Cars

For most of us, the car is the most important form of private transportation. Although many may argue that cars are a luxury, that public transport is the future, just think of the freedom you gain when you first pass your driving test. Maybe we need to reserve the use of cars for our leisure time, and find other ways of coping with the demands of commuting.

Many factors influence choice of a car, colour, prestige, size etc.

But right now, and increasingly into the future, considerations of economy and environmental friendliness will be important considerations, and these are the ones we'll address in the most detail.

Car of the future?

Actually this car is a Tatra from the 30's, but amazingly it's one of the most aerodynamic cars ever built with a drag coefficient of 0.212. Throughout the decades, depending on fuel costs, and the desire for speed, cars have become more and less fuel efficient. In fact in the 00's cars became pretty greedy and extravagent; how could SUV's ever have made sense in towns and cities, they're not even safer than well designed modern sub-compacts/minis?

We've gone through periods where fuel prices became significant before, and our motoring habits changed ... for a while. Even the current crisis may be driven by speculators rather than shortage of supply, but the writing is on the wall, and many must be concerned as much about the resale value of thirstier cars and the depreciation they've suffered as the actual fuel running cost.

How much will change?

The car market is largely driven by hype. Over the last few years, with increasing affluence, cars have become much more powerful, yet the roads have become much more congested, journey times have increased! And style has won over efficiency.

For town driving, small light cars are obviously the way to go. For motorways, at motorway speeds, aerodynamic vehicles are the optimum, but notice that many vehicles, (SUV's etc.) have become less aerodynamic because a large blunt frontal area is more fashionable.

Of course green and economical cars are also the fashion, but do their credentials stack up? For example, in the UK diesels account for nearly 40% of new sales but accounted for only 10% in 2000. This is mostly due to the diesels percieved economy and green credentials but these are far from clear cut. See Diesel vs Petrol debate on this site.

Hybrid vehicles are probably perceived as the newest, most economical and greenest option. They are ceratinly pretty economical (although not vastly better than the best diesels) but they have a hich purchase price, and quite high depreciation. One worry would be the cost and need to replace batteries , however they seem to be lasting the lifetime of the vehicle (up to 150k miles). Disposal of old hybrid batteries at the end of their lives may be an issue. Hybrids are particularly efficient because:

i) they allow the petrol engine to work at steadier more fuel efficient speeds

ii) they recoup energy from the braking process. But note that you can effectively recoup this in any car if you drive smoothly (see the economy section of this site).

The real costs of running cars

It's extremley difficult to keep a realistic view of the cost of running your car.

Older cars are definitely much more polluting and less economical. If green issues are very important to you then you no option but to by a new efficent car. If not, it may be most cost efficeint to run your old car into the ground.

The cost of fuel is very visible at the moment, but don't forget that the amount of mile you drive will decide how important this is. If you don't do many miles then depreciation , service costs, tax and insurance may be much more significant. Buying a car secondhand rather than new may be the most significant cost saving decision that you make.

The type of fuel will only have significant effects at higher mileages. Diesel vs Petrol is a difficult choice. LPG (liquid petroleum gas) is about 30% cheaper than other fuels, but this is because it's taxed differently. If we all started using it would it remain as cheaply taxed? Also LPG vehicles are more expensive to buy.

What's the best startegy. It's clear that green cars will be taxed more leniently than greedier ones in the future. Smaller, lower performance cars will always be cheaper to insure, and fuel will always be expensive so fuel economy is important. But maybe the best srategy of all will be to live near your work, or find a job that allows remote home working.