I currently own a SUV, and I usually use it for running around in the
city and sitting in traffic in Los Angeles. However, I do use it for
off-road recreation, camping, and toting cargo--so getting rid of it
for a more efficient vehicle isn't really an option.  I drive about
12,000 miles per year, and get about 13-15 mpg (ugh!).

So here's my question:
Would it be wise to buy a second ultra-efficient vehicle (such as a
hybrid Insight or Prius) in order to help curb my fuel consumption and
control pollution? Or does the environmental cost of manufacturing a
second vehicle outweigh the fuel savings?

Hi awilder,

Good question! I have wondered about this as well and was happy to
have a look at the statistics. Here is my conclusion - go for it (my
personal answer to your question)!  This isn't a "short term"
decision. If you crunch the numbers and just think about the car you
are buying today, it's hard to justify doing it on the grounds of a
cleaner environment (the practical answer to your question). Thinking
in those terms, the best option would be to buy a slightly used, very
fuel efficient, vehicle that is already on the road. However, if you
think in the long term, I think sometimes we as individuals must be
prepared to make a bold stand and not only encourage, but support too,
innovative projects that are a step in the right direction to a
cleaner environment. Your fuel and emmissions savings won't be earth
shattering, but what will really count is the long term effect of your
purchase. The more the general public is willing to take
responsibility in their own hands and buy these cars, the more the
manufacturers will work to improve and make them, and the snowball
will just keep getting bigger and bigger. If noone buys them, the
snowball will melt and we will be no further ahead in the future than
we are today.

Some interesting links to have a look at:

1. cars.com:
HONDA INSIGHT
- Highest fuel economy
- Emissions not commensurate with fuel economy
TOYOTA PRIUS
- High fuel economy
- Low emissions

"On May 21, 2002, the Internal Revenue Service confirmed a one-time
tax deduction of $2,000 for hybrid vehicles such as the Insight and
Prius. Remember this when you compare these cars to others. The
difference in price between a hybrid and comparable non-hybrid is far
less than before, if you can afford to wait for your tax returns."
© 2002 cars.com 
http://www.cars.com/carsapp/national/?srv=parser&act=display&tf=/features/mvp/honda/insight/insight_overview.tmpl

2. Why the Clean Air Policy Needs Some Insight:
http://www.edmunds.com/news/column/carmudgeon/46990/article.html

3. "The Insight and Prius are the first products ever endorsed by the
Sierra Club because of their positive contribution to global warming
and air quality. The Insight coupe gets around 70 mpg and the Prius
family car gets 52 mpg in the city. These cars meet the stringent
California SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) standard for air
quality."
Rudy Luther Auto Dealers & Sierra Club Team Up for Green Car Day at
the Capitol
by Sam Garst
 http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/Car_green_car_day.htm

4. Prius Envy.com:
http://www.priusenvy.com/

My only wish now is that I could be there when you first drive it off
of the lot - think of me and smile - I'll be giving you a thumbs-up.

I hope this helps, but if you'd like me to look at this from a
different angle, please let me know before rating my answer.

Sincerely,
hummer

Search Strategies:
://www.google.ca/search?as_q=Insight+or+Prius&num=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images

Terms Used:
Insight or Prius

---

Request for Answer Clarification by awilder-ga on 21 Nov 2002 14:11 PST

Hi Hummer,

Thanks for the speedy answer... It's the same reason I'll go to burger
king for their veggie burger.  :)

However, I was hoping for some more data on the negative environmental
impact of manufacturing one of these vehicles (or any new vehicle, I
suppose)... and trying to figure out how well it offsets the
air-pollution problem.  Can you include some of those "crunched
numbers" you referred to?

Thanks so much!

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 21 Nov 2002 19:09 PST

Hi awilder,

Veggie burgers, eh?  I'm a tofu dogger myself, however the occassional
real hotdog sure tastes good.

Ok, following is the link I think you are looking for. It begins,
"Automobiles affect the environment in many ways. Impacts begin when a
vehicle is manufactured...and end with its scrappage in a junkyard
(which can recycle many parts but also involves the disposal of many
wastes). Over the life of an average motor vehicle, however, much of
the environmental damage occurs during driving and is greatly
associated with fuel consumption...Nearly 90 percent is due to fuel
consumption over the dozen or so years of a vehicle's life."
GreenerCars.com: Automobiles and the Environment:
copyright ACEEE 2002
http://www.greenercars.com/autoenviron.html

I'm confident GreenerCars.com will hit the nail on the head, but if
not, just give a whistle before rating and I'll try again. After
reading the article myself, I would like to answer your question
again: "Or does the environmental cost of manufacturing a second
vehicle outweigh the fuel savings?". The answer is "No" (enjoy your
new car).

Thanks,
hummer

Search Strategy:
://www.google.ca/search?as_q=aluminum+steel+environment+automobiles+&num=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images

Terms Used:
aluminum steel environment automobiles

The greenercars.com link was perfect.  I think that 90% number pretty
much sums it up!  :)

Thanks!!

Anyone smart enough to re-answer might include a slighly more oblique
benefit of fuel efficiency.

If the richer oil-importing economies (ROIE)no longer needed to import
oil their interest in the middle east would decline tremendously
(comparable to their interest in, say, West African affairs ?) which,
one might suggest, would lead to less tension in the region - or at
least less tension aimed at richer oil-importing countries.

It's not as obvious as reducing pollution but in the long term it
might be almost as good ... just a thought !