Wrangler 3rd. most energy efficient!!!

[itsakeeper]

According to a study, the Wrangler is the third most efficient 2006-model vehicle available in the U.S.

The idea of this study was to include total energy consumption over the entire life of a vehicle, including prototypes in the beginning and proper disposal in the end. (This is a welcome change from Toyota's "60 mpg" claims when they forget to mention that more than 1000 tons per year of nickel is shipped via train and freighter from Sudbury to Japan for production of the Prius' NiMH batteries.)

The report is 458 pages long so I haven't yet managed to wrestle through the whole thing.



cnwmr.com/nss-folder/automotiveenergy/

Below is an excerpt from the beginning of the document giving part of the explanation.

CNW Marketing Research Inc. spent two years collecting data on the energy necessary to plan,
build, sell, drive and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage. This includes such minutia as plant to dealer fuel costs, employee driving distances, electricity usage per pound of
material used in each vehicle and literally hundreds of other variables.
To put the data into understandable terms for consumers, it was translated into a "dollars per
lifetime mile" figure. That is, the Energy Cost per mile driven.





Dust to Dust Energy Report -- Automotive


The second release added some break downs in the overall research.
Energy Efficiency is More than Just Fuel Economy
Looking for an energy efficient vehicle? Scion xB leads the list, significantly better than even the
best hybrids.
That’s the conclusion of long-term study of “dust to dust” energy costs for cars and trucks. The
research tracked and calculated the energy cost of each model sold in the U.S. in 2005 from
initial concept to the projected time it is scrapped.


The Top 10 most energy efficient vehicles over their lifetime:

1. Scion xB ($0.48 per mile)
2. Ford Escort (0.57 per mile)
3. Jeep Wrangler ($0.60 per mile)
4. Chevrolet Tracker ($0.69 per mile)
5. Toyota Echo ($0.70 per mile)
6. Saturn Ion ($0.71 per mile)
7. Hyundai Elantra ($0.72 per mile)
8. Dodge Neon ($0.73 per mile)
9. Toyota Corolla ($0.73 per mile)
10. Scion xA ($0.74 per mile)


The 10 least energy efficient vehicles over their lifetime:

1. Mercedes Benz produced Maybach ($11.58 per mile)
2. Volkswagen Phaeton ($11.21 per mile)
3. Rolls-Royce (full line average: $10.66 per mile)
4. Bentley (full line average: $10.56 per mile)
5. Audi allroad Quattro ($5.59 per mile)
6. Audi A8 ($4.96 per mile)
7. Audi A6 ($4.96 per mile)
8. Lexus LS430 ($4.73 per mile)
9. Porsche Carrera GT ($4.53 per mile)
10. Acura NSX ($4.45 per mile)

Hybrid energy efficiency over their lifetime:
1. Honda Insight ($2.94 per mile)
2. Ford Escape Hybrid ($3.18 per mile)
3. Honda Civic Hybrid ($3.24 per mile)
4. Toyota Prius ($3.25 per mile)
5. Honda Accord Hybrid ($3.30 per mile)

[chevystroker]

I wonder where a 1978 Chev 4x4 would fit in that list? It may be hard on gas, but it is ALL steel, and easy to recycle. In fact, mother nature is working on recycling it back into its natural state as we type: iron oxide. ;D I bet there are a few jeeps on this board half way to being recycled right now. hehe

Good find Bill. I like different points of view. When everyone gets focused on only one thing, such as fuel economy, they can lose sight of the big picture. Such as the overall effect of all of those plastics and petrochemicals in new cars on the environment. Bravo.

Are you actually going to read all 458 pages?

[itsakeeper]

I don't think so!!!



But someone probably will

[Old Yeller]

So does that mean I'm environmentally sound, if I own numbers 2 and 3? lol. Interesting read I bet (for someone else)