Action - Conventional fuel-efficient vehicle
A vehicle that is conventionally powered (gas or diesel) but is purchased with fuel efficiency as a driving factor. This often means purchasing a vehicle that is smaller than a person would have otherwise considered, however that is not always the case. Often another brand may offer a vehicle that is roughly equivalent except has a smaller or more efficient engine.
Over the past several decades, the concepts of what are necessary and luxury have shifted. For example, in the Western world the size of vehicle has become a status symbol. A person who lives by themselves or with a small family and does not often need a large amount of cargo space will purchase an enormous SUV. Contrast this to countries such as India and China where a family of 6 people can travel on a single scooter. This is not to say the latter is safe, but to show the difference of necessity vs. luxury.
Note that this solution may not have any cost associated with it in some cases, and may in fact be a negative cost if moving from a mid or large-sized vehicle to a compact. For the averages we will assume a person is going for a significant increase in fuel efficiency and therefore would have at least some cost associated.
Known benefits and costs
| Annual CO2 Savings | 500 - 2,000 kg |
|---|---|
| 1,100 - 4,400 lbs | |
| Annual Cash Savings | $200 - $1,000 |
| Initial Cost | $100 - $2,000 |
| Time to pay for itself | 0.0 - 10.0 years |
| CO2 saved per year per initial dollar invested | 0.25 - 20.00 kg |
* These values were taken from many sources including product documentation, published reports, and the referenced material below. The ranges are due to differences in methods of achieving this action.