Car Tech: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car?
- 5/3/07 11:55 AM
Already have two of them....three actually.
by Gar Harris - 5/2/07 10:18 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Our family has been driving alternative fuelled cars since 1996. First there was the 1997 EV1 and from March of 1997, a 1993 converted-when-new Ford Escort until 2002. In 1999 we got the 2nd generation of EV1 with NiMH batteries. After GM forcibly took our beloved EV1 by refusing to renew the lease, we acquired a Toyota RAV4-EV which we still have. In 2004 we added the Prius. Finally because even with the Prius the gas prices were getting out of hand we found a very low mileage Chevy S10e electric pickup. Unfortunately we have had about $1500 worth or battery issues with that vehicle and unless I am able to sell it first I will have to modify the battery rack to accept the unobtainium OEM cells....or maybe Panasonic will break down and make up some new ones for us.
The RAV4 has OEM NiMH batteries which are good for about 100 miles of range but the S-10e has only old lead-acid cells which at best yield about 40 miles of range. The truck CAN be converted to NiMH but the only source of that conversion has decided that mine is not one he wishes to convert. For 95% of my driving a new set of lead cells would do just fine. For longer runs there are the RAV and the Prius depending on the distance.
BTW our Prius gets up to 60 mpg; always more than 50 but untrue to the published ratings the highway mileage almost always exceeds city mileage. Tire pressure and anticipatory driving make a HUGE amount of difference in gas mileage. The same goes for the electrics but in their cases freeway driving actually decreases the battery performance because unlike the EV1 which had a coefficient of drag of about .16 compared to .34 on the machines we have now. So unlike the EV1 the trucks are akin to pushing a barndoor broadside down the highway.
We have had no bad experiences with any of the alternatively fuelled vehicles but I have to candidly admit that parts for the S-10e are either difficult or impossible to obtain. So if it breaks it might be sitting for a long, long time before it's repaired. So far, so good though.
When the opportunity permits I will replace the 10e with a Phoenix SUT which has a 150 mile range and a very short charging time compared to the range/charge ratio of either the RAV or the EV1s. In addition the Phoenix plugs into any 220 drier outlet. The other battery powered vehicles require 80+ pounds external devices.
Yes;
by allenfuller - 5/2/07 10:19 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think that the technology is finally to the point where a hybrid would be close to breaking even. When we last bought a vehicle in 2006 there was not a reliable vehicle that would provide a 'break even' point between green house gases saved compared with greenhouse gases created to produce the hybrid technology.
The new Nissan Altima seems to save enough fuel without sacrificing power and resources to produce the hybrid option. We may purchase a hybrid as our next vehicle
What good is Gas Mileage If your Dead?
by Cmsnd - 5/2/07 10:25 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It's a fact that people are more likely to die or be seriously injured in a vehicle accident day in and day out than any other form of accidental death. That's why I have my wife driving a Chevy Suburban and I drive a full size cargo van in my business. Neither one of us has even a single point on our driving records so save your "menace to society" characterizations of us because on the flip side we have both been involved in accidents caused by others one of which the driver carried no insurance. The cold hard facts are that bigger is better when you find yourself going one on one or worse with another of your fellow drivers for the right to occupy the same space. It simply may be the difference between walking away or being carried away under a sheet. Gas will have to get alot more expensive for me to drive a coffin around.
The myth of the "Safe SUV"
by albizzia - 5/27/07 11:22 PM In reply to: What good is Gas Mileage If your Dead? by CmsndIf you are really concerned about safety, you should check out the actual crash test results, you may be suprised. Bigger isn't always better. You should also take handling and braking performance into accout, the best form of safety is to avoid accidents! Massive topheavy vehicles do not handle well, might not brake very well, and thus be less able to avoid collisions.
Additional mass may be helpful in some types of crashes, but it is no help in striking stationary objects like concrete pillars, and cause additional hazards in rollovers. Indeed, rollover accidents have the highest fatality rates, and topheavy vehicles like SUVs and cargo vans are particularly prone to rollover!
Don't simply assume a certain vehicle is safer, check it out. You may find you can save your life and save gas, too!
Hybrid cars
by detroitsportsrockk - 5/2/07 10:26 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
H2 will eventually be the way to go but not until we develop a fuelling network and work out the bugs in creating the gas in the first place. Here in Canada I see many, many city taxis using the Prius.
I have a good friend who had one and he blames it for a serious accident he had last winter. He lost control going down a snow covered hill on a secondary highway in the BC interior where he hit a snow plow coming up the hill. He claims that if the Prius he was driving had a transmission then he would have been able to gear down to regain control and would probably have avoided the collision. He would not accept the car after it was repaired and now drives a non hybrid Civic si.
Also don't forget that the batteries in a Prius only last about 800 cycles then need to be replaced to the tune of about 4-5 thousand dollars and become adrain on our eco system.
4 brakes in a Prius!
by albizzia - 5/27/07 10:44 PM In reply to: Hybrid cars by detroitsportsrockkYour "good friend" obviously didn't read the driving manual that came with the car, and was unaware that you CAN shift the Prius into a downhill engine braking mode. It is the "B" position on the Prius gearshift lever.
His current car only has two braking systems - hydraulic, and emergency/parking. The Prius has 4 braking systems - hydraulic, parking, regenerative, and engine braking. Plenty of ways to slow down. In addition, the Prius comes with ABS antilock brakes, and has an optional traction control system. Snow tires, and even chains specifically for the Prius are available. Sorry, but it sounds like your friend is blaming the car for his own bad driving.
The NiMH batteries in the Prius last FAR LONGER than a mere "800 cycles". There are Prius that have gone over 200,000 miles that still use their original batteries. There are Prius in Japan that have been on the road for 10 years, still on the original batteries. In fact, Toyota hasn't had to replace any NiMH hybrid batteries under their 10 year 150,000 mile warranty.
One reason you see so many Prius taxis in BC, is the taxi owners not only save lots of gas, they also save money on maintenance.
H2 will never be the way to go. H2 has too many problems to make a good automotive fuel, including bulkiness, storage problems, leaks, and high cost. The future will be electric, with battery cars and plug-in hybrids being cheaper and more efficient than any H2 car could dream of being.
insurance sucks
by KireiGrey - 5/2/07 10:29 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
alternative fuel sorces will be the future or man kind wont have a future, even if global warming is a scam, hydrocarbon fuel is mostly unrenuable, costly, very bulky, and innefictient, world power consumption will skyrocket, and it wont be easy to keep up, the most practical fuel sorce to develoup is solar energy, as it causes 0 polution, and is more important in longterm,
buying a car now is stupid no matter what you do, even if you can cut a good deal on a car, in the states you cant cut a good deal on insurance, which is built to screw you twice over, maybe if america fallows UKs insurace owning a car will be more practical for those not forced to commute to school or work. today america's car insurance is about stealing money from drivers, and since you cant drive without it, you should avoid driving at most costs.
maybe i can open up my own personal innsurance company to insure my car
H2
by 01archie - 5/2/07 10:34 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Its said there is enough hydrogen in 1 sq/kilometer of sea water to fuel the entire planet for 7 years.
LETS GET IT ON IN GETTING H2 MADE REALITY!!
Right.....
by Andy77e - 5/5/07 2:42 PM In reply to: H2 by 01archieYou are completely right! I agree!! There IS enough hydrogen in 1 sq/kilometer of sea water to fuel the entire planet for 7 years!! That's great!!!
Now... all we need is the 70 billion KwH of electricity to covert all the water to hydrogen! You got that somewhere? I don't either.
I know! Let's burn some fuel oil to run a generator to make the power, to covert the sea water into hydrogen!! We'll need about 90 Billion gallons of it. Hmm... seems like a lot of steps to get there.
I KNOW!! I'll just fill up my car at the gas station.
yes I would consider buying a hybrid
by lynjs - 5/2/07 10:40 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Right now, my funds are not in the best position to purchase a car. But if I did, I would look closely at the Toyota hybrids and also the Honda hybrids.
2001 Honda Insight Hybrid Actually Gets 60-70+ mpg highway
by dlauber - 5/2/07 10:43 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yep, for almost six years our Insight has been giving us 60 to 70+ mpg highway and 30 to 55 mpg in the city, with 45.3 mpg for the life of the car. Gas mileage certainly suffers during the Chicago winter, but the car has been trouble-free (and will always be rust-free thanks to the composite and aluminum body). It's a shame that Honda never really marketed the car in the U.S. because it is one sleek machine with incredible highway range over 600 miles. Great acceleration, peppy as can be, the Insight and similar small hybrid could cure so many of our traffic ills. We fit in parking spaces nobody else can get into. Now if we Americans, as a society, could somehow overcome the 50 years of marketing brainwashing that has us, as a group, obsessed with unnecessarily large, gas guzzling cars and "trucks," we could greatly reduce environmental harm from cars, reduce dependency on foreign oil, have a lot more parking spaces, and just plain make this a more viable nation for all. Now if Honda would just wake up and create a hybrid Fit, hybrids could really take off.
Seriously though, for the vast majority of commuters, a two-person sports-car like vehicle like the Insight is all they need for their daily commute. It's too bad that the overwhelming attitude in America today is selfishness and self-centeredness that keeps so many people from doing the right thing.
air to go
by Pete - 5/2/07 11:00 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Check these links on working prototypes about to go in production.
www.theaircar.com
http://puregreencars.com/Green-Cars-News/Other-Green-Car-News/the-air-car.html
What about not having a car at all?
by raywchandler - 5/2/07 11:28 PM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The poll seems to assume that having a car is essential and the only choice is whether to have a hybrid or not. A lot of us don't own a car and don't need one.
Happy Prius Owner
by paulclark100 - 5/3/07 12:45 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I bought a Toyota Prius in November 2006. I live about 25 miles from London, and the daily journey in and out, returns an average 50 mpg. It is excempt from the London congestion charge,(£8.00 per day) and the Annual road tax is £15 for a Prius, Compared to 4x4 (BMW X5) between £300/£400. I think im on to a winner finacially, as well as being environmentally responsible.
half right
by Andy77e - 5/4/07 8:36 PM In reply to: Happy Prius Owner by paulclark100Environmentaly no. Your Ni-Cad batteries are horrible for the environment, while the amount of resources including oil, that must be used are much higher during production of the car. So no, you are not helping the environment at all. (just think happy thoughts, this post will go away).
On the money side, yeah I think that's crazy. Congestion charge? Annual road tax? 400? That is an incredible amount of money. I wonder what the next highest mileage non-hybrid is, and what the taxes on it are. A BMW X5 is an SUV, not really a comparison. What would the charge be on a Civic (non-hybrid)?
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