Cashing in your clunker? Don't miss this web site for researching fuel economy

Now that the Senate has voted to add an additional $2 billion in funding for the popular Cash for Clunkers program, are you planning to go out and trade in your gas guzzler?

Insert photo caption or credit here

---

Related Articles

• Cash for refrigerator clunkers, new federal program offers appliance rebates

• Is Cash for Clunkers evidence that Americans want more efficient cars?

• Cash for Clunkers still making trades

• Cash for Clunkers nearly out of cash

If you are, you should check out fueleconomy.gov, a web site by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.

The interface takes a few minutes of getting used to but you can compare the car you are considering and the car you are trading in.

Not only does the web site report on the estimated and actual fuel economy of most car models, it reports the air pollution rating and carbon footprint.  The site also has tips for maximizing fuel economy of an existing car for folks not participating in Cash for Clunkers or otherwise buying a new car.

Comparing the most traded in model with the most purchased model under the Cash for Clunkers program, according to USA Today, you get the following results (abbreviated):

Model	1998 Ford Explorer	2010 Toyota Corolla
Estimated New EPA MPG	15	29
City	13	26
Hwy	18	34
Annual Fuel Cost*	$2441	$1263
Annual Petroleum Consumption	28.8 barrels	11.8 barrels
Carbon Footprint, annual tons of CO2	12.2	6.3

*Based on 45% highway driving, 55% city driving, 15000 miles/year and Reg.: $2.44 per gallon Click to use your gas prices and annual miles.

Fueleconomy.gov actually reports much more information than in the above table. Check it out for yourself.