December is here which means it’s almost time to say goodbye to 2021. If you’re in the market, the end of the year is a great time to buy or lease a car. We have all experienced extremely high gas prices in the last month, and while it has plateaued for most states, we can’t ignore that we are running out of fossil fuels and must find alternatives. While car shopping, keep this in mind and buy or lease a fuel-efficient vehicle.
Simply doing your research and purchasing the most fuel-efficient vehicle in a particular class can save you hundreds of dollars a year. According to Carmax’s MPG Savings Calculator, a car that gets an additional 10 MPG saves you approximately $700 a year.
Money isn’t the only thing saved with a more fuel efficient car: greenhouse gas emissions are reduced as well. According to the EPA, a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Choosing a vehicle that gets 10 MPG more can save an additional 1.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Of course, an even better option is to purchase an electric vehicle (battery or hydrogen fuel cell), or a hybrid. Electric vehicles of all types emit zero greenhouse gas emissions (or just a little water vapor from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles). Hybrids offer excellent MPG ranges compared to cars that only run on gasoline.
Before visiting the dealer, visit Fueleconomy.gov to compare vehicle models’ specific CO2 emissions rates. Simply click on “Find a Car” and begin browsing. When at the dealership, pay attention to the tailpipe CO2 emission rates on the vehicle’s Fuel Economy and Environment labels to save GHG emissions and money.
Ready to take action?
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