Electric Car Vs Gas Costs: Which Truly Saves You The Most Money
April 22, 2021Finance
Theres no doubt that the future of driving is electric. In fact, Morgan Stanley predicts that 72% of all car sales will be electric by the year 2040. Almost every major automaker has already invested billions of dollars into expanding their electric vehicle lineups. Within 20 years, it will probably be next to impossible to actually buy a brand new car that still runs on plain ol gasoline. Until that day comes, though, the debate between electric car vs gas costs rages on: which one will save you the most money overall?
As we dug into answering the question, we quickly discovered that it wasnt easy. Most EVs still have higher-than-average starting prices, discouraging plenty of cost-conscious buyers. Then again, regular gas-powered cars dont come with any tax credits. And then there are factors like auto insurance, general maintenance, and resale value to consider. Oh, and of course we had to weigh the costs of filling up the tank at the gas pump versus charging your EV either at home or at public charging stations. Heres how everything breaks down.
An Infographic by Walletgenius.
How We Made Our List
While our many collective years of driving experience may help guide you toward the best car in a given class, fuel economy is a bit more straightforward. To compile this list, we went straight to the source: the federal government’s fuel-economy website, which tracks the efficiency of every car found on dealer lots across the US.
Of course — and no pun intended — your mileage may vary. Reaching fuel economy figures can be easy with some cars and trickier with others. It’s also worth pointing out that your favorite car in a segment might not always be the most efficient, so it’s worth taking several models out for test drives before you decide on the car that’s best for your wants and needs. Prices are also subject to change from dealer to dealer.
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Whats The Most Practical Fuel
One of the best vehicles on the planet is not included in the lists above: the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The Pacifica is seriously attractive, inside and out, offers plenty of storage, and is now available with a plug. The 2020 model is rated at 82 MPGe, can drive 32 miles on electric-only power, and has a total range of 520 miles. With two screens in the back for playing chess or watching movies, it’s a perfect vacation vehicle.
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Mass And Improving Aerodynamics
Drivers can increase fuel efficiency by minimizing transported mass, i.e. the number of people or the amount of cargo, tools, and equipment carried in the vehicle. Removing common unnecessary accessories such as roof racks, brush guards, wind deflectors ” rel=”nofollow”> spoilers”, when designed for downforce and not enhanced flow separation), running boards, and push bars, as well as using narrower and lower profile tires will improve fuel efficiency by reducing weight, aerodynamic drag, and rolling resistance. Some cars also use a half size spare tire, for weight/cost/space saving purposes. On a typical vehicle, every extra 100 pounds increases fuel consumption by 2%. Removing roof racks can increase fuel efficiency by up to 20%.
Toyota Sienna Hybrid 2wd
- MSRP : $34,460
- EPA Estimated MPG: 36 city, 36 highway
- Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $544.44 , $918.75 , $1,225
As a full-size minivan, the Toyota Sienna Hybrid 2WD is even more spacious than the Kia Niro hybrid crossover or the Ford Escape hybrid SUV. And unlike most automakers marquee minivan models, Siennas hybrid version is the whole ballgame.
You cant buy a gas-only Sienna in the 2021 model year. All three versions are hybrids with comparable fuel-efficiency ratings .
Despite a healthy total system output of 245 horsepower and a 0-to-60 time under eight seconds , the Sienna hybrid qualifies as a super-ultra-low emissions vehicle.
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Do You Value Fuel Economy Above Everything Else Heres A Definitive List Of The Most Economical Cars On Sale In The Uk Now
Fuel economy will probably play a large part in deciding what your next new car will be. Its a simple cost-benefit analysis the more frugal the vehicle, the more money youre going to save each time you make a journey.
Below we explore the fuel economy issue in detail looking at the most economical petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in cars on the market right now.
How to choose an economical car
Until recently, diesel cars were viewed as the automotive silver bullet for their combination of good fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. However, their popularity is now on the decline after details of the Volkswagen emissions scandal surfaced back in 2015 and questions were raised about emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from diesel cars.
Despite this, new diesel cars are very clean and the fuel still makes a good choice for those who regularly cover long distances, as most modern diesel engines will easily return upwards of 50mpg on the motorway. Diesel buyers just need to ensure that they cover enough miles in a year to offset the extra upfront cost of a diesel engine with fuel savings.
CO2 and NOx emissions are another important factor to consider when buying a new car, due to their direct influence over the vehicles annual road tax. However, all the diesel cars listed here comply with the latest Euro 6 emissions standards so theyre amongst the cleanest cars on sale today.
- Cars
Seeif Your Vehicle Has An Eco Mode
Manyvehicles these days come with an eco mode. This mode may be named somethingdifferent in your car, but you likely are aware of such driving modes.These driving modes are designed specifically to increase fuel economy anddecrease emissions by running the engine on slightly less fuel. Ifyou switch from the normal driving mode to the eco driving mode, youcan save up to 10% on gas or perhaps more . If youhave a hybrid vehicle, running your vehicle in electric-only modewhen possible will also allow you to save even more on fuel.
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Buy Used Cars In Colorado Springs At Phil Long
When you want the best-used cars with good gas mileage, you have to visit one of our Phil Long Dealerships throughout Colorado. We have a vast selection of the used vehicles you want, at prices that can’t be beaten with fuel economy numbers that are not to be trifled with. Whether you want used cars under $15,000 or you’re hoping to find a quality hybrid vehicle, we have the car that’s right for you. Stop by and visit one of our convenient locations to find the model that fits your lifestyle. Colorado drives Phil Long!
Most Fuel Efficient Cars In Canada In 2020
Saving money on fuel while getting where you need to go has become a top desire among Canadian car buyers. Whether you want to help preserve the environment, save money, or both, when you need a new car this list will help you decide what type, size class and model is best for you.
The most fuel efficient gas-powered, hybrid, plug-in hybrid , and electric vehicles are listed by size class. The cars are categorized based on Natural Resources Canada size classifications which are based on interior volume . Fuel economy data is sourced from NRCs fuel consumption testing.
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Go The Distance In A Honda Vehicle From Roush Honda Near Columbus
No matter which fuel-efficient Honda vehicle you opt for, youre sure to make the most of every mile around the Columbus area and beyond! Contact us today at Roush Honda to learn more about our inventory of fuel-efficient vehicles or to schedule a test drive of one of the Honda models listed above.
40 city/35 highway/38 combined mpg rating. Based on 2021 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition and other factors.
48 city/48 highway/48 combined mpg rating for Hybrid, EX and EX-L trims. 44 city/41 highway/43 combined mpg rating for the Hybrid Touring trim. Based on 2021 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition and other factors.
48 city/47 highway/47 combined mpg rating for Hybrid and Hybrid EX-L. 44 city/41 highway/43 combined mpg rating for Hybrid Sport and Touring. Based on 2022 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition and other factors.
Based on 2022 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.
Easy Ways To Increase Your Gas Mileage
Improving fuel economy not only saves drivers money, but also benefits the environment by releasing fewer emissions into the air and reduces a nation’s dependence on oil and oil imports. Reducing the amount of driving we doby carpooling, using public transportation, and combining tripshas the greatest effect on how much gas each person uses.
That said, there are many ways to improve fuel economy when we do drive. These primarily involve driving more efficiently and making sure our cars are properly maintained. Under certain circumstances involving moving, you can even get tax breaks.
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What Is The Most Fuel
The Toyota Prius Prime Plug-In Hybrid is the most fuel efficient Toyota car with an estimated 54 city mpg and 133 highway mpg. However, many other Toyota models from hybrids to gas-powered sedans offer stellar fuel efficiency ratings that will allow you to travel longer without having to stop at the pump. What Toyota vehicles are the most fuel efficient? Some of the most fuel efficient Toyota models include gas and hybrid models of the Toyota Corolla, Camry and Avalon sedans. For more tips for choosing the best, most fuel efficient vehicles from Toyota, visit our Toyota dealership in Doylestown, PA, and speak with our Toyota sales experts.
Most Fuel Efficient Cars Comparison
- Fuel economy is quoted in litres per 100km or in the case of PHEV and BEV, .
- Yearly Fuel Cost is based on an annual driving distance of 20,000 km, and an average fuel price of $1.09 per litre.
- Federal purchase incentives of $2,500 for PHEV and $5,000 for BEV apply unless otherwise indicated. The incentive is not included in the listed base price.
| Car | |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model S Long Range Plus | BEV |
- Yearly Fuel Cost: $1,690
- Engine: 1.5L 4 cyl
The Honda Fit is a stylish, small hatchback that has had excellent fuel efficiency since it came to Canada in 2006. It now features what Honda calls the 2nd row Magic Seat, which gives you many options for cargo and passengers. Honda offers the Fit with a manual transmission at a lower price , but the efficiency is not as good .
- Yearly Fuel Cost: $1,846
- Engine: 1.4L, 4 cyl
The Chevy Spark is the 2nd most economical subcompact car available in Canada, and it is economical in terms of space and cost as well. Only 3.365m long, the Spark is great for darting about city streets and parking almost anywhere. If you really want to save a few dollars, the base manual MSRP is only $9,998, though it sacrifices some efficiency .
- Yearly Fuel Cost: $481
- Engine: electric motor
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Top Cars That Save You The Most On Gas
Feeling pinched at the pump lately? Youre likely not alone.
Nationwide, Canadians have seen increases in gas prices. According to recent data from Statistics Canada, the cost of gasoline went up by 32.8% year-over-year in September. This figure may be troubling to some, especially those in the market for a new vehicle.
The difference in fuel costs between vehicles can definitely make or break your purchase decision. The best way to save on gas overall is to avoid gas-guzzlers and look into a fuel-efficient model. Nowadays, there are many conventional cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles on the market, but some can save you more on gas than others.
That being said, each year, Natural Resources Canada recognizes the most fuel-efficient vehicles sold in Canada by class. So before gas prices make you trade in your keys for sneakers, check out this list of the best fuel-efficient vehicles that you can buy right now.
Audi A1 Sportback 10 Tfsi
The Audio A1 Sportback 1.0 TFSI not only ranks as one of the most fuel-efficient petrol vehicles available on the market with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, it also stands out for the available base features, including a voice recognition system, traction control system and dusk-sensing headlights.
Specs
- 1.0L 3-cylinder Turbo Petrol 95RON, 5 Speed Manual, 2 door 4 seat Wagon, 2WD
- Combined 4.2L/100km, Urban 5L/100km, Extra 3.7L/100km
- Total fuel cost for the year =$1014
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What Speed Should I Drive To Get Maximum Fuel Efficiency
This is actually a pretty complicated question. What you are asking is what constant speed will give the best mileage. We won’t talk about stops and starts. We’ll assume you are going on a very long highway trip and want to know what speed will give you the best mileage. We’ll start by discussing how much power it takes to push the car down the road.
The power to push a car down the road varies with the speed the car is traveling. The power required follows an equation of the following form:
road load power = av + bv² + cv³
The letter v represents the velocity of the car, and the letters a, b and c represent three different constants:
- The a component comes mostly from the rolling resistance of the tires, and friction in the car’s components, like drag from the brake pads, or friction in the wheel bearings.
- The b component also comes from friction in components, and from the rolling resistance in the tires. But it also comes from the power used by the various pumps in the car.
- The c component comes mostly from things that affect aerodynamic drag like the frontal area, drag coefficient and density of the air.
| Up Next |
These constants will be different for every car. But the bottom line is, if you double your speed, this equation says that you will increase the power required by much more than double. A hypothetical medium sized SUV that requires 20 horsepower at 50 mph might require 100 horsepower at 100 mph.
Efficiency Of An Engine
In effect the efficiency of the engine is improving. It uses a fixedamount of fuel to power itself and the accessories, and a variableamount of fuel depending on the power required to keep the car going ata given speed. So in terms of fuel used per mile, the faster the cargoes, the better use we make of that fixed amount of fuel required.
This trend continues to a point. Eventually, that road load curvecatches up with us. Once the speed gets up into the 40 mph range each 1mph increase in speed represents a significant increase in powerrequired. Eventually, the power required increases more than theefficiency of the engine improves. At this point the mileage startsdropping. Let’s plug some speeds into our equation and see how a 1 mphincrease from 2 to 3 mph compares with a 1 mph increase from 50 to 51mph. To make things easy we’ll assume a, b and c are all equal to 1.
| Speed |
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What Honda Gets The Best Gas Mileage
With a global safety slogan of Safety for Everyone, its no surprise that Honda produces incredibly safe and reliable vehiclesbut did you know their vehicle lineup also emphasizes efficiency? From plug-in hybrid options to fuel-efficient models, our Honda dealership serving Columbus has plenty of new Honda vehicles for sale with exceptional fuel economy to help you save and maximize your next trip. Read on to discover some of the more fuel-efficient models in the Honda vehicle lineup and find the right one for your needs!
Ford Fusion Hybrid Se
- MSRP : $28,000
- EPA Estimated MPG: 43 city, 41 highway
- Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $466.67 , $787.50 , $1,050
The Ford Fusion Hybrid SE comes in two versions: a traditional gas-electric hybrid and a plug-in hybrid that can run on battery only for short distances. But theres no difference in average fuel economy between the two, so heavy drivers might prefer the convenience of a car they dont need to plug in for optimal performance.
Due to lower overall fuel economy, the Ford Fusion Hybrid has higher estimated fuel costs than its Toyota competitors. But a larger, more powerful engine that puts out 188 horsepower delivers noticeably more acceleration to highway speeds a plus for buyers interested in performance.
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What Is The Cheapest Fuel
The BMW i3 is one of the best-kept secrets on the used car market. Lightly driven examples with the range extender are regularly listed for approximately $15,000-20,000. The i3 remains one of the most unique vehicles on the road, and its gorgeous interior is virtually unmatched, especially on a proper small city car. The only major disadvantages are the need for a plug and the relatively limited total range of about 200 miles.
The cheapest highly efficient new cars will be the 2020 Hyundai Ioniq PHEV, which starts at $27,495 with destination charges, or the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV, which starts at $29,215 with destination charges.
If the complexities of hybrid powertrains turn you off, an old fashioned gas Mitsubishi Mirage starts at $15,135.
