High Fuel Prices Drive the Demand for Energy Efficient Vehicles

May 24, 2005

by David B. South

David B. South and his new Toyota Prius My good friend, Lee Gray and I were discussing energy efficiency one day. He was encouraging me to make the leap into purchasing one of the new energy-efficient hybrid vehicles. He said, "You need to show your dedication to energy efficient products through the vehicle you drive."Although Lee is an architect, that day he used the slickness of a big city lawyer to argue his case in point that I needed to buy a new Toyota Prius to support energy efficient efforts in our society.

Lee continued, "You build the most energy efficient building in the world. You should drive a likewise car."

I hem 'd and haw 'd about it. I don't like spending that kind of money for a brand new car. I rarely buy new cars. Normally, they aren't a wise financial investment. I'm a used-car person. They make more financial sense. But the increase in gas prices to $2.25 per gallon gave me great impetus. Even though I know financially the money saved in fuel does not necessarily mean I am getting a good buy on the car, I know that saving energy is important long term.

I knew about the Prius. Another friend of mine, Jack Boyt had given me a ride in his not too long ago. It was great! So, in a stroke of brilliance (I hope) I decided to order the Prius. I say order, because normally it takes a year on the waiting list in order to get one. But my friends know people. Lee has a friend who is a Toyota dealer and was able to get me in one within a week. So, I agreed.

On the road again

As I dictate this article, I am on my way home from Utah in my new company Prius. From the looks of the signs, I am somewhere in the state of Kansas, going 75 miles an hour. This is a most illuminating experience.

Early last night, I crossed most of Wyoming. Interstate 80 presents some substantial hills. I set the cruise control at 80 miles per hour. The Prius never budged even one mile off the setting. It went up those hills better than any vehicle I've ever driven. Down the hills it regenerates the battery. Up the hill both motors kicked in and we sailed over the hills. The most astonishing thing was that we averaged 48 mpg crossing that terrain. We verified that by its own internal monitoring and by how much fuel we put in the tank.

How high will the prices go?

So, it begs a larger question. How high are fuel prices going to rise before we start demanding more fuel efficient vehicles? Having driven this far in the Prius, I know now that the first thing I am going to do upon returning to Texas, is sell my nice, big, beautiful van. The Prius goes as far on 6 to 8 gallons of fuel as my van goes on 20 to 25 gallons. It feels like I'm riding in a space ship. It comes complete with GPS guidance system.

If fuel prices continue to rise, how long do you think it will be before electricity rates increase? How long do you think it will be before the gas company catches on and raises their prices. We have proved again and again the energy saved on a Monolithic Dome building will pay for the building in twenty years. As we see these fuel prices jump we will be able to shorten the amount of years that it takes to pay for the building.

All of us need to be conscious of ways to save energy. There is no doubt in my mind if all the automobiles on the road were as efficient as this Prius, our oil problems would be vastly reduced. By the way, my friend Jack tells me that in town he never gets less than 65 mpg.

More President's Spheres

High Fuel Prices Drive the Demand for Energy Efficient Vehicles

On the road again

How high will the prices go?

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