Wow,
Yup yup OK. I’m a hunt and peck keyboarder, so a long comment could cause me to miss Argos.
I’m keeping track of the cost of material to build my gasifier. I don’t include the price of the truck, or consumables or the cost of equipment like a plasma cutter. The cutter will be used on many projects and I need the truck for transportation regardless if its petro or gasified. If the material is unique to the project then it is recorded as part of the cost.
I dont plan on logging my time. The only time I do that is when I’m working on a salvage vehicle.
I like to hang on to my money like anyone else. Sometimes were at the right place at the right time when it comes to buying what we need. It would be nice If I could do this project for less than $1500 but it wouldn’t surprise me if I spend $3000 finished. My imbert test unit cost me $700.00 to build, and it sure don’t look like $700 worth of anything. Thanks uncle sam for trashing our currency!
It is what it is. I want it functional, nice and hopefully a ROI in one year.
Wes,
Good point on the ROI. If you take your fuel costs as $0 after conversion (very possible), then you’re saving whatever fuel you burn in a year; Joe Average drives 12,000 miles in a 20MPG car, at $3.50/gal that’s $2100 in fuel savings every year. Drive more, save faster.
Meaning Joe Average could pay full price for Sean French’s $21,500 truck – and make it back in fuel savings alone, over a ten year ROI. Very reasonable rate of return.
And this is figured with today’s gas prices. Any guesses where the price of gas will be in ten years??
Chris S, maybe aim that from the perspective of a truck driver to be more accurate. Assuming I drove the average 12,000 miles per year and I only drove my truck (which would be the one getting the conversion) at current local gas prices, I’d be spending 3,750$/year on gas. (12mpg average, 3.75$/gal best local gas price).
1995 Dakota 318 4x4 auto: 13mpg EPA combined at 3.75$/gal=3,461$. 6.2 years to ROI.
Should the cost of the truck itself be included in ROI?
For most people yes, this is a second vehicle.
If you go whole hog and sell the old gasoline daily driver, you can discount that. But we don’t know that sale price… can’t assume everyone drives a $5000 truck.
When one purchases a new vehicle for transportation, is there an expectation of ROI or lose by the minute??
My point is that if you weren’t going to use woodgas, you wouldn’t buy a Dakota. Most likely you’d use the car you’ve already got. The vehicle cost is real, and part of the equation when doing cost/benefit analysis.
You’re right that nobody buys a new car to make money or even to save money. For example buying a Tesla (electric) roadster to save on gas … penny wise and pound foolish. But for a $20,000 woodgas truck, you can amortize the whole cost within a few years, including the vehicle.
If you choose not to count the Dakota (a $5,000 cost), then it works out to $16,500, paid back in under 8 years (Joe Average @3.50/g). Using Brian H’s 13mpg @ 3.75/g, it’s now 4.75 years to payback.
My total cost ended up being 2167.81 …
750 for the truck
1417.81 for everything else
Some stuff was new ,some stuff used and some stuff I got for free …
This price includes gasifier parts ,fittings, plumbing, wiring , gauges , tools, saw blades ,welding wire ect…In other words everything I needed to build it.
I am pleased with what it cost me and am pleased to be a proud owner of a Wayne Keith Gasifier …
As long as my truck doesn’t clunk out on me ,I will get back my investment within 4 -6 months of driving …