A question for those who may know.

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excrucior - 29 Aug 2003 20:50 GMT

Hello :)

I've tried googling for the answer, I've tried the AA website, and I've
tried the RAC website. Unfortunately, I've been unable to find the answer
to the question, "How much does it cost to start your car engine?"

I seem to remember hearing that to replace the power in your battery cost
about 18 pence of fuel or so, but that figure is about a decade old, and
fuel costs have risen dramatically since then.

Does anyone have any more accurate and up-to-date information for me please?

Any help appreciated.

The main reason I ask is that I see customers arrive at work (small, local
shop) for small items, and I am sure that it must cost them more in fuel
than the goods are worth on many occasions. I'd just like to prove it.

Excrucior

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Dave Plowman - 30 Aug 2003 02:21 GMT

> I seem to remember hearing that to replace the power in your battery cost
> about 18 pence of fuel or so, but that figure is about a decade old, and
> fuel costs have risen dramatically since then.

Air con is said to cost about 1.5 mpg as an average. A car's electrical
system uses about 1/4 of this amount when on full output. If the
alternator maintained maximum output all the time into a flat battery -
which it won't - it could in theory charge a flat battery in about two
hours.

So after all this the answer is I don't know. Except that to start the
car on a warm day uses very little of the batteries capacity, so it will
recharge very quickly.

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chris@ukaskew - 30 Aug 2003 12:12 GMT

> Air con is said to cost about 1.5 mpg as an average.

Interesting point, and I often hear people say they don't bother with
air-con because it uses fuel. But on the other hand I read a stat somewhere
that you can use upto 20% more fuel when driving with your windows open.

Chris.

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Sla#s - 30 Aug 2003 19:36 GMT

> Hello :)
>
> I've tried googling for the answer, I've tried the AA website, and I've
> tried the RAC website. Unfortunately, I've been unable to find the answer
> to the question, "How much does it cost to start your car engine?"

Slightly OT
But just for interest.
We worked out it cost about ?10 to start our small helicopter turbine
engines.
(but then they have an overhaul life of 3000hrs)
It's harder to work out with bigger ones because they are "on condition"
just like a car.

Slatts

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Scott M - 01 Sep 2003 13:53 GMT

> I seem to remember hearing that to replace the power in your battery cost
> about 18 pence of fuel or so, but that figure is about a decade old, and
> fuel costs have risen dramatically since then.

I imagine the cost of putting the power back in the battery is
negligable compared to the wear and tear and extra fuel used in just
starting from cold. That's of more note.

Anyway, it's an odd sort of statistic, only of any value if *the only
reason* someone has got in their car is to buy a grommet-valve.
Otherwise if I'm poddling about doing many things, it's just petrol cost
between places.

Part of the problem with people shaving 1p off their milk bill is that
they can see it - "I've bought 4pts and saved 10p"; petrol is harder to
work out "it costs me £1.27p to go and save 10p on the milk." Certainly
I'd be horrified by the cost of popping to the shops if I could see it
more easily.

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Excrucior - 01 Sep 2003 19:13 GMT

> I imagine the cost of putting the power back in the battery is
> negligable compared to the wear and tear and extra fuel used in just
> starting from cold. That's of more note.

Are there any statistics worked out for that, perchance?

> Anyway, it's an odd sort of statistic, only of any value if *the only
> reason* someone has got in their car is to buy a grommet-valve.
> Otherwise if I'm poddling about doing many things, it's just petrol cost
> between places.

Oh, it happens often enough. I know a woman who lives in the flats opposite
our shop who has often driven over and back (I can see her garage from where
I work).

> Part of the problem with people shaving 1p off their milk bill is that
> they can see it - "I've bought 4pts and saved 10p"; petrol is harder to
> work out "it costs me ?1.27p to go and save 10p on the milk." Certainly
> I'd be horrified by the cost of popping to the shops if I could see it
> more easily.

I've already come to the conclusion that "Fuel in the tank is paid for and
therefore it costs nothing to use" is the main force in congesting our
roads. I know that short journeys cost more than longer ones, but I
wouldn't mind knowing how much 'spit and jump' distance journeys cost.

Cheers for the information.

Excrucior

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