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Community weekly poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid car?
- 5/16/05 1:58 PM
Would you consider buying a hybrid car?
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 5/16/05 1:58 PM
Would you consider buying a hybrid car?
-- Yes (which one?)
-- No (tell us why)
-- Maybe someday (what's holding you back now?)
-- I already have/drive a hybrid car (what do you think of it?)
Hybrid Car
by ldjmis - 5/17/05 2:17 PM In reply to: Would you consider buying a hybrid car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I wouldn't buy a hybrid as i feel they are nothing more than another margin act to make it appear as though the owner is "Green".
The answer to our country's energy needs is diesel engines. The provide superior power with greatly increased range between fill-ups/recharges and comparable economy to the hybrids. You also get a vehicle of similar size to the one you are driving now and a much safer car in terms of crash resistence than the hybrids being sold.
Buying hybrid is expensive
by jland0001 - 5/17/05 2:45 PM In reply to: Hybrid Car by ldjmisLook at the deal. The car starts out 2k more in the first place. The dealers don't discount them because there are enough techies who will pay the price. The batteries have to be replaced at an expense of $3,000 after a 100,000 miles (that is 3 cents per mile right there.) and they don't do any better than some real economy cars like a turbo diesel bug (40 45 MPG on diesel fuel which is cheaper in the first place.)
Yeah, places like California give you a credit - but that just goes into the pockets of the dealers.
Environmentally conscious? What are we to do with all those used lead acid batteries? All we are doing is shifting the pollution problem from the cities to the outback where we put fossil fired power plants and onto the future for disposal of the lead acid batteries.
off course
by pjuztarizo - 5/17/05 5:38 PM In reply to: Buying hybrid is expensive by jland0001for one thing, the batteries are expensive (not to mention heavy and bulky), and with luck (lots of it) they'll last 100,000 miles. I bet they won't last 50,000 miles, and you'll have to pay for replacement more than an engine overhaul is worth. To that you have to add the cost of regular maintenance. And if we are talking about a new technology, maintenance is going to be expensive. All in all, I think it is going to be an expensive ride. I rather buying a new generation diesel car, if am too interested in being fuel savy...
Sucker Bet?
by albizzia - 5/18/05 12:51 AM In reply to: off course by pjuztarizoI'd bet they'd last longer than 100,000 miles on my Prius, especially considering they are warranted by Toyota for 8 years/100,000 miles!
Also, a Prius went into service as a taxicab in Vancouver, BC in 2000, it went over 180,000 miles, still has it's original hybrid battery, required less maintenance than other taxis, (less wear on the brake pads due to regenerative braking). It was "retired", replaced in the taxi fleet by a 2004 Prius, but was purchased by the taxi driver and is still in use as his private car!
Both Honda and Toyota have outstanding reliability, and it applies to their hybrids as well.
Question ? Why premium price ?
by vipergts - 5/18/05 6:41 AM In reply to: Sucker Bet? by albizziaIf the manufacturers believe it is such a good deal,
why the premium price ? Why not reduce the price and
go for more volume ? More on the road.. More
image promotion, more public 'testing' evaluation..
Actions speak louder than words.
albizzia: Your employer is ? You are very well
informed, make good points. If you have an
inside viewpoint, whose ? Address the above
question if you have a 'voice' in the
industry - or the 'ear' of your company
management.
Increased Prius production
by claytonn - 5/18/05 1:22 PM In reply to: Question ? Why premium price ? by vipergtsIn the last week or two, the Wall Street Journal reported nearly 3 times as many Prius sold in March 2005 vs. March 2004. So...volume is up (to over 10,000 per month). I guess the price will come down when the demand and production get more in sync.
Price = Profits
by albizzia - 5/18/05 2:39 PM In reply to: Question ? Why premium price ? by vipergtsThe hybrid manufacturers are in it to make money, and contrary to rumours, they are making money on their hybrids. Considering the high demand and the long backlog of orders, it makes sense for the companies to keep the pricing high, but not so high that it suppresses sales. The Highlander Hybrid launch was delayed because of high demand for the Lexus RX400h hybrid, limiting the availability of parts, especially batteries. And the Lexus hybrid was delayed because of high demand for the Prius!
Toyota has announced plans to extend hybrids to all of their other car lines by 2010, but that is assuming they can get enough batteries.
The Prius comes loaded with luxuries such as power windows, power door locks, power rearview mirrors, and climate control. More profit for Toyota. Someday there may be an economy hybrid without those expensive luxuries, priced $12K to $15K.
I don't work for any car company, or any car dealer, or any repair shop. My interest in hybrids comes from a longstanding interest in energy efficiency, and from driving a Prius.
need
by Karridog - 5/17/05 4:26 PM In reply to: Hybrid Car by ldjmisMost people do not need cars. This is one of the ways that corporations tell us we need something. We are are own worst enemy. We must stop being a consuming nation. Our marines, soldiers, etc. die because we think we need oil. We really don't need that oil, but to end our marriage with the automobile, will be very difficult. Americans cannot see beyond their nose. The future of our children is not encouraging. We let the corporations do our thinking for us. Too much television.
Rambling message about Retirement-Ready Prius
by Dominique.Francon - 7/18/07 7:56 PM In reply to: need by Karridog(As a student) I have many European friends here for exchange. None of them are overweight and most walk all over our small city or take taxis or public transit without question. They wonder why we drive the short distances that we do. We, as Americans, tend to view public transit and somewhat "lower class" and of course it cramps our fast-paced style. I, myself, have a car to get across the state for pre and post surgery appointments, but I want to try and use it as little as possible in the city, perhaps inspired by my less lazy friends.
The Prius, as mentioned here, may be a "good" car, but heh, so is my car. It gets me from Point A to Point B without much drama. I am with the party that thinks it's a showy display rather than a true solution. When not in school, I live in a retirement city and the people who drive them are usually early-retired people who seem like they can afford them.
Lastly, I have a question regarding the Prius. At what highway speed does it get prime mileage (let's suppose on a flat grade)? It seems like most, if not all Priuses I see are going at around the speed limit of 65. And I of course am passing them. My 1992 Nissan Stanza serves two purposes: speed and transportation. It leaks oil, too, so I am a hypocrite by driving it, but I am in college so unless someone wants to pay for my college so I can get a Prius or at least get the $700 valve job, then let it rest. I suppose that could be a positive aspect, that people are driving the limit, but it sure gets annoying when a Prius (or any car) hovers in the left lane doing 65 next to a semi and because they're driving a hybrid, suddenly that gives them an excuse to be an annoying driver.
But I digress...
Diesel - Hybrid
by hamako - 5/17/05 5:22 PM In reply to: Hybrid Car by ldjmisYes, Diesel is a good way to go, also because it can be substituted with renewable ressources like Bio-Diesel (vegi oil, like rapseed or soy oil). Helping the farm industry AND getting independent from the Sheiks.
Hybrids are also good, if developed a bit more. I think the way to go is "plug-in hybrids". Most drivers use their cars for about 30 to 50 miles per day. So if the battery capacity is increased, Hybrids could cover this distance with ease. If you then have the opportunity to plug it in at night and use electrical energy that is cheaper at night, this would not only cover the expenses for a battery replacement after 100,000 miles and still be cheaper than gas, but also help to balance the load on the power plants, which are underused at night.
Diesel & Hybrid
by albizzia - 5/18/05 12:57 AM In reply to: Diesel - Hybrid by hamakoIt is possible to apply hybrid technology to diesel engines as well, and improve their already high milage.
Indeed, there are already several diesel hybrid busses running in Seattle, and more to go into use soon in other cities and national parks.
Result: Saving millions of gallons of diesel fuel each year!
Re: Diesel - Hybrid
by Jim Baber - 5/19/05 10:22 AM In reply to: Diesel - Hybrid by hamakoHamako made a good point with his statement ''I think the way to go is with 'plug-in hybrids'''. I am currently producing more power than I am currently using with my solar PV system. I personally would prefer to see the 'plug-in hybrid' actually applied to a good clean diesel engine running on 'Bio-Diesel' rather than the gasoline engine, because I do prefer the smell of french fries to the smell of diesel or gasoline. I would just as soon fill the car up at McDonalds at the same time I fill me up.
When I built my solar system, I was originally planning to buy a Toyota RAV EV which was an all electric light SUV, but Toyota withdrew it from the market just before I was going to buy one. It's biggest disadvantage was the limited range because of low battery capacity. The 'plug-in hybrid' concept would avoid this problem and a 20 - 40 mile range without using the gasoline supplement / generation heavily, would really suit my needs 95% of the time, if I just could plug it in at home.
I am on the grid so the use of cheaper electrical energy at night to charge my car really would be a great idea, particularly considering that I would be getting credit for the expensive peak period power during the daytime when I have the surplus power.
Remember ''SOLAR PV'' only produces during the daylight hours and it produces much more power during those PEAK load periods that the power company charges for.
Right now, my peak power rate is $0.29372 / kWh (weekdays from noon to 6 PM) and my off peak rate is $0.08664 / kWh for everything else. Yesturday, in that critical PEAK 6 hour period I exported (sold?) 36 kWh to the utilities grid at .29 / kWh which was about a $9.00 credit that could have bought back 104 kWh of power to charge a car at the lower OFF PEAK rates.
Note: I did actually generate more yesturday, but I do use some lights, my A/C did run, and I did fix lunch using my electric stove.
Same old Same old
by Richie - 6/19/05 12:14 PM In reply to: Hybrid Car by ldjmisNothing has changed with people like you, you want bigger and bigger cars, bigger and bigger engines, bigger and bigger gas or diesel sucking SUV's. More power cause you don't have the guts to change your outlook. Your scared to be different than your buddy's. You let them run your thinking. I also know your young cause your stupid. Gezz I'm trying to be nice but I can't let someone talk dumb and say nothing.
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