Going Green to Save Green

(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

The recent hike in gas prices has made drivers think seriously about limited oil resources. New car technology--including gasoline/electric hybrids, electric cars, clean diesel and fuel cells--not only promises to stretch existing oil reserves; they reduce the amount of harmful exhaust emissions in the air we breathe.

As athletes, we're especially aware of the importance of clean air: it's essential to our way of life. But do the new generation of green cars help us preserve our limited financial resources as well?

Cost of Going Green

The fact is that green car technology costs money. Many gasoline/electric hybrids, such as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus 400h, cost significantly more than gas-powered equivalents.
 
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a base sticker price of $34,200, versus $27,500 for the gasoline model. The Lexus RX350 sport-utility vehicle starts at $37,700, as opposed to $41,580 for the 400h.

Not only do buyers pay a premium for the hybrid technology: these hybrids are only available as fully-loaded cars, adding to the base sticker price.

Clean diesel has been popular in Europe for some time: the low-sulfur fuel wasn't available in the U.S. until last year. As a result, there's less of a price difference between clean diesel models sold in America and their gas-powered cousins.

For example, Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC models cost a little more than base gas-powered models, but are less expensive than 4matic all-wheel drive grades. The base M-Class starts at $44,875 as opposed to $45,875 for the BlueTEC clean diesel, while the 4matic version costs $53,625.

Diesel cars average twenty-five to thirty percent better fuel economy than comparable gasoline models, but the diesel is more expensive. At the beginning of July, 2008, the national average for a gallon of diesel was $4.70, versus $4.06 for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline, according to the Energy Information Administration.

There are a couple of reasons for this: limited demand here in the States, and subsidies in foreign countries that increase demand for diesel internationally.

Avoiding the Fuel Pump

Electric cars require no gasoline, but buyers need to install recharging devices at home. The other limitation is driving range, which is shorter than for gasoline cars. The new Chevy Volt has a range of 64 kilometers: about 40 miles.

Engineers plan to introduce an on-board generator to recharge the Volt's battery pack on the go: no word yet as to whether that generator will be standard equipment on the car.

Fitting Technology to the Driver

Having mentioned some hidden costs in going green, the question remains: is there any cost benefit? The answer is 'yes', if the driver chooses technology according to his needs.

Hybrid cars are most beneficial for people who drive in crowded urban areas. On most hybrids, the gasoline engine shuts off at idle while electric motors run the accessories. Some hybrids can also run on electric power at low speeds: the Chevy Tahoe and Dodge Durango hybrids are two examples.