The Cincinnati Auto Auction is Greener than A Hybrid

If you want to really make an impact on the environment, you need to come to Ohio Valley Goodwills Cincinnati auto auction. New cars are reaching astounding levels of efficiency. Green-minded individuals are increasingly opting for hybrid vehicles or electric cars. But, we are sorry to say, these individuals are far from doing all they could to help the planet. The efficiency gains of todays new vehicles still cannot match the most tried and true method for reducing waste — reusing existing products. In terms of cars, that means buying used.

WIRED magazine covered this exact issue in a 2008 story by Matt Power, here is a summary of the article from WIREDs Autopia blog:

hybrids get great gas mileage but it takes 113 million BTUs of energy to make a Toyota Prius. Because there are about 113,000 BTUs of energy in a gallon of gasoline, the Prius has consumed the equivalent of 1,000 gallons of gasoline before it reaches the showroom. Think of it as a carbon debt ‘” one you wont pay off until the Prius has turned over 46,000 miles or so.

Theres an easy way to avoid that debt ‘” buy a used car. The debt has already been paid. But not just any used car will do.

It has to be something fuel efficient. Like, say, a 1998 Toyota Tercel that gets 27 mpg city / 35 mpg highway miles. The Prius will have to go 100,000 miles to achieve the same carbon savings as the 10-year-old Tercel. Get behind the wheel of a 1994 Geo Metro XFi, which matches the Prius 46 mpg, and the Prius would never close the carbon gap, Power writes.

So, there you have it. If you want to make an impact, buy your next car from Ohio Valley Goodwill at the best auto auction in Cincinnati. You can also help keep the cycle of vehicle recycling going by donating a vehicle in Cincinnati or one of our many vehicle donation locations, including vehicle donations in Sharonville and Fairfield.