Smart Values
EPA actually does have some mostly useful tools which we conspicuously fail to advertise well (sigh).
So, here's what I figure are the economic and environmental gains from selling off my VW Golf for a Smart ForTwo coupe.
Fuel economy: improve by 12 mpg; reduce gallons consumed per 100 miles by 1.39 gallons (33% savings)
Estimated annual fuel cost savings: $552. Unfortunately this tool is hopelessly outdated.
Since it assumes 15,000 miles annually driven, the result is a fuel price of $2.6496/gallon.
Currently the California average price is $4.588 for regular, $4.70 medium, and $4.799 for premium.
Still, I expect a relative cost savings rate switching to the ForTwo, even though premium fuel recommendation and insurance costs for a red car will eat into that. Then again, annually, I probably drive a third or less that distance. Using my own realworld numbers, I get an annual VW fuel cost of $923-955 per year; and a ForTwo fueling cost of $652.77-$666.53 even with higher grade fuels. Savings of about a third.
Emissions:
NOx down by nearly a whole order of magnitude, to 0.07 grams/mile (88% decrease)
CO down by half to 2.1g/mi
NMOG down to nearly a third, to 0.055g/mi
PM probably down (no data on 2001 VW Golf)
Smog-formers down nearly 84%, to 4.13 pounds per year.
GHG down 33% to 5.12 tons/year.
Passenger volume is down nearly 43 cu. ft., and luggage volume down 5-10 cu. ft. ... but it's a compromise I'm happy to make in parking-challenged San Francisco! :-)
Price and performance for the Smart ForTwo coupe compare well against both the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris which are competing for the same kind of buyer. Also, ignoring the the waiting times for the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius, the fuel cost improvements don't merit the $5,000 to 6,000 premium capital outlay on those alternatives to the ForTwo. Even if fuel costs double from the current price, I'll still do okay with the ForTwo. Oh, and the Prius is a whole lot more car than I need or want ... and the bashed-in Prius bumpers I see all over my city are testament to this cost.
Interestingly, taken to the rooftop, the ForTwo has more luggage volume than the Honda Civic Hybrid (and only slightly less than the Toyota Yaris at that maximum).
Amusingly, if one believe fuel prices will rise, there's a bizarre incentive in driving a lot now, assuming demand does not in any way correspond to need. Ah, economics. ;-)
Overall, I'm pleased that with even incomplete data, my instinctive preference was a good one. Still, I wish it still had the recycled plastic body panels and the Brabus engine instead of the Mitsubishi motorcycle engine. :-/
(sigh) The wait continues...
So, here's what I figure are the economic and environmental gains from selling off my VW Golf for a Smart ForTwo coupe.
Fuel economy: improve by 12 mpg; reduce gallons consumed per 100 miles by 1.39 gallons (33% savings)
Estimated annual fuel cost savings: $552. Unfortunately this tool is hopelessly outdated.
Since it assumes 15,000 miles annually driven, the result is a fuel price of $2.6496/gallon.
Currently the California average price is $4.588 for regular, $4.70 medium, and $4.799 for premium.
Still, I expect a relative cost savings rate switching to the ForTwo, even though premium fuel recommendation and insurance costs for a red car will eat into that. Then again, annually, I probably drive a third or less that distance. Using my own realworld numbers, I get an annual VW fuel cost of $923-955 per year; and a ForTwo fueling cost of $652.77-$666.53 even with higher grade fuels. Savings of about a third.
Emissions:
NOx down by nearly a whole order of magnitude, to 0.07 grams/mile (88% decrease)
CO down by half to 2.1g/mi
NMOG down to nearly a third, to 0.055g/mi
PM probably down (no data on 2001 VW Golf)
Smog-formers down nearly 84%, to 4.13 pounds per year.
GHG down 33% to 5.12 tons/year.
Passenger volume is down nearly 43 cu. ft., and luggage volume down 5-10 cu. ft. ... but it's a compromise I'm happy to make in parking-challenged San Francisco! :-)
Price and performance for the Smart ForTwo coupe compare well against both the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris which are competing for the same kind of buyer. Also, ignoring the the waiting times for the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius, the fuel cost improvements don't merit the $5,000 to 6,000 premium capital outlay on those alternatives to the ForTwo. Even if fuel costs double from the current price, I'll still do okay with the ForTwo. Oh, and the Prius is a whole lot more car than I need or want ... and the bashed-in Prius bumpers I see all over my city are testament to this cost.
Interestingly, taken to the rooftop, the ForTwo has more luggage volume than the Honda Civic Hybrid (and only slightly less than the Toyota Yaris at that maximum).
Amusingly, if one believe fuel prices will rise, there's a bizarre incentive in driving a lot now, assuming demand does not in any way correspond to need. Ah, economics. ;-)
Overall, I'm pleased that with even incomplete data, my instinctive preference was a good one. Still, I wish it still had the recycled plastic body panels and the Brabus engine instead of the Mitsubishi motorcycle engine. :-/
(sigh) The wait continues...