Study of Fuel Costs

[sdw]

Popular Mechanics has done a study of the cost to drive from California to New York using various fuels. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/2690341.html?page=1&c=y there is a link to a .pdf at the bottom of the first page.

Quick Stats

Fuel Cost MPG/MPGGE
Gasoline 212.70 33
Ethanol 425.00 17
Methanol 619.00 14
BioDiesel 231.00 44
Natural Gas 110.00 34
Electricity 60.00 202
Hydrogen 804.00 41

It gets pretty obvious why Gasoline is the fuel of choice, even when it's price is going up. The two real competitors to Gasoline are Electricity which only works with good battary technology and Natural Gas which needs the support of the Oil Companies to have a pump convienently available.

 

[westwoody]

When those batteries start wearing out how will they be disposed of? And what about collisions, do you have gallons of battery acid leaking out?
I know a guy with a Prius and it's pretty neat, the only problem is range and the downtime necessary for charging. That would be a big deal driving across the country, in a gasoline powered car you can refuel in five minutes but it's hours for an electric.

 

[SuperGrover]

When those batteries start wearing out how will they be disposed of? And what about collisions, do you have gallons of battery acid leaking out?
I know a guy with a Prius and it's pretty neat, the only problem is range and the downtime necessary for charging. That would be a big deal driving across the country, in a gasoline powered car you can refuel in five minutes but it's hours for an electric.

The batteries aren't lead-acid. Most likely NiMH. These batteries aren't damaging to the environment like Lead-acid. Future electric cars will probably run on Lithium batteries which are still quite expensive.

The stock Prius doesn't need to be plugged in to be charged. Did your friend install one of those aftermarket kits that allow him to plug it in?

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are probably the future for autos. Drive your car on only batteries for the first 50-60 kms per day (enough daily range for a typical urban dweller) and use the gasoline when you need to drive further.


Here's a small clip on PHEVs:
http://www.pluginpartners.com/includes/images/PHEV Video 10 Best.wmv

You can read about PHEVs here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHEV

 

[westwoody]

I thought Prius is a hybrid, no?

Holy cow I never thought of that...

 

[aznboi9]

I`m tellin` ya, it`s all about the air car.

Or it could all be a load of shit.

 

[badwolfcgy]

Get a smart car. http://www.thesmart.ca/index.cfm?id=5058

Nothing is going to change until Electric cars are able to go 300km/charge and charge in <1 hr. Diesel and Biodiesel is the cheapest/safest/easiest of the fuels.
Big trucks use Diesel for a reason.

CNG and H2 require expensive filling stations and won't be available outside major centers for many years.

 

[FuZzYknUckLeS]

When those batteries start wearing out how will they be disposed of? And what about collisions, do you have gallons of battery acid leaking out?
I know a guy with a Prius and it's pretty neat, the only problem is range and the downtime necessary for charging. That would be a big deal driving across the country, in a gasoline powered car you can refuel in five minutes but it's hours for an electric.

Just on a little side note here, those Prius's are apparently a problem in a car accident. There's something around 2-300 volts pulsing thru the vehicle, and sheared wires coming in contact with twisted body metal could fry an otherwise lucky survivor.

 

[badwolfcgy]

Li ion batteries do not take extreme shocks too well either.
Overheat one or crush one and the Lithium and chemicals starts to burn.

Here is some good reading on battery tech.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=14417