer- ever. I drove them in the military, and I don't like the way the handle and drink gas. 

There are still little to no incentives from our government to encourage American car manufactures to take existing vehicles- like a jeep, and make them more fuel efficient. The technology has been in place for over 30 years.  Can you imagine a 6-cyl jeep that got 30- 40  mpg on the highway? Would you drive your jeep more or less? The way Mexico, uh, I mean Detroit makes cars in consumer driven, not eco-driven.

It comes down to what fits your life, your planet, and your pocketbook. It’s not a difficult balance.

OK maybe a change of thought...........

GO JEEP!!! 

what i think is funny is that they always give the highway mile in the ads and always talk about highway mileage when most people only drive a small percentage of highway mileage. their city mileage is in some cases considerably less, most city people tend to stay in the metro area and we all know how traffic can get.

 my jeep gets excellent city mileage (4 cylinder) but mountain driving or over 60-65 mph it goes down . even towing ( under 60) i get reasonable mileage. considering that my driving is in the metro area, mostly lakewood, i'm very pleased with my jeep. and again, i've only replaced one little $ 30 dollar suspension part in all these years. i would agree with those numbers.