New Cost Tool Helps Fleet Managers Evaluate Hybrid Vehicles
Golden, Colo. — A new software tool that compares the costs and emissions of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) to conventional vehicles is now available for government and business fleet managers interested in reducing fuel costs and protecting air quality.
(I-Newswire) - The tool, called the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Fleet Cost and Benefits Calculator Tool, was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's ( DOE's ) National Renewable Energy Laboratory ( NREL ), the Center for a New American Dream, and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy ( ACEEE ) with funding from DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Clean Cities activity. It is available for free at www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/hev/cost_calc.html or www.newdream.org/hev/.
"Fleets have a large influence on how much oil our nation uses and HEVs are an important option for fleets to consider," said Stan Bull, NREL's Director of Science and Technology.
The use of hybrid vehicles in the United States has grown rapidly in the last few years. New hybrid vehicle registrations reached nearly 84,000 in 2004, while sales of hybrids in the first five months of 2005 reached 73,000. Public and private fleets are contributing to this surge in popularity. More than 90 city, state and county governments, and some private fleets, use light duty hybrids according to data collected by the Center for a New American Dream.
While the retail price of HEVs can exceed that of their conventional counterparts by several thousand dollars, they can save money when the total cost of vehicle ownership is considered. Federal and state tax incentives can help offset the financial impact for taxable entities, and higher resale values, strong warranties and lower fuel costs can reduce cost of ownership. HEVs also are easier on the environment because they produce fewer emissions and get better fuel economy than conventional vehicles.
"The cost calculator tool confirms that in most cases the higher purchase price of a hybrid is offset by fuel savings and better resale values, yet the greatest advantage of such vehicles remains the lessening of global warming gases and a reduction of our nation's addiction to oil," said Betsy Taylor, president, Center for a New American Dream.
The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Fleet Cost and Benefits Calculator Tool, with fleet cost estimates developed in consultation with PHH Arval, helps fleet purchasers assess potential savings from purchasing HEVs by taking into account purchase price, fuel costs, repair and maintenance costs, resale value, and applicable tax incentives. For example, the tool indicates that at the current average fuel price of $2.20 per gallon, hybrids are often the most cost-effective vehicle choice. If fuel prices rise to $2.50 to $3.00 gallon advanced hybrid vehicles will become even more financially beneficial. Other factors, such as the percentage of city driving and the total number of miles driven per year can also increase the cost-effectiveness of hybrid vehicles.
Cities and counties across the country are grappling with the challenges of poor air quality and growing emissions of global warming gases. The cost calculator tool will enable fleet owners to adopt technologies that help mitigate emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and hydrocarbons. A comparison of a compact hybrid sport utility vehicle to a conventional compact sport utility vehicle shows a savings of more than $1,400 and 37,000 pounds of carbon dioxide over seven years.
NREL also provides a cost comparison tool for fleets considering alternative fuel vehicles through the Alternative Fuels Data Center at www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/.
DOE's Clean Cities activity encourages the implementation of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies that can help reduce our nation's dependence on imported petroleum. The program works through nearly 90 public/private coalitions to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction. For more information go to: www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's premier laboratory for renewable energy research and development and a leading laboratory for energy efficiency R&:D. NREL is operated for DOE by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle.
The Center for a New American Dream works with individuals, institutions, communities, and businesses to conserve natural resources, counter the commercialization of our culture, and change the way goods are produced and consumed. To learn more go to: www.newdream.org.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle.
For further information contact NREL Public Affairs at ( 303 ) 275-4090.
NR-2705
Contact: Kerry Masson kerry_masson@nrel.gov 303-275-4083 DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory
If you have questions regarding information in this press release contact the company listed below. I-Newswire.com is a press release service and not the author of this press release. The information that is on or available through this site is for informational purposes only and speaks only as of the particular date or dates of that information. As some companies / PR Agencies submit their press releases once per week/month or quarter, make sure check the official company website for accurate release dates as our site displays the I-Newswire.com distribution date only. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information on or available through this site, and we are not responsible for inaccuracies or omissions in that information or for actions taken in reliance on that information.
Immerse yourself in mystery and magic with two exciting new casual games from Focus Multimedia and Big Fish Games Studios, one of the world’s leading casual game developers. Hidden Expedition Titanic and Azada join Focus’ popular Revival range of super-budget price games and are available in a store near you.
Edraw Max enables students, teachers and business professionals to reliably create and publish kinds of diagrams to represent any ideas. With large pre-drawn libraries and more than 4600 vector symbols, drawing couldn't be easier!
New range of cards launched to make you the cover star.Hallmark Cards in partnership with OK Magazine has launched an exclusive and exciting new range of greeting cards that gives people the chance to give family and friends the A-List treatment.
Many people choose not to pursue an accident claim. The reasons range from knowing the insurance company will settle; to they don't want the legal hassles and expense.
Many individuals and businesses have always purchased their personal computers from a well-known provider to pre-conceived specifications. Increasingly...
The effectiveness of SEO and PPC Services are directly related to the quality and quantity of the performance data that they have to work with. If you are seeking assistance in achieving a higher ranking on search engine results, then we suggest you visit RankYourWebsites.com, specialist in this area. If you have found your attempts at optimization to prove fruitless, the representatives at RankYourWebsites.com will have a solution to increase your traffic.
http://www.vineyardsforsalein.com/ - online island vineyard for sale, vineyard for sale paso, texas vineyard for sale, washington vineyard for sale, tuscany vineyard for sale, vineyard for sale santa, vineyard for sale California
Mark Flanagan, Managing Director of Manchester health and safety, food safety and fire safety consultancy, Shieldyourself, discussed the Scores on the Doors scheme when he made a guest appearance on the BBC’s 5 Live Radio Show recently.
