But you could also serve the environment better by choosing a Hummer H2 ($3.027) or H3 ($1.949), a Cadillac Escalade ($2.753), a Lincoln Navigator ($2.617), a Dodge Ram ($2.484), or pretty much anything else for less than an Accord Hybrid ($3.295), Toyota Prius ($3.249), Honda Civic Hybrid ($3.238), or Ford Escape Hybrid ($3.178).
CNW president Art Spinella says his firm spent two years collecting data on the energy necessary to plan, build, sell, drive and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage. "This includes such minutiae as plant to dealership transportation fuel costs, manufacturer and supplier employee driving distances, electricity usage per pound of material used in each vehicle, and literally hundreds of other variables."
To put the data into understandable terms for consumers, it was translated into a "dollars per lifetime mile" figure, Spinella said in an interview from his Portland office. "That is, the Energy Cost per mile driven."
The 20 most Energy Expensive vehicles per mile sold in Canada in calendar year 2005 are as follows:
According to Spinella, one of the reasons hybrids cost more than non-hybrids is the manufacture, replacement and disposal of such items as batteries, electric motors (in addition to the conventional engine), lighter weight materials and complexity of the power package.
"If a consumer is concerned about fuel economy because of its impact on the family budget or social concerns such as depleting oil supplies," says Spinella, "it is perfectly logical to consider buying high-fuel-economy vehicles. But if the concern is centered on broader issues such as the environmental impact of energy usage, some high-mileage vehicles actually cost society more than conventional or even larger models over their lifetime."
Spinella points out that "basing purchase decisions solely on fuel economy or vehicle size does not get to the heart of the energy usage issue. The goal of overall worldwide energy conservation and the cost to society in general, not just the auto buyer can often be better addressed by being aware of a car or truck's dust-to-dust energy requirements."
In the next week or so, says Spinella, a full analysis of the data will be posted on www.PurchasePathOnline.com, including an extensive Q&A section discussing details of the research.
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| (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
To put the data into understandable terms for consumers, it was translated into a "dollars per lifetime mile" figure, Spinella said in an interview from his Portland office. "That is, the Energy Cost per mile driven."
The 20 most Energy Expensive vehicles per mile sold in Canada in calendar year 2005 are as follows:
- Mercedes Maybach: $11.582
- VW Phaeton: $11.213
- Rolls-Royce: $10.660
- Bentley: $10.555
- Audi Allroad Quattro: $5.595
- Audi A8: $4.964
- Audi A6: $4.963
- Lexus LS 430: $4.734
- Porsche Carrera GT: $4.528
- Acura NSX: $4.453
- Lexus GS 430: $4.416
- Infiniti Q45: $4.243
- Porsche Cayenne: $4.416
- VW Touareg: $4.134
- Lamborghini: $4.009
- Jaguar S-Type: $3.989
- Mercedes SLK: $3.982
- Ferrari: $3.962
- Infiniti M45: $3.876
- Lexus: GS: $3.861
According to Spinella, one of the reasons hybrids cost more than non-hybrids is the manufacture, replacement and disposal of such items as batteries, electric motors (in addition to the conventional engine), lighter weight materials and complexity of the power package.
"If a consumer is concerned about fuel economy because of its impact on the family budget or social concerns such as depleting oil supplies," says Spinella, "it is perfectly logical to consider buying high-fuel-economy vehicles. But if the concern is centered on broader issues such as the environmental impact of energy usage, some high-mileage vehicles actually cost society more than conventional or even larger models over their lifetime."
Spinella points out that "basing purchase decisions solely on fuel economy or vehicle size does not get to the heart of the energy usage issue. The goal of overall worldwide energy conservation and the cost to society in general, not just the auto buyer can often be better addressed by being aware of a car or truck's dust-to-dust energy requirements."
In the next week or so, says Spinella, a full analysis of the data will be posted on www.PurchasePathOnline.com, including an extensive Q&A section discussing details of the research.