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A nice graphic comparing various passenger cars and alternative fuels. Two quibbles:
- I don’t think the NASA crawler (used to transport the Space Shuttle) qualifies as a passenger car.
- Why not include natural gas vehicles?
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Fuel Efficiency in the US
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Posted October 28, 2011
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Tom Konrad
Tom Konrad is a financial analyst, freelance writer, and policy wonk specializing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. He manages green stock market portfolios, and promotes clean energy by testifying before legislators and regulators on energy policy. He writes articles about investing in clean energy for AltEnergyStocks.com, and about energy policy and economics on ...
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A guest says:
Aside from Geoff's comment, another huge gaffe seems to be the diesel figure - 12,000 annual miles / 47.9 mpg = 250.52 gallons * avg cost of diesel at $3.127/gal = $783.37, not $1,895. I applaud the effort, but have to ask, who's doing the math on these graphics?
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CelloMom on Cars says:
Chris,
It appears the "diesel" numbers are more appropriate for EU passenger cars, despite what it says on the header. In Europe, the price of diesel is close to €1.50/liter, or about $6/gal, this year, but has been higher in the past. The average fuel efficiency of 47.9mpg is definitely more European than American. For instance, that VW Polo featured on the poster, the sweet 1.2L Bluemotion, does a real-life 57mpg; the best VW sells here does 40mpg: it is the Golf 2.0L TDI. So far, they have reserved for non-US markets the 1.6L TDI which does 50mpg. If anybody knows of a diesel engine, available in the US today, that beats the 47.9mpg "average", please let me know about it.
Hey, at least they got it spot-on about the "zero" emissions being only at the tailpipe; how is it possible that the EPA, which is otherwise so level-headed when it comes to reporting MPG, has allowed the number "0" to appear in the CO2 box on the window stickers for EVs? (I know, arriving at the number is "complicated": your juice, which may come from a hydro-electric plant, is not my juice, which may come from the burning of mostly coal. Still, whatever that number, it should NOT be 0, and the 186g CO2/mi on the poster, which is the US average number, is probably the best one can do). And why are we consumers allowing this kind of misleading information on something so crucial?
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Geoffrey Styles says:
Tom,
Well here's a relatively large glitch right at the start: The graphic indicates 135 million US "cars", but that number is based on "passenger cars" and excludes roughly 101million SUVs and light trucks used as passenger cars. The figure for total cars in the world is also about half what others have reported.
I've seen a number of such mistakes in the proliferating infographics put out by various groups. The tools for making attractive charts are outstripping the expertise on what to put in them. However, I give this one credit for providing a pretty good explanation of why zero-emission vehicles usually aren't.
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