| While experts fear recent gas price declines as a | | | | stringent environmental standards here, diesels have |
| precursor to deflation, most Americans welcome the | | | | made minimal inroads, but new clean diesel engines are |
| opportunity to spend less at the pump. Despite | | | | hitting the market that are legal across all fifty states. |
| unexpectedly low fuel prices, consumers are still | | | | Pros: Diesels achieve remarkably high fuel economy |
| gravitating to more fuel efficient vehicles. If you haven't | | | | due to the efficiency of its engine and a higher |
| purchased a car recently and value fuel efficiency, you | | | | energy-per-liter content of the fuel that powers it. And |
| may be surprised at the breadth of choices. Today, | | | | while traditional diesels were knocked for lung-choking |
| everything from gas-electric hybrids to diesels and | | | | pollutants, new clean diesel cars actually produce |
| fuel-sipping gasoline cars are available, so how do you | | | | lower greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline ones. |
| choose? Here's some info to help navigate this new | | | | For those truly dedicated to maximum savings and |
| and sometimes confusing playing field. | | | | minimum environmental impact, some diesel engines |
| Hybrids | | | | can be converted to run on pure vegetable oil or even |
| Hybrid vehicles combine a gasoline combustion engine | | | | waste vegetable oil (WVO) sourced from restaurants. |
| with an all-electric drive system. When driving short | | | | Cons: Today's diesel fuel remains 35% more |
| distances particularly under low acceleration, hybrid | | | | expensive than regular gasoline. According to the |
| vehicles rely largely on their electric engine for power. | | | | Energy Information Administration, this is the result of |
| Under harder acceleration or long distance driving, the | | | | increased demand in China, Europe and here in the |
| vehicle's gasoline engine kicks in to power the car. | | | | U.S., putting "pressure on tight global refining capacity." |
| When the gasoline engine is running, it powers a | | | | Diesel fuel also carries a higher excise tax than |
| generator which charges the vehicle's electric battery. | | | | gasoline, upwards of 6 cents per gallon. Like hybrids, |
| Most hybrids also generate charging power under hard | | | | diesels may achieve only minimal fuel economy |
| breaking as well. | | | | improvement with a significantly higher back end fuel |
| Pros: Hybrids typically achieve better fuel economy | | | | cost. |
| than equivalent gasoline cars, particularly in city driving. | | | | Models to consider: Mercedes E-350 Bluetec, VW |
| Most hybrids include on-board monitors that display | | | | Jetta TDI Clean Diesel, BMW 335d sedan |
| real-time fuel consumption and help drivers adjust | | | | Fuel efficient gasoline |
| driving habits for maximum fuel economy. They also | | | | New technology and advanced engineering have |
| offer their owners the added benefit of a smaller | | | | helped greatly improve fuel efficiency of gasoline |
| carbon footprint, resulting in a lower environmental | | | | engines. Several vehicles including the Honda Civic, |
| impact. Plug-in hybrids will soon come to market, led by | | | | Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo and Toyota Yaris |
| the Chevy Volt. | | | | average close to 30 miles gallon. Others like the Mini |
| Cons: Hybrid vehicles are more expensive than their | | | | Cooper, achieve highway numbers of close to 40 mpg. |
| gasoline powered counterparts and many new | | | | Pros: Though new fuel-saving technologies are in the |
| gasoline cars achieve comparable fuel economy. If you | | | | works, most vehicles are still powered by gasoline. |
| put significant miles on your car (12,000+ per year) or | | | | This provides the consumer with the broadest |
| do lots of city driving, you may benefit from a hybrid. If | | | | selection and greatest variety of vehicles. From |
| not, you'll need to crunch the numbers to determine if | | | | compacts to midsize cars, wagons to crossovers and |
| the $3,000+ premium a hybrid carries is worth the | | | | coupes to SUVs, there are a bevy of gasoline vehicles |
| additional mpgs. Also, the jury is still out on the long | | | | available that won't break the bank at the pump. |
| terms repair costs of hybrid's expensive batteries and | | | | Gasoline vehicles are still less expensive on average |
| complex drive systems. | | | | than equivalent hybrid and diesel cars. |
| Models to consider: Toyota Prius, Chevy Malibu Hybrid, | | | | Cons: If this year was any indication, crude oil will |
| Nissan Altima Hybrid | | | | remain volatile leaving us at the mercy of wildly |
| Diesels | | | | fluctuating gas prices. A $100 per month gas budget |
| Diesel technology is nothing new. A specially refined | | | | today could quickly balloon to twice that in six months. |
| version of petroleum and hydrocarbon, diesel fuel | | | | Models to consider: Hyundai Sonata, Kia Rondo, |
| powers the bulk of the world's commercials vehicles | | | | Pontiac Solstice. |
| and fuels a lion's share of cars in Europe. Due to | | | | |