1450 miles/gallon

[errantember]

Someone else feel free to check my math, but:

Scooter takes 2.2KWh to charge.
Austin Energy residential rates for under 500KWh: 3.75 cents/KWh
Scooter minimum range per charge: 30 miles
Current approximate gasoline fuel cost: $4/gallon

2.2 KWh/1 charge * $.0375/KWh * 1 charge/30 miles * 1 gallon/$4 = 0.0006875 gallons/mile = 1454 miles/gallon

...at current gas prices.

Comments

[worldmegan.livejournal.com]

Whoa. Dude. I hope your math's right. O.O

[austingoddess.livejournal.com]

It costs you just over 8 cents to go 30 miles. My 1996 Civic would cost about $3.75 to go the same distance (given $4/gl). You get about 47 times my "gas" mileage, so compared to my car, you get about 1500 MPG. And 32 MPG is considered *good* MPG. And that isn't counting insurance or tags.
OTOH, there is the factors of safety, comfort and hauling capacity to consider. I couldn't get a bunch of 2x4's on a scooter, but I can in my Civic (because the back seat folds down). Couldn't carry passengers, either. And no A/C or heat. Really, I think if you made 2-seater trikes with enclosure/climate control, hitches and roof racks that were a true hybrid and could use gas for long distances or heavy loads, people would buy them in *droves*.

*crossing fingers for electric bike conversion to be done soon*
*alsoalso waiting impatiently for trains this fall*

[gailmom.livejournal.com]

wow. i am not even going to attempt that math, but it looks impressive as anything. As someone stuck driving the mini van she has now till the kids are done with carseats or she comes into money....*green with jealousy*

[bouncyone.livejournal.com]

Weee! Now that is affordable!

[errantember.livejournal.com]

Evidently, life in my 2400 sq. ft. house is pretty good. Last month, which was pretty hot, I only used 421 KWh, so I stayed in the lower bracket. That may not continue to be true as it gets hotter, though, and using the higher number is a good idea for comparison purposes. On the other hand, the 2.2 KWh for recharging the scooter is already at the upper end, so the estimate is still pretty conservative.