Fuel Economy: A Cost Comparison
The purpose of this report is to compare the fuel efficiency, by cost, of three different vehicles using Regular, Mid and Premium grade fuel. The vehicles chosen are a 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage, 2011 Volkswagen Golf, and a 2005 Nissan Xterra. This comparison is estimated by calculating the cost of fuel based on Miles Per Gallon (MPG) for both Highway and City mileage for each vehicle. The MPG for each vehicle is based on information found on the website fueleconomy.gov. The total mileage used is 15,000, assuming 80% highway miles and 20% city miles are driven. MPG fluctuates depending upon variables such as cylinder, liters, and whether the vehicle is a standard or an automatic, therefore, this report recognizes these specifications accordingly along with year/make and model of each vehicle.
First, 80% of 15,000 is 12,000, our base figure for highway miles. The remaining 20% (3,000 miles) is the base for city mileage. These two figures are constant, and used for each vehicle.
Next, the city miles (3000) are divided by the city MPG. The highway miles (12,000) are divided by the Highway MPG. This calculates the total gallons of fuel necessary for both city miles and highway miles at the MPG rate provided.
Once the number of gallons is totaled, the sum of these two numbers is then multiplied by the price of each type of fuel. Gas Prices fluctuate regularly, so for this report each grade price is as follows; Regular grade: $3.00, Midgrade: $3.50, Premium: $4.00. The multiplication of each grade by the sum of the total number of gallons for both city and highway mileage equate the total cost of fuel at 15,000 miles.
To sum things up, calculating the cost of gas consumption at 15,000 miles (80% highway/20%city) is solved by completing the following steps;
A. Multiplying 15,000 by 80% to get 12,000 highway miles, than subtracting 12,000 from 15,000 totaling 3,000 to be assigned to the remaining 20% city miles.
B. Divide 12,000 highway miles by highway MPG, and 3000
First, 80% of 15,000 is 12,000, our base figure for highway miles. The remaining 20% (3,000 miles) is the base for city mileage. These two figures are constant, and used for each vehicle.
Next, the city miles (3000) are divided by the city MPG. The highway miles (12,000) are divided by the Highway MPG. This calculates the total gallons of fuel necessary for both city miles and highway miles at the MPG rate provided.
Once the number of gallons is totaled, the sum of these two numbers is then multiplied by the price of each type of fuel. Gas Prices fluctuate regularly, so for this report each grade price is as follows; Regular grade: $3.00, Midgrade: $3.50, Premium: $4.00. The multiplication of each grade by the sum of the total number of gallons for both city and highway mileage equate the total cost of fuel at 15,000 miles.
To sum things up, calculating the cost of gas consumption at 15,000 miles (80% highway/20%city) is solved by completing the following steps;
A. Multiplying 15,000 by 80% to get 12,000 highway miles, than subtracting 12,000 from 15,000 totaling 3,000 to be assigned to the remaining 20% city miles.
B. Divide 12,000 highway miles by highway MPG, and 3000