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

[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*