Answer:
Part 1:
To calculate the annual fuel expense savings, we need to find the difference in fuel consumption between the hybrid car and the SUV.
For the hybrid car:
Fuel consumption = 30 miles per gallon
Annual fuel consumption = 30,000 miles / 30 miles per gallon = 1,000 gallons
For the SUV:
Fuel consumption = 9 miles per gallon
Annual fuel consumption = 30,000 miles / 9 miles per gallon ≈ 3,333.33 gallons
Difference in fuel consumption = 3,333.33 gallons - 1,000 gallons = 2,333.33 gallons
Fuel cost savings = Difference in fuel consumption * Price per gallon
Fuel cost savings = 2,333.33 gallons * $4 per gallon = $9,333.33
Therefore, you would save approximately $9,333.33 in annual fuel expenses by owning a hybrid car instead of an SUV.
Part 2:
To calculate the amount saved at the end of 8 years, we will use the formula for the future value of an annuity:
Future Value = Payment * [(1 + (Interest Rate / Number of Compounding Periods))^(Number of Compounding Periods * Number of Years) - 1] / (Interest Rate / Number of Compounding Periods)
Monthly fuel savings = $9,333.33 / 12 months = $777.78
Interest rate = 4.8% = 0.048
Number of compounding periods per year = 12
Number of years = 8
Plugging these values into the formula:
Future Value = $777.78 * [(1 + (0.048 / 12))^(12 * 8) - 1] / (0.048 / 12)
Calculating the expression within the square brackets and then dividing by (0.048 / 12), we find:
Future Value ≈ $9,477.03
Therefore, at the end of 8 years, you would have saved approximately $9,477.03 by depositing your monthly fuel savings into an annuity that pays a 4.8% interest rate compounded monthly.