Are you willing to pay a fuel penalty for all those extras?
Most new cars are available with a wide array of options, ranging from air conditioning to power windows to automatic seat warmers. If you’re a “bells and whistles” type of person, you may want everything that’s available. But there are two costs to consider: the purchase price of the option itself and the ongoing cost of increased fuel consumption.
Most options increase fuel consumption in one of three ways: by adding weight, by increasing aerodynamic drag or by drawing extra power either directly from the engine or through the alternator (which in turn is driven by the engine). Some may do all three.
Let’s begin with “power” equipment. The electricity drawn by power seats, sunroofs, windows, mirrors and door locks is relatively insignificant, in part because they are operated only briefly. Options that produce heat or light (such as seat heaters or fog lights) can be more of a drain on the alternator. If you select any of these options, use them only when necessary. Keep in mind that extra weight affects fuel consumption. Although power seats and power sunroofs don’t consume much power, they are among the heavier options.
As for power windows and mirrors, the extra energy they require from the engine increases fuel consumption. Heated seats add weight and require significant electrical energy. With the extra weight and the higher electricity demand, the engine must burn more fuel.
When considering power options, ask yourself whether the increased comfort or convenience they provide is worth the increase in fuel consumption.
Remote car starters encourage people to start their cars before they are ready to drive them. This promotes unnecessary idling, which wastes fuel and harms the environment.
In regions of Canada where summer temperatures are hot and humid, air conditioning is a popular option. It can also be costly. Air conditioning saps power from the engine in two ways – mechanically, to operate the compressor, and electrically, to run the blower motor. Operating an air conditioner can increase fuel consumption by more than 20 percent in city driving. Acceleration is also affected. Because the power required by the air-conditioning system is relatively constant, the smaller the engine, the greater the impact on fuel consumption.
Some vehicles have automatic climate control systems. They keep the air-conditioning compressor on all the time (even in winter) to reduce the moisture content of the air in the car. These systems can increase fuel consumption by about 5 percent, so if you are in the market for one of these vehicles, look for a climate control system that has an “economy” mode.
If you are buying a passenger van, you should be aware that some models have optional heating/air-conditioning booster systems for the rear seats. If the system consists of only an extra blower motor in the rear, it won’t have much effect on fuel consumption. Another type of system, however, adds a second air-conditioning unit for the rear, almost doubling the impact on fuel economy.
Power seats can add 40 to 60 kilograms to a 1200-kilogram vehicle, resulting in a 2 to 3 percent increase in fuel consumption.