The Real Deal: Next episode - Hybrid cars - Got Questions?
- 9/25/07 3:36 PM
Next episode - Hybrid cars - Got Questions?
by acedtect - 9/25/07 3:36 PM
We're revisiting the hybrid car topic with Rafe now on board. What are your questions as these cars get more and more popular?
Other forms of hybrid transportation???
by GaryInIN - 9/26/07 12:05 PM In reply to: Next episode - Hybrid cars - Got Questions? by acedtect
Well this question isn't so much about hybrid cars as it is about hybrid transportation. In a few years I am looking forward to retiring to a live-aboard boat and doing the Great Loop Route around the eastern half of the US. Are any of the technologies that are being developed for the cars making their way to boating industry? Is there maybe a hybrid electric/biodiesel engine in my future?
The Island Pilot Hybrid
by GaryInIN - 10/3/07 7:08 PM In reply to: Other forms of hybrid transportation??? by GaryInINIf anyone else is interested, here is a link for a diesel/solar hybrid that was posted to Great Loop mail list that I monitor.
http://dsehybrid.com/index.html
I still would be interested if someone knows of any other potential live-aboard hybrids.
Other Diesel-Electric Hybrids
by m.henry - 10/4/07 3:57 PM In reply to: The Island Pilot Hybrid by GaryInINWhile not yet cost effective for small vessels doing the loop, Diesel-hybrids from manufacturers such as Siemans have been installed in Nordhavn trawlers. The owners took a damm the cost approach for both quiet and efficent operations; and Nordhavn took it on as a test bed. Check out trawler message boards for related questions and answers.
Hybrid versus LSV
by bus - 9/26/07 12:42 PM In reply to: Next episode - Hybrid cars - Got Questions? by acedtect
LSV refers to low speed vehicle, basically in town vehicle that can't go over 30 mph(speed is limited by local laws). Most often viewed as over powered golf carts but some are very car like. The laws are in place for these vehicles(they are already street legal) in many states(USA). Seems to me the hybrid is like gluing a LSV to normal vehicle. Maybe a better approach would be to make LSVs and normal cars instead of old clunker as second car and hybrid car?
What you learn later.
by R. Proffitt
- 9/27/07 8:01 AM
In reply to: Next episode - Hybrid cars - Got Questions? by acedtect
As an owner of both the 2003 and 2006 Civic Hybrids I learned later on my 2006 it's a poor choice for cold climes as we have in the Boston area. The 2003 model hit and exceeded the stick MPG (was 47, I could get 50+ on 200 mile round trip to another state) but the 2006 could only dream on getting close to 20% of the sticker mileage.
After much research the 2006 Honda (and 2007) is a victim of software issues. Sadly Honda has taken the stance that there are no bugs so owners are left with sub-optimal MPG in cold climes. The issue is well discussed in forums (greenhybrid dot...) but dealers are loathe to discuss this or simply not interested in the product.
-> Bottomline. Rented the 2007 Prius for a week, beat the heck out of it, took no care to get good mileage and still hit 47 MPG.
There's a lesson here.
Bob
The question is:
by R. Proffitt - 9/27/07 8:04 AM
In reply to: What you learn later. by R. Proffitt
How else to pressure makers to fix glitches like this?
For me it's to write it all over the web. And to cite others that have found it as well.
Bob
PS. 2006 Civic Hybrid. 39 MPG average over the past one year plus.
Haven't gone thru winter yet
by milkky - 10/4/07 8:56 AM In reply to: The question is: by R. Proffitt
But my '07 Civic stays right around 46-47mpg. All freeway (45 miles each way), and I stay just under 70 mph (that made like 2 minutes difference in my arrival time compared to going 75 but really improved the mileage).
So I'll be interested in seeing how that changes this winter in Michigan. Although I thought that all cars mileage drops some in the winter. I know my previous non-hybrid car dropped 4-5 mpg in the winter.
On thing that didn't come out in the podcaast--my understanding after my reseach was that the Civic did better than the Prius on highway mileage because of the different technology path that they took, while the Prius ruled in the city. That's why I went with the Civic and so far it seems to have panned out. Am I in for a rude awakening?
Cost?
by crazyfred02 - 9/29/07 12:57 PM In reply to: Next episode - Hybrid cars - Got Questions? by acedtect
Are these types of cars really worth it. I mean usually, the price is much higher than the normal one. You do have to pay for the electricity that you put in it. Are they usually better on the highway or city driving?
Thanks!
Fred
Amazing low cost.
by R. Proffitt - 10/1/07 12:19 PM
In reply to: Cost? by crazyfred02
If you research the cost per mile on the EV1 you'd scream "Why did they kill the Electric Car?"
Bob
Batteries...
by JegroVzla - 10/1/07 12:11 PM In reply to: Next episode - Hybrid cars - Got Questions? by acedtect
cost/duration/availability?
Warranty
by milkky - 10/5/07 4:34 AM In reply to: Batteries... by JegroVzlaMine has, I think, 100,000 mile on the batteries. Maybe it was 80,000, sorry don't have the book right here. This was presented as extended for "anything to do with the hybrid technology" as a way of putting those fears to rest--don't worry about the new stuff going bad, we've got you covered. Of course, the real test will come when there is a claim or: "It's not how you sing, it's how you dance", so stay tuned on that one.
Since I drive 25,000/year, my tentative plan is to sell that puppy in like 4 years and hopefully never have to test that part of the warranty!
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