Fuel talk

If supposed learned estimates and predictions by scientists, experts and various environmental naysayers are to be believed, the world will run out of fossil fuel in the next hundred years. Which means we will soon run out of precious oil-and therefore gasoline and all the other various oil-based products that fuel our vehicles. The sad part is, chances are, those predictions are true. So scrimping on fuel is a sound idea in conserving the Earth’s resources, not to mention our wallets’ contents-which, quite frankly, is dwindling at a much faster rate than fossil fuel is. And we need no expert to tell us that.

Public transportation, however, is not always a particularly appealing option, and neither is giving up one’s private vehicle. The use of a more frugal form of transport then is a compromise most folks can live with.

A recently drawn list of the best and least fuel-efficient vehicles sold in the US can be found on www.fueleco-nomy.gov, a site hosted by the US Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. Most of the vehicles on the list are also available locally, some of which are even of the same specs.

Besting the field of the most fuel miserly rides are hybrid vehicles, or cars run by both electric and conventional fuel-burning motors. The Japanese-made hybrid duo of Honda Insight and Toyota Prius needed only 3.7 and 4.7 liters, respectively, to travel 100 kilometers.

Expectedly, cars — as opposed to pickup trucks, SUVs, vans and minivans — top the list of the best fuel-efficient vehicles. Compact, four-cylinder cars prevail, with variants of Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas and VW New Beetles and Jettas averaging a fuel consumption of about 5.5 liters for every 100 kilometers of travel. Of course, these figures were the result of testing done in the US, where conditions (traffic, driving habits, temperature, altitude, humidity, fuel quality, etc.) may differ from local factors, so figures will vary here in the country.

Of the midsized cars, the Mazda 626 and Honda Accord top their category in the most fuel-efficient list. Along with the likes of the Toyota Camry, these cars average about eight liters to traverse a hundred kilometers. In comparison, the cute-ute bunch of small SUVs like the RAV 4 and Honda CR-V need between nine to 10 liters to make the same trip.

Not surprisingly, humongous SUVs are one of the least fuel-efficient. These vehicles’ heft and bloated dimensions require equally large engines-which in turn consume prodigious amounts of fuel. A Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Suburban-both equipped with the same motors as the models available locally-need 13.1 and 15.7 liters, respectively, to cover the 100-kilometer distance.

True to their nature, high-end luxury vehicles and exotic sports cars excel in conspicuous consumption. A Porsche 911 Turbo gulps 13.1 liters while the 12-cylinder Ferrari 550 Maranello gorges 23.5 liters of fuel to reach the century mark.

Despite these vehicles’ profligate nature, there are still qualities that save them from total political incorrectness. It is interesting to note that gas-guzzling doesn’t necessarily equate to air-fouling. A number of these sports cars and SUVs emit cleaner emissions than some econoboxes, acing stringent US environmental laws and for the most part beating lighter, more miserly average sedans. Some are certified low-emissions vehicles (LEV) or even ultra-low emissions vehicles (ULEV). Ford’s Expedition, for instance, is an LEV, and a variant of Chevy’s Suburban is a ULEV. On the other hand, the cuddly New Beetle is not.

Besides getting a fuel-stingy car-and if one simply cannot live without a sports car or sport-ute-there are a number of ways to reduce fuel consumption, some of which are mentioned in the said web site. One is by traveling at a prudent speed, since not only is the driver’s right foot planted more deeply in the gas pedal, but also because cruising at a faster clip creates more aerodynamic drag, hence requiring more work from the vehicle’s engine.

Other fuel-saving tips are also practical, even banal, in nature. The to-do list ranges from shutting off the engine when sitting for a prolonged time in traffic to keeping the vehicle in tiptop shape to charting routes and scheduling trips where and when traffic is light.

Modifications to the engine may also be done to reduce fuel consumption, most requiring substantial work and cash. The most common is reconfiguring a vehicle’s engine management system to favor less fuel Consumption but compromising power. Also, there are computer chips available in the aftermarket that can alter the vehicle’s performance figures which can either lean toward good mileage or more oomph. Special oil and fuel additives can also be of help, but the results are not that considerable.

However, every little bit helps. Because surely the dinos died for more reasons other than serving as fuel for oversized, impossibly gaudy sport utility vehicles and overpriced, to-die for sports cars. Whether those reasons are better, though, is not so certain. It’s hard to argue against a Ferrari.