On average, Saipan motorists drive 35 miles a day, which translates to over one gallon of gasoline daily or some $2,000 in fuel consumption a year, according to a leading car dealer company.
“You are fortunate if you live near your office, but on Saipan, the average is 35 miles a day,” said Doug Brennan, vice president and general manager of Toyota Microl Corp., in an interview yesterday.
This takes into account people who have to drive to and from Kagman and Garapan area daily.
In terms of fuel consumption, he said that a four-cylinder car consumes a gallon of gasoline for every 21 miles run, while a six-cylinder car consumes a gallon for every 17 miles.
Given the 21 miles per gallon rate, an average motorist on Saipan spends about $41 a week on gasoline at $3.59 per gallon. This equates to $167 a month or $2,010 per year.
Regular car vs hybrid
Brennan, whose company sells Prius hybrid cars, said that gasoline consumption would drastically lower by 100 percent with the use of hybrid cars.
For instance, he said that Prius can run an average of 45 miles on a gallon of gasoline.
For a motorist who drives 35 miles daily, this equates to about five gallons a week or over $19 a week, $78 a month or $938 a year.
For 20 miles a day, this would mean $584 a year on gasoline.
“Imagine, how much you'd save on gas alone if you're using a hybrid car,” he said.
Brennan said that Prius can actually run up to 52 miles for a gallon.
“We're saying that on average it's 45 miles per gallon, but one customer said it lasted for 52 miles for a gallon,” he said.
A hybrid car is powered by two engines-an electric motor and a gasoline engine.
Hybrids usually have two or more batteries on board: an HV/traction battery, a high voltage battery to provide locomotion, and an auxiliary battery, which supplies power to the vehicle's accessories. The use of hybrid cars saves on energy because its engines work efficiently.
Visiting Toyota technical instructor Jesse Munoz said that gasoline engines are most efficient when operating at a constant speed while electric motors are most efficient and create the most torque when starting off.
When driving, either of the two engines can work depending on the load required.
When the driver requires full acceleration such as going uphill, both the engines work together or synergize “to assist each other in the most fuel-efficient manner possible.”
Trade Expo
Microl's Prius hybrid car will be displayed at the Energy Expo Trade Show being organized by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 31.
The expo will be held simultaneously with the Marianas Roundtable, which will focus on alternative energy.
The trade show and business meeting are set on Aug. 31 at Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan.
“This will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity for consumers to learn, in one place, about the many available energy-saving measures that are already available in the CNMI,” said chamber executive director Christine Parke.
The chamber called on businesses with energy-related products and services to participate in the trade show.
“We're calling on vendors to come and to let the public know about their technology or products. There are a lot of things that people can do to save energy,” she said.
To encourage more participants, the chamber has made it free for vendors who want to display their products.
“There is no cost to energy-related businesses that want to display their products. There is limited space, and businesses should register as soon as possible,” the Chamber said in a statement.
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