Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Energy cost of manufacturing small car
(OP)
Despite some time spent searching the web, I have been unable to find any figures for the cost, in terms of energy consumption, CO2 output etc, of manufacturing a new small car.
The question arose out of a discussion in which it was suggested that I should replace my 1966 Landrover with a modern, small, fuel effecient car. Given that I use the Landrover for less than 3,000 miles per year, I suspect that a new car would take more than it's lifetime to recoup the energy used to produce it.
I suspect also that many people are being wrongly persuaded to replace their ageing cars on grounds of fuel effeciency.
Can anyone direct me to any source of relevent data?
The question arose out of a discussion in which it was suggested that I should replace my 1966 Landrover with a modern, small, fuel effecient car. Given that I use the Landrover for less than 3,000 miles per year, I suspect that a new car would take more than it's lifetime to recoup the energy used to produce it.
I suspect also that many people are being wrongly persuaded to replace their ageing cars on grounds of fuel effeciency.
Can anyone direct me to any source of relevent data?





RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
You can go as in depth as you want, but if you simply don't want to buy a new vehicle, then don't.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
My rough calcs on Greg's rule of thumb is about 10% of a new car cost, and that still sounds low.
I guess it depends on whether you count the power bill for the manufacturing plant as the cost, or whether you count the total energy cost on all components and materials, from the lights in the showroom to the energy required to make and transport the mining equipment for the metals and the oil used to make the plastics, fabrics and coatings.
Regards
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Here's a quote:
"In fact, according to a new study by CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore., the Hummer H3, in terms of dust-to-dust energy costs, equates to $1.95 per mile—while the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid are almost $3.30 per mile."
Here's the link:
http:/
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Thanks to all who have replied.
SafetyDan; I was looking for practical justification to replace the Landrover, but I can't justify it economically (costs me about £700 per year to run, including fuel, insurance, repairs etc.) It now appears that I can't justify it ecologically.
Now, if someone would produce a 350Kg plastic bodied space frame with a 40HP turbo diesel for £5k......
Pete.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
The largest cost for almost every company is labor. The second highest cost is for materials, but those materials highest cost is also labor, then other raw materials, with the cycle continuing all the way into extraction of the raw materials.
I have worked in the auto manufacturing sector for a while and if we were having to pay 10% of our total revenue for energy usage, we would be out of business. 2% is also high, but I needed a safety factor.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Thank you.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Plastic is basically like oil, except the energy content is even more, because of all the processing that goes into making the monomer and then all the material handling. Most of this is not made from recycled materials.
Aluminum and steel are also rather energy intensive if you include the coal, electricity, etc used in producing them. Recycling helps a lot but there is still a lot of heating up, melting, etc.
I'd make a moderately unscientific first guess that the amount of oil-equivalent that it takes to make a car, is order-of-magnitude equal to the weight of the car. (Plastics overrepresent, metals underrepresent but only if recycled materials are used.)
On that unscientific basis, 3000 lbs is probably 400 gallons, or about $1000 - $1200 at retail prices. The 10% cost basis, including all energy inputs for all materials traced all the way back to the oil well, doesn't sound too improbable to me.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
Don't forget that CO2 isn't the only emission. Your hydrocarbon, CO and NOx footprint is all out of proportion to the miles driven. So the world will be cooler in 50 years because of the Rover, but your local air will be more polluted this year.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car
If it comes down to a balance between short term local pollution vs. long term global pollution, I would have to hold the long term view.
RE: Energy cost of manufacturing small car