...or are we merely moving the energy consumption back to the coal/hydro/nuclear power plant that generates our electricity?
Environmental issues aside.
Let's say your use is 50mi/day x 5 days/wk x 52 wk/yr:
13,000 miles per year.
Daily charge of $1.50 x 5 x 52 = $390
Daily gas use of 2 gals regular (25mpg) cost: $6
$6 x 5 x 52 = $1560
Modestly priced car: $20,000.00
Annual Fuel cost 1,560.00
$21,560.00
GM Volt Price $41,000.00
Tax Credit: - 7,500.00
Annual Fuel Cost: $390.00
Total: $33,890.00
I am not including the realistic variation of overages to the assumption of 50 miles per day and also the realistic fuel cost for when the engine kicks in on hill climbs and aggressive passing.
Are the power plants that are now stoking the need for ECars environmentally clean? We are only moving the energy use back up to the power plant.
Fuel savings as realized over a 5 year period:
1560 x 5: 7800
390 x 5: 1950
Savings: 5850
41,000
- 7,500 Tax Credit
- 5850 Feul Savings
27,650
20,000 Feul-driven car
7,800 Feul cost for 5 years @ 25mpg x $3/gal
27,800
So they work out pretty close in terms of unfinanced purchase cost and the annualized cost over 5 years.
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