With all of the hype of how inexpensive it is to operate this vehicle versus that vehicle. I guess it’s time for me to jump in with my two cents.
Below is a table that shows the most obvious operating costs of the three vehicles mentioned above. Keep in mind that it is somewhat simplified because it doesn’t take all costs into account (selling price, taxes, financing, depreciation, etc.). It also assumes that one person is using the vehicle in a work or business environment (patrolling, running errands, commuting to work, responding to emergencies, etc.) in a limited geographical area (city, campus, factory complex, etc.).
Why all of the comparison qualifications? Well honestly, we at Red Rose Segway are in the business of promoting the use of Segways. And we’ll do best to promote our products in the areas in which they’re most favorable. And in the case of the Segway PT – those trips where it’s too far to walk and you feel guilty driving a car. Granted, not everyone feels guilty about driving a car just a mile or two across town to check on a problem or run an errand. But in these days of high fuel prices, rising insurance costs, and increasing environmental concerns, some of us are starting to feel very guilty.
Anyway, here’s the numbers:
| Car | Utility Vehicle (Gator or similar) | Segway PT | |
| “Fuel” | |||
| Miles per gallon | 20 | 50 | |
| Price per gallon | $3.50 | $3.50 | |
| Electricity cost per mile | $0.01 | ||
| Miles per day | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Days per year | 365 | 365 | 365 |
| $1,278 | $511 | $73 | |
| Maintenance | |||
| Insurance | $700 | ||
| Registration | $35 | ||
| Service & repair | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| $1,035 | $300 | $300 | |
| Annual operating costs | $2,313 | $811 | $373 |
Surprised? I was too the first time I saw them. And here are some other interesting numbers:
- The Segway PT operates with zero emissions.
- The Segway PT is eleven times more efficient that the average car.
- The EPA estimates that Americans take 900 million car journeys every day. Half of these trips are less than five miles long and are by solo drivers. Replace 10% of 900 million 3-mile car trips with a Segway PT:
- 6.2 million fewer gallons of gas consumed every day
- 286 million fewer pounds of CO2 emitted every day
Questions? Call us or stop in.
Thanks for listening.
Bob Stauffer
