Study: Diesel More Effective Than Hybrid or Gasoline Vehicles

There is much debate about what kinds of vehicles can help us to save the environment and survive as consumers. The Rand Corporation has released a study that concludes that the best choice is diesel powered vehicles, whether they are looked at from a societal or a consumer perspective. Diesels were found superior to hybrid vehicles, ethanol mix powered vehicles, and gas powered vehicles.

The Rand Corporation is a not for profit research group that has been operating for nearly 60 years.

With oil prices reaching new highs and 17 million new vehicles hitting the streets every year, the question of how to power them is central.

The research tested cutting edge diesel technology, like that found in the Mercedes-Benz E320 sedan; mixed fuel vehicles that use E85; and electric-gasoline hybrid vehicles, for example, the Ford Escape or Toyota's Prius. The study is significant in that it tests vehicles already in use that have the real potential to garner a larger market share in the near future. All three of the above arrays were compared to a regular, gasoline powered vehicle. The survey used a broad variety of vehicle types, ranging from mid-sized automobiles, to mid-sized SUVs to larger pickup trucks.

Cost-benefit analysis was used.

The results ranked high tech diesel first, hybrid technology second, gasoline engines third, and E85 technology last.

Variables measured from the consumer perspective were cost of technology and fuel, performance, and mobility. Societal values tested for greenhouse gases, security costs of fuels, pollutants from tailpipes, and reliability of fuel supplies on the international market.

Taxes were left out of the equation, but depending on the political climate, would naturally have an effect. Fuel costs were assumed to be $2.50 per gallon, lower than current prices, though the study did examine scenarios with higher fuel costs.

Consumers with diesel technology would save $460.00 if using a car, $1249.00 if using an SUV, and $2289.00 if using a pick-up. Hybrids offered savings, but lower than the diesel: cars saving $198.00, SUVs $1066.00, and pick-ups $505.00.

The big loser was the E85 user, which would cost more over the life of the vehicle: -$1034 for cars, -$1332 for SUVs, and -$1632 for pick-ups.

Societal results were similar to those found in the consumer study.

Diesel and hybrid were close, but if, says John Graham, dean of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and senior author of the paper, "the cost of hybrid technology falls significantly," it might push hybrids ahead in the game.

If government gets involved with tax breaks or extra taxes, it will influence which technology takes the lead.

John Graham, Rand paper finds diesel, hybrid vehicles can provide more societal benefits than gas-powered autos, Rand Corporation