The gas price sting of more than $4 a gallon is making some Americans reconsider their driving options, and how aggressively they burn fuel while driving.
For some drivers, the double-edged sword of soaring inflation after the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine sent gas prices soaring Searching for an electric car.
However, others may reconsider how to get the most out of their gas engine.
The tight, but improving, supply of both gas-powered and electric vehicles is raising sticky prices. Russia’s energy giant’s invasion of Ukraine has added volatility to already high energy markets, including benchmark gasoline prices RB00,
and higher price in 14 years for oil BRN00,
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Day Announced the unprovoked attack on Ukraine On February 24, it was a gallon of gas 3.54 USD, At the national average of AAA, excluding local sales taxes and other fees. As of March 10, AAA said the national average was $4.31.
Going for that EV now?
The volatility of the gas market may leave some consumers ready to forgo the internal combustion engine forever and become among the first to take part in the nation’s march toward zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Online searches for electric vehicles have skyrocketed in the past two weeks, but many consumers may be just window shopping. Electric cars cost more in the showroom than gas-powered cars, and electric vehicles Insurance and repair costs are higher At least until this market expands.
“The Department of Energy says, on average, that the cost of driving an electric car is about half the cost of driving a gas car compared to a gas car over the life of those cars.“
Market tracker LMC Automotive expects electric vehicles to account for 34.2% of new US vehicle sales by 2030, with all-electric vehicles coming in at 30.1% and gas/electric hybrids at 4.1%. Sales of electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrid vehicles, accounted for only about 4% of total U.S. vehicle sales in 2021. However, this is only a doubling from the previous year.
Read: Chasing Tesla: Here are every major automaker’s current electric car plans
For current electricity bills, an electric vehicle is charged at home It could mean a sharp increase, but in most cases, the cost is much less than the cost of refueling a gasoline-powered car, say the auto experts at Cars.com. The Department of Energy says, on average, that the cost of driving an electric car is about half the cost of driving a gas car compared to a gas car over the life of those cars.
Pickup in electric vehicle purchases may still depend on whether or not Congress Moves to improve purchase incentives.
Back to a sedan or two-door?
Historically, sharp rises in gas prices, such as during the Gulf Wars, have convinced many car dealerships to push their cars more efficiently, smaller gas tanks to the front of the yard and their big sports cars to the rear.
MarketWatch asked Cars.com executive editor and lead analyst for EV Joe Wiesenfelder if this mindset persists.
“People still think cars are much more efficient than SUVs, but the differences aren’t as great as they were when all SUVs were based on truck platforms and they were all bigger,” he said.
“Many of today’s most popular SUVs aren’t much bigger than cars. Compact and sub-dummy may be longer, have hatches and all-wheel drive, but we’ve come a long way from the original Ford F,
Explorer sold in the millions,” Wiesenfelder added.
This note comes with a big caveat:
“On the other hand, when gas is so expensive, the 1- or 2-mile-per-gallon differences start to show more, perhaps disproportionately, and I would expect consumers to go back to what they know, which is minivans and cars, if they’re available.”
The auto industry is certainly getting more and more efficient at scale when it comes to miles per gallon (MPG), driven there By organizing and changing consumer expectations.
That’s why Cars.com has featured lists that speak to today’s drivers. These lifts include offerings from Tesla TSLA,
General Motors General Motors,
Ford in the electric vehicle space. and more efficient conventional options than Hyundai 005380,
Honda 7267
Toyota 7203
Kia 000270
Among other things.
Here are some of the most fuel efficient gas powered cars:
1. Mitsubishi Mirage: 36/43/39 mpg (city and highway driving)
2. Hyundai Elantra: 33/43/37 mpg
3. Honda Civic: 33/42/36 mpg
4. Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio: 33/41/36 mpg (tie)
5. Toyota Corolla Hatchback: 32/41/35 mpg
The most fuel-efficient gas/electric hybrid
1. Hyundai Ioniq: 58/60/59 mpg
2. Toyota Prius: 58/53/56 mpg
3. Hyundai Elantra Hybrid: 53/56/54 mpg
4. Honda Insight: 55/49/52 mpg
5. Toyota Corolla Hybrid: 53/52/52 mpg
The most fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid
1. Toyota Prius Prime: equivalent to 133 mpg
2. Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid 119 mpg-e
3. Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid: 105 mpg-e
4. Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid: 105 mpg-e
5. Toyota RAV4 Prime: 94 mpg e-gig
Most efficient electric vehicles (energy use per 100 miles)
-
2022 Tesla Model 3 RWD: 25 kWh
2. 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring with 19″ wheels: 26 kWh
3. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV: 28 kWh
4.2022 Hyundai Kona EV: 28 kWh
5. 2022 Tesla Model S: 28 kWh
6. Tesla Model 2022 Model Y Long Range: 28 kWh
7. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV: 29 kWh
8.2022 Kia EV6 RWD: 29 kWh
9.2022 Hyundai Ionic 5 RWD: 30 kWh
10.2022 Kia Niro EV: 30 kWh
How do you conserve your gasoline?
Not in the market for new wheels at all? Auto and driving experts have an easy list of how to save fuel and money when fuel prices are high, just by modifying your driving behaviour.
- Weight is the natural enemy of fuel economyso removing unnecessary items or people from your vehicle can translate into real fuel savings.
- Go slow on the accelerator pedal. Jackrabbit starts and full throttle acceleration increases fuel consumption exponentially. Light acceleration provides more than moderate acceleration.
- Speed control can help. Aggressive driving such as acceleration, rapid acceleration and braking reduces fuel mileage by up to 30% at highway speeds according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Using cruise control reduces these behaviors and helps the engine and transmission run more efficiently while increasing fuel economy.
- Keep tires inflated. Non-inflated tires can lower fuel economy by a full miles per gallon.
- Do not ignore the check engine light. It could be a dead oxygen sensor or some other emissions control issue that causes the vehicle to waste several miles per gallon.
- Roll the windows down. Air conditioning takes away engine power and reduces fuel economy.
- The question of aerodynamics. Deck carriers, bike and skate racks do no service even when empty. Also, remove aftermarket add-ons like bug deflectors, window and sunroof.
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