fuel economy

Math of Toughening MPG Standards

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With the recent government mandated fuel economy standards, there has been a lot of confusion on what is cost-effective, and how much money will be saved with various standards will across the fleet of vehicles. Here is some tables that will help you understand what various improvements on fuel economy really mean.

MPG Improvements.

MPG 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
10 11 12 13 14 15
15 16.5 18 19.5 21 22.5
20 22 24 26 28 30
25 27.5 30 32.5 35 37.5
30 33 36 39 42 45
35 38.5 42 45.5 49 52.5
40 44 48 52 56 60
50 55 60 65 70 75

Fuel Savings, gallons per 100k mile.

MPG 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
10 909 1,667 2,308 2,857 3,333
15 606 1,111 1,538 1,905 2,222
20 455 833 1,154 1,429 1,667
25 364 667 923 1,143 1,333
30 303 556 769 952 1,111
35 260 476 659 816 952
40 227 417 577 714 833
50 182 333 462 571 667

Money Saved, per 100k mile @ $3.50/gallon fuel.

MPG 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
10 $3,182 $5,833 $8,077 $10,000 $11,667
15 $2,121 $3,889 $5,385 $6,667 $7,778
20 $1,591 $2,917 $4,038 $5,000 $5,833
25 $1,273 $2,333 $3,231 $4,000 $4,667
30 $1,061 $1,944 $2,692 $3,333 $3,889
35 $909 $1,667 $2,308 $2,857 $3,333
40 $795 $1,458 $2,019 $2,500 $2,917
50 $636 $1,167 $1,615 $2,000 $2,333

Maximum Cost for 2:1 Payback.

MPG 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
10 $1,591 $2,917 $4,038 $5,000 $5,833
15 $1,061 $1,944 $2,692 $3,333 $3,889
20 $795 $1,458 $2,019 $2,500 $2,917
25 $636 $1,167 $1,615 $2,000 $2,333
30 $530 $972 $1,346 $1,667 $1,944
35 $455 $833 $1,154 $1,429 $1,667
40 $398 $729 $1,010 $1,250 $1,458
50 $318 $583 $808 $1,000 $1,167

Overemphasis on MPG

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Politicans and many environmental adovates are always discussing the need for more efficent cars. They note that a 20 MPG car uses 1/3 more fuel then a 30 MPG car if driven the same amount of miles.

But why do we have to drive so far? As a nation we are always traveling further and further. Indeed, while are cars are much more efficient then decades ago, we end up using more gasoline as we drive further. Nobody wants to give up their travel or going on vacations. Nobody wants to be prevented from going to the woods or being able to drive where-ever and whenever they want to go. It’s nice to be able to hop in our cars and go to the stores on the weekend or whenever it’s convenient.

Semi Truck

Yet, there is a type of driving that nobody enjoys, yet so many are stuck with doing. This type of driving is commuting. There is not much freedom or enjoyment in driving back and forth to work—the same way—fighting traffic. There are times I like to take my truck to work, such as when I need to leave early to stop and get things on the way to or from work. But I also enjoy mass transit. Not only does it save money it also saves time and allows you to relax as your transported to work.

It is enjoyable to use mass transit—when the system works. The new CDTA buses are relaxing, a perfect place to relax and listen to your headphones or work on your laptop while you are transported to work. Yet, for many of us good mass transit is hard to come by, with buses running infrequently to major destinations. If your not using your car or truck all the time for commuting, then you are skipping all of those carbon dioxide and toxic emissions. Your fuel economy of your truck doesn’t really matter one way or another for occassional use.