Car Prices Blogs - May, 2014

Gas or Electric Cars: Which Costs Less To “Fuel”?

May 28th, 2014

This question is gaining popularity along with the popularity and growth of electric vehicles. Many EV drivers are more concerned with the “cost” to the environment and not the savings over gas-powered vehicles, but there are also many EV drivers out there who are interested in this statistic. So how can you calculate the difference? It’s not as difficult as you might think, but there is some research involved.

To calculate the cost of gas fueling a vehicle, the formula is pretty simple. Simply divide the cost of one gallon of gasoline in your area by the miles per gallon (MPG) of the vehicle in question. For instance, if gasoline costs $4/gallon in your area and the vehicle gets 30 MPG, it costs 13.33 cents per mile to fuel your vehicle.

To calculate the cost of charging your electric vehicle is a bit more challenging. First, visit the automaker’s website to see the estimated charging times and the charging system you intend to use for the vehicle in question. Next, find your electric company’s rates per kilowatt-hour. Multiply the rate per kilowatt-hour by the estimated time it will take to charge your vehicle based on your chosen charging method. Then divide that number by the number of miles you received per full battery charge, and you will have your answer.

In most cases, it will be cheaper to charge your vehicle that it would be to fill it with gas, but you must do your own research to determine if this is true for you. Find more information about gas and electric vehicle MPGs at www.CompetingCarPrices.com.

Toyota Focuses on Fuel Cells for the Future

May 21st, 2014

Toyota’s CEO of North America, Jim Lentz, stated that electric vehicles are useful for short distance travel but remain less effective when long distance travel is needed. He cited that the limited range of their battery packs were the main reason for consumer’s concerns. This comes after Toyota’s recent decision to end its deal with Tesla to supply powertrains to Toyota’s electric Rav4.

Lentz commented, “It was time to either continue (building the vehicles) or stop. My personal feeling was that I would rather invest my dollars in fuel-cell development that in another 2,500 EVs” Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are more efficient and less expensive to produce, so it seems like the best decision going forward. Lending FirstElememt Fuel Inc. 7 million dollars already, Toyota is investing in development of a fuel-cell network in California. It is estimated that Toyota will have 50 refueling stations by the end of 2018.

Do you want more info about Toyota’s and other manufacturer’s vehicles? Find it at www.CompetingCarPrices.com today!

AAA’s Report Says Costs Decrease to Operate a Car in the U.S.

May 14th, 2014

AAA’s “Your Driving Costs” study says it is cheaper to own and operate a sedan in the USA. The average cost to own and operate a sedan dropped to 59.2 cents per mile, down 1.64 cents from last year. This is due to a couple of factors, but the cost of gasoline makes up the majority of the yearly outlay. Based on 15,000 annual miles, the total amount you will pay to own and operate a sedan was $8,876.

AAA uses the average from the last three months of the year to calculate their costs. They found the average cost for the last three months in the U.S. in 2013 to be $3.28, which is much lower than the $3.66 national average from last week. So while the report was released when prices were cheaper, they may currently be slightly higher considering the 38 cent average gas price increase.

Find the vehicles with the best MPG and get a local price quote at www.CompetingCarPrices.com.

Save Time and Energy: Car Shop from Home

May 7th, 2014

What is the #1 thing we all dislike about car shopping? Applying for a loan at the dealership, waiting for the “manager” to approve a $500 reduction in price, or maybe just trying to decide which vehicle to purchase. All of these time-consuming tasks can be eliminated before you even walk in the door. Follow these steps to eliminate hours from your car buying experience.

First, decide which vehicle type is best for your transportation needs. A small compact for long commutes, or an SUV for big families, this decision is relatively easy. Then decide which automaker you want to purchase from, based on their warranties, fuel economy and amenities.

Then, get a few quotes on the vehicles you have chosen at www.CompetingCarPrices.com. This accomplishes a few time consuming steps in one. With a quote, you can get an estimate of how much the vehicle really costs, get MPG information, and if there are any current rebates or incentives. You can also apply for auto financing online as well at www.competingcarprices.com. Knowing these pieces of information about your desired vehicle will help substantially during your negotiation for a new car, and cut out all of the wasted time at the local dealership.