Ty
Elio Addict
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The Wandering Thread
- Thread starter Ty
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Ty
Elio Addict
ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE CHEAPER TO OPERATE THAN GAS VEHICLES. FALSE!!!! (IN THE CASE OF THE ELIO, AT LEAST)
I was wondering... MPGe is the EV equivalent to MPG. It gets confusing because the price of electricity varies and that can make a big difference to how "cheap" EVs actually are.
To get the cost of going 100 miles, for instance, you have to divide by gas mileage (whether it's 10 mpg, 25 mpg, or 50 mpg) to get the number of gallons, then multiply that by the cost of gas.
So why not measure an electric car's efficiency in what the owner actually buys?
To parallel that, why not use kilowatt-hours per 100 miles, which can then be multiplied by your electricity cost to get the total cost of running your car for some useful distance.
For a 2012 Nissan Leaf, its average rated efficiency of 99 MPGe translates to 34 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. Just multiply that by your electric cost.
So if you pay the U.S. average of 12 cents/kWh, the Leaf will cost you $4.08 to go 100 miles (versus $16 in a 25-mpg car with gas at $4/gallon).
Basically, it would be nice to be able to compare two cars regardless of their consumption type by being able to say my car costs $0.23 per mile or such. Let me try that comparison using my current vehicle, an F350 crew cab diesel, clearly a MPG champ.
I get 16MPG using fuel that costs $2.22/gal. So, I pay $13.75/100 miles
My daughter's Prius gets 36MPG on fuel that costs $2.51/gal. She pays $6.97/100 miles
Nissan Leaf uses 34 kwh per 100 miles and the rate in New Mexico is $.1137/kwh so the Leaf would cost $3.87/100 miles
Assuming the average 12,000 mile year, here's what each would cost for the year:
F350 -- $1650.00
Prius -- $ 836.40
Leaf -- $ 464.40
Elio -- $ 358.57
I don't set the fuel prices. I'm using Gasbuddy.com and Albuquerque for both. I also don't control how my daughter drives.
From the example I use, the Prius is less than twice as efficient as my truck though it gets more than twice the mileage. The Leaf is clearly less expensive to drive than either of first two but the Elio will be cheaper to drive than the all electric Leaf. THAT is actually a surprise to me. I had assumed the Leaf would be cheaper. Go Figure.
For me, I'll save $1,292/yr with my Elio vs. driving my truck.
I was wondering... MPGe is the EV equivalent to MPG. It gets confusing because the price of electricity varies and that can make a big difference to how "cheap" EVs actually are.
To get the cost of going 100 miles, for instance, you have to divide by gas mileage (whether it's 10 mpg, 25 mpg, or 50 mpg) to get the number of gallons, then multiply that by the cost of gas.
So why not measure an electric car's efficiency in what the owner actually buys?
To parallel that, why not use kilowatt-hours per 100 miles, which can then be multiplied by your electricity cost to get the total cost of running your car for some useful distance.
For a 2012 Nissan Leaf, its average rated efficiency of 99 MPGe translates to 34 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. Just multiply that by your electric cost.
So if you pay the U.S. average of 12 cents/kWh, the Leaf will cost you $4.08 to go 100 miles (versus $16 in a 25-mpg car with gas at $4/gallon).
Basically, it would be nice to be able to compare two cars regardless of their consumption type by being able to say my car costs $0.23 per mile or such. Let me try that comparison using my current vehicle, an F350 crew cab diesel, clearly a MPG champ.
I get 16MPG using fuel that costs $2.22/gal. So, I pay $13.75/100 miles
My daughter's Prius gets 36MPG on fuel that costs $2.51/gal. She pays $6.97/100 miles
Nissan Leaf uses 34 kwh per 100 miles and the rate in New Mexico is $.1137/kwh so the Leaf would cost $3.87/100 miles
Assuming the average 12,000 mile year, here's what each would cost for the year:
F350 -- $1650.00
Prius -- $ 836.40
Leaf -- $ 464.40
Elio -- $ 358.57
I don't set the fuel prices. I'm using Gasbuddy.com and Albuquerque for both. I also don't control how my daughter drives.
From the example I use, the Prius is less than twice as efficient as my truck though it gets more than twice the mileage. The Leaf is clearly less expensive to drive than either of first two but the Elio will be cheaper to drive than the all electric Leaf. THAT is actually a surprise to me. I had assumed the Leaf would be cheaper. Go Figure.
For me, I'll save $1,292/yr with my Elio vs. driving my truck.
84mpg
Elio Addict
Same situation here. Got a Ram truck. In a little over 5 years Elio pays for itself - while saving 5 years of life on my truck. Love it....
They are NOT cheaper...the costs are spread out differently.
Parts for say the Volt or Tesla are more likely far more than say a standard same model year Chevy or Ford regular gas car.
I know the tires alone are way more expensive and more maintenance required than your average car.
Parts for say the Volt or Tesla are more likely far more than say a standard same model year Chevy or Ford regular gas car.
I know the tires alone are way more expensive and more maintenance required than your average car.
Ty
Elio Addict
Of course they are NOT cheaper... that's exactly my point.
The EV demographihc isn't buying and driving EV's because they are cheaper and don't claim they are cheaper. They are simply an alternative energy vehicle to help iinsure an adequate supply of energy to meet future needs. Currently EV's don't meet all driver's needs, nor does the Elio. There is MSRP, wear/tear and routine maintenace factors that determine the actual cost per mile of driving a specific vehicle over it's 'lifetime' other than just factoring and comparing MPG or MPGe.
Ty
Elio Addict
Absolutely right. On a strict $ per miles, my simplified explanation holds. Of course I didn't include he higher price of EVs or maintenance costs, etc. I started out trying to see if there was a better way to compare the two. I like electric. I specifically looked for a Prius for my daughter because I like the idea of driving without using gas and that includes my love of sail boats too.
Rob Croson
Elio Addict
Don't forget the inefficiency of converting AC to DC, then charging the batteries, then pulling it back out of the batteries to power the motors. There are losses at each step that make it more expensive. I'm not sure what the claimed efficiencies are for each of those steps, but its not 100%.
Ty
Elio Addict
None of that matters really. There are inefficiencies with all forms of energy.
To make serious inroads into he market, you have to appeal to a lot of people. Sure, there are those who will do what they feel is right to he environment regardless of cost but for most people, initial cost, maintenance cost (I've seen people in BMWs who I know can't afford the maintenance), utility, and cost per mile are driving factors. See what I did there? I was just touching on one of several factors which happens to be the one that is mandated to be disclosed on the window sticker. I just think there is a better comparison method.
When it comes down to it, my truck ends up costing me about $0.93 per mile or approximately $46 per day that I drive it to work. That kind of sucks. I'm counting payment, insurance, maintenance, and fuel... YIKES!