how much?
 

How much energy does it take to conceive, design, build, market, transport, sell, "recycle" and register a new car? Why is this not taken into account when calculating a new car's impact on the earth vs. keeping a older car? I'm thinking that a new hybrid will last the average of all cars in the usa- 172K. My last wagon had over 300K. Let's say my current wagon will last to 344K. Help me figure how much impact I save by NOT buying a new car.

My gut feeling is that it is better to drive used cars than ask the industry to construct another car for you. People complained about Edward Abbey driving an old 70's Cadillac. I think he's as good as the Prius owner. On the other hand, used cars would not be available if someone else was not buying a new one.

Good question. I started trying to do just that in terms of energy -- how much energy is burned on average, per hour, by a human being? Then get the average wage. Divide calories/hr by wage/hr and cal/$$$.

How much does a car cost in terms of human energy? Take average auto cost multiplied by the above computed cal/$$$ and that's how much a car costs in terms of human energy.

Take-home assignment: What portion of a lifetime does an average new car cost in terms of human energy? 5 Pt Bonus: An average used car?

Buy new cars, it creates jobs.

This question was largely ignored here- as it seems to be ignored by those making policies about our using older diesels and the effect on the planet.

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I did a little rough math on the idea of which would save more.

A new prius.
Or saving an old Mercedes and running it on veggie.

Seeing that the only thing you are saving on the prius is a few miles to
the gallon of fuel.

My figures came out that you would have to drive the prius for few thousand
or so years to come out better than saving the old Mercedes.

:joker:

RichC

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