Figuring Out How Much a Hybrid, Diesel, or Small Car Will Save Per Year

The most effective way to reduce our cars impact is to drive less.

 

Exactly.

 

Exactly.

 

Initially I didn't realize how little wear there would
be on this hybrid, so at 40k bought pads and did the
check. I'm an engineer, so felt compelled to go for the
data. Toyota's replacement pads and the 40k pads
measured the same, though it's possible the spec changed
in the four years I've driven the car.

I returned the new pads with no restocking fee - the
dealer's partsdroid said they rarely sell pads for the
'04, and nearly all come back after the do-it-yourselfer
does the comparison.

It's not a dream, evidently.

 

Initially I didn't realize how little wear there would
be on this hybrid, so at 40k bought pads and did the
check. I'm an engineer, so felt compelled to go for the
data. Toyota's replacement pads and the 40k pads
measured the same, though it's possible the spec changed
in the four years I've driven the car.

I returned the new pads with no restocking fee - the
dealer's partsdroid said they rarely sell pads for the
'04, and nearly all come back after the do-it-yourselfer
does the comparison.

It's not a dream, evidently.

 

We don't have much historic data on average temperatures on Mars and
Venus. They are very different from Earth and from each other. We
really don't know what kind of cycles are in play there.

I couldn't find any reference on Venus warming recently. I only found
one reference on Mars warming referencing a paper in Nature which also
noted that the surface had gotten darker and speculating that some
kind of wind cycle churning up dust could be at play.

How do you know that?


BTW, Venus is the poster boy for greenhouse climate change. Fifty
years ago it was assumed that the surface of Venus was like a swamp on
the equator of Earth. We now know it is more like a furnace. This is
the result of run-away global warming due to the high CO2 content of
its atmosphere. By some models, Earth starts to run away if the
average global temperature hits 80F.

 

We don't have much historic data on average temperatures on Mars and
Venus. They are very different from Earth and from each other. We
really don't know what kind of cycles are in play there.

I couldn't find any reference on Venus warming recently. I only found
one reference on Mars warming referencing a paper in Nature which also
noted that the surface had gotten darker and speculating that some
kind of wind cycle churning up dust could be at play.

How do you know that?


BTW, Venus is the poster boy for greenhouse climate change. Fifty
years ago it was assumed that the surface of Venus was like a swamp on
the equator of Earth. We now know it is more like a furnace. This is
the result of run-away global warming due to the high CO2 content of
its atmosphere. By some models, Earth starts to run away if the
average global temperature hits 80F.

 

Actually, I can believe this, especially if the driver is driving for
economy and/or doing a lot of highway driving. I can drive my GS-R in
heavy Chicago traffic hardly using the brakes by just anticipating
traffic and using engine compression to slow the car. The regen
braking in a hybrid should work even better than compression braking.

 

Actually, I can believe this, especially if the driver is driving for
economy and/or doing a lot of highway driving. I can drive my GS-R in
heavy Chicago traffic hardly using the brakes by just anticipating
traffic and using engine compression to slow the car. The regen
braking in a hybrid should work even better than compression braking.

 

Yes. Live near work and take mass transit when possible.

 

Yes. Live near work and take mass transit when possible.

 

....and smoking builds healthy lungs and dumping poisons in the river
makes our kids build strong bones...those crazy liberals are health
fiends....

 

....and smoking builds healthy lungs and dumping poisons in the river
makes our kids build strong bones...those crazy liberals are health
fiends....

 

I'd save 100 gallons a year going from a civic to a hybrid.
I figured the payback was about 11 years, not counting
increased maintenance costs of a more complex vehicle.
To the green-snobs out there, I am already driving one
the top 5% top mileage vehicles in the USA.

 

I'd save 100 gallons a year going from a civic to a hybrid.
I figured the payback was about 11 years, not counting
increased maintenance costs of a more complex vehicle.
To the green-snobs out there, I am already driving one
the top 5% top mileage vehicles in the USA.

 

It's actually a very simple calculation by just applying the mileage
ratio to your current gas costs. I've done it in Canadian units, but the
same idea could easily be modified for the imperial gallon or the tiny
USA gallon.

For example I now spend $1,200 per year on gas, driving 1,000 kms per
month.
My car is 8L/100 highway and 12.5L/100 city.
I drive 80% city, so my effective consumption is 11.6.
If a new smaller more efficient car is 7/10.5L/100 it's effective
consumption for me is 9.8L/100.
Therefore my gas cost with the new car is 1,200*9.6/11.6=$993
for a saving of $207 per year. A 17% saving, not a big deal for my low
mileage.
Tuning this figure up you could increase the saving to reflect the
expected increase in gas cost.

 

It's actually a very simple calculation by just applying the mileage
ratio to your current gas costs. I've done it in Canadian units, but the
same idea could easily be modified for the imperial gallon or the tiny
USA gallon.

For example I now spend $1,200 per year on gas, driving 1,000 kms per
month.
My car is 8L/100 highway and 12.5L/100 city.
I drive 80% city, so my effective consumption is 11.6.
If a new smaller more efficient car is 7/10.5L/100 it's effective
consumption for me is 9.8L/100.
Therefore my gas cost with the new car is 1,200*9.6/11.6=$993
for a saving of $207 per year. A 17% saving, not a big deal for my low
mileage.
Tuning this figure up you could increase the saving to reflect the
expected increase in gas cost.

 

What increased maintenance costs?

 

What increased maintenance costs?

 

What increased maintenance costs?[/QUOTE]

That's one of the favorite myths of the hybrid bashers. After four
years the Prius gets excellent reliability ratings. It's kinda nice
going 100,000 between brake pads and knowing that the transmission will
never need a rebuild.