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Scion xB Found to be Most Energy Efficient Car

Old Apr 22, 2006 | 05:41 PM
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Default Scion xB Found to be Most Energy Efficient Car

CNW Marketing, of Bandon OR (www.cnwmr.com), has analyzed vehicles from production, through their usable lives and to the recycling of their last part to determine which vehicles actually consume the least energy overall -- not just while they are chugging fuel. The Scion xB was determined to be the most responsible auto on the plant. Take THAT Prius!

http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=219584

Hybrid vehicles use more energy than traditional petrol-powered cars and even some 'gas-guzzling' 4x4s, claims a new report published in the US.

CNW Marketing Research spent two years gathering US market data on how much energy a car uses over its lifetime, from initial development right through to disposal, then converted that energy usage into a cost per mile figure.

The report found that hybrids such as Toyota's Prius had an energy cost-per-mile figure of £1.83, while the Jeep Wrangler off-roader's was just 34p.

According to the survey, the most energy-efficient car was the Scion xB – a Toyota-owned American supermini – at 27p per mile, while the Maybach was the least efficient at £6.51.

The cost-per-mile figure includes transportation costs to the US, however – a key reason why the most energy expensive models were European and Japanese imports.

Development costs are also a factor, another reason why hybrids, still in their early years, could end up more expensive than conventional cars.

Art Spinella of CNW Marketing said: 'If a consumer is concerned about fuel economy or depleting oil supplies, then it is perfectly logical to consider high fuel economy vehicles.

'However if the concern is the broader issues such as environmental impact of energy usage some high-mileage vehicles actually cost society more than conventional models over their lifetime.'
Old Apr 22, 2006 | 06:00 PM
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I am a little confused by this article--I think I saw it before. They are talking about energy efficiency and then about cost per mile. It looks like they include more than gas usage in the equation. With the sky high price of the Prius, I wonder if the actual cost of the vehicle goes into the equation? How can the xA not be better than the xB? Again--I am confused.
Old Apr 22, 2006 | 06:04 PM
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I don't think purchase price has anything to do with it. They are taking into account how much energy is used to produce the car initially, how much is used during the car while it is being driven, and how much is used to recycle the components after the car is "used up".
Old Apr 22, 2006 | 06:49 PM
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The per mile i think is the total of the above mentioned costs devided out by the expected life in miles of the car....good find Darrin
Old Apr 22, 2006 | 07:10 PM
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That's a good article.

I did a simple value comparison between my xb and the Toyota Prius last year. Basically I compared the price of the cars and the average fuel cost over the estimated life of the car (for me) at the current prices. I don't remember the exact figures but the overall cost to buy the xb and drive it for 6 or 7 years was much less than the Prius.
Old Apr 22, 2006 | 07:27 PM
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I have read that report many times before. By these guys estimation a Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle would have the highest fuel cost in history yet never burn even one gallon of gasoline. In my mind this is just another case of junk science. Look at it from a slightly different standpoint. If you took your xB, filled the gas tank and let it sit, not running for 6 months it would emit more hydrocarbons into the air than driving a Prius 8000 miles over the same timeperiod. Or this way, every new model any automaker introduces, Toyota included, is just an attempt to get people to buy more gasoline burning vehicles and, therefore, a step away from environmental responsibility. By that logic, Scion even existing is very environmentally harmful.

Now, don't get all wound up about the past statements. I love Toyota and Scion and think they are the most environmentally friendly automaker out there, but isn't that kind of like saying that low tar cigarettes are better for you. Wouldn't you be better off not smoking at all?

Again, I'm not against Toyota in any way, just trying to make a point that I can twist data around to fit my own means too.
Old Apr 22, 2006 | 07:33 PM
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What kills the Prius in terms of long-term efficiency is the batteries... it's interesting that this study takes into account the potential costs of recycling/disposing of hybrid batteries, which will be a huge issue in the future.
Old Apr 22, 2006 | 08:34 PM
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This is at least the fourth thread about this report. Here's the oldest one that I'm aware of: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=113351

RichC
Old Apr 23, 2006 | 01:45 AM
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Consumer reports (Im pretty sure that was who did it been awhile since I read the article, was in a car magazine at the barber shop lol) tested a Prius to see how long the battery life would be and they gave up after 380,000 miles with no noticable decrease in battery performance.
Old Apr 23, 2006 | 03:21 AM
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Try "Search" at the top and see 5 links within Scionlife.com that talks about the same research. It certainly is an interesting way to look at energy efficiency of a vehicle, "cradle to grave" so to speak.

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...&highlight=cnw
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 01:00 PM
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1.) This report is from a marketing firm.
2.) Who paid them to do this report?
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 03:40 PM
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Marketing firm.. very true.

However one can't escape that the reasoning is sound. It's the same reasoning that supports the idea that most recycling (the process) is actually worse for the environment then simply placing items in a landfill.

More study should certainly be done into this.
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 05:03 PM
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repost! BAN!
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