2012-2013 New Energy Efficient

[max108]

I will be in the market for a new energy efficient car in a few month. Ego car such as the Nissan Almera or a car with factory installed NGV or if available LPG.

I'm prepared to go as high as 750,000 bts. Anyone have any suggestions ?

[aussiebebe]

Hi, there's a big difference between an Eco-car rating and real-world result. The British site What Car? recently published a study about the differences between manufacturer claims and actual results. A 20km/l-rated car won't achieve that in stop-start traffic, for example. The Mitzu Mirage at 22km/l or the Nissan March and Almera at 20km/l will probably remain the pick of the bunch for a while longer this year.

For really cheap motoring, LPG is only avalible retro-fitted in Thailand and actually makes the car less efficient, it's just the fuel is cheaper - typically ฿1/km vs almost ฿3/km on benzine. Any car can be converted to LPG for ฿25,000+ but you should be aware that the price of the fuel is gradually being floated in Thailand so this will affect the rate of savings. An Almera running on LPG would be fine for 150,000km and save you ฿300,000+ at current prices.

For CNG, right at the top of your budget would be the Toyota CNG Altis but your savings would depend on where you drive, the availability of the fuel. I think LPG is a better fuel than NGV; cars are only sold with factory-fitted NGV systems because of previous government policies to support and promote the fuel. NGV has limited avaliability in Thailand and a tank will run only 100-150km vs 400+km on LPG.

Exact savings aren't easy to calculate on either fuel; both systems require you to start the car on benzine and run for around 3km before switching so its not an ideal solution if you do many short trips, or less than 20,000km annually as some of the maintenance is dependent on time rather than distance. there will be many times when you run out and can't refill so drive on benzine, and some of your savings will have to be used for the additional maintenance of the gas system.

[max108]

Hi, there's a big difference between an Eco-car rating and real-world result. The British site What Car? recently published a study about the differences between manufacturer claims and actual results. A 20km/l-rated car won't achieve that in stop-start traffic, for example. The Mitzu Mirage at 22km/l or the Nissan March and Almera at 20km/l will probably remain the pick of the bunch for a while longer this year.

For really cheap motoring, LPG is only avalible retro-fitted in Thailand and actually makes the car less efficient, it's just the fuel is cheaper - typically ฿1/km vs almost ฿3/km on benzine. Any car can be converted to LPG for ฿25,000+ but you should be aware that the price of the fuel is gradually being floated in Thailand so this will affect the rate of savings. An Almera running on LPG would be fine for 150,000km and save you ฿300,000+ at current prices.

For CNG, right at the top of your budget would be the Toyota CNG Altis but your savings would depend on where you drive, the availability of the fuel. I think LPG is a better fuel than NGV; cars are only sold with factory-fitted NGV systems because of previous government policies to support and promote the fuel. NGV has limited avaliability in Thailand and a tank will run only 100-150km vs 400+km on LPG.

Exact savings aren't easy to calculate on either fuel; both systems require you to start the car on benzine and run for around 3km before switching so its not an ideal solution if you do many short trips, or less than 20,000km annually as some of the maintenance is dependent on time rather than distance. there will be many times when you run out and can't refill so drive on benzine, and some of your savings will have to be used for the additional maintenance of the gas system.

Though decision to make. Anstead a eco car I may consider a larger heavier car and spend an extra 40,000 bts on LPG conversion but need to make sure I won't lose the warranty.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

I have 2 Nissan March and like them very much. However my Mitsubishi Triton NGV cost less per km to opperate. 2.2 Bt per km for the march VS. 70 - 90 stang for my bigger heavier truck. I know for a fact that Honda is making their City a NGV soon. All said and done. I would get one of those for low cost motiring. Cost should be under 50 stang per km