[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: (ET) ET and actual fuel costs
Just thinking it over (no calculators or spreadsheets involved) I'm
guessing that the ET and the ICE would at least come out to be a wash,
-- Actually NO! - see below
plus you'd have the added benefit of less noise, no fumes, and
reduction in air pollution.
Anybody want to run the numbers? :^)
I have over 2 acres of rough terrain, but mostly flat lawn. My old
Craftsman tractor with a pooged 20 hp gas engine needs about 3 gallons
(@$3.29 this week) = $10 to mow it.
Very heavy mowing this week, but I used my (under restoration) C185
(E15) with front deck. Half on Saturday, half Sunday. Recharge power
was 6.17 kw and 5.2 kw = 11.37kw = $1.14 at my electric rates.
--------------------------------------------------
A quick shot:
Using the numbers above and assume:
1. 20 mows per year
2. $15 for oil/filter/plug
3. Battery cost = $420 (6*$70)
4. Battery life of 7 years
5. I'll be conservative and hope gas settles back to $2.50/gal
6. I'll be conservative and say $0.20 /kwh
On a yearly basis:
ICE:
Gas cost = $2.50 * 3 * 20 = $150
Oil/filter/plugs = $ 15
Total ===================== $165
ET:
Electric cost = $.20 * 11.37 * 20 = $ 45
Battery cost = $420/7 = $ 60
Total ============================= $105
That's a significant difference. And I used pretty conservative numbers.
Also consider that ICE's wear out and few people rebuild them, where
the only real wear item on the ET is the batteries, and I've accounted
for that. This also ignores time spent doing yardwork, gradening, and
snow removal.
- SteveS