Life in the Green Lane (hybrids)

NY Times ^ | April 16, 2006 | JAMIE LINCOLN KITMAN

[neverdem]

IF you make your way over to the Javits Convention Center for the New York International Automobile Show — or if you've gone to any auto show in the last year or so — you'll know that hybrid cars are the hippest automotive fashion statement to come along in years. They've become synonymous with the worthy goal of reducing gasoline consumption and dependence on foreign oil and all that this means for a better environment and more stable geopolitics.

And yet like fat-free desserts, which sound healthy but can still make you fat, the hybrid car can make people feel as if they're doing something good, even when they're doing nothing special at all. As consumers and governments at every level climb onto the hybrid bandwagon, there is the very real danger of elevating the technology at the expense of the intended outcome — saving gas.

Few things these days say "environmentally aware consumer" so loudly as the fuel-sipping Toyota Prius. With its two power sources — one a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine, the other a battery-driven electric motor — the best-selling Prius (and other hybrids sold by Honda and Ford and due soon from several other car makers) can go further on a gallon and emit fewer pollutants in around-town use than most conventional automobiles because under certain circumstances they run on battery power and consume less fuel. For this reason, federal, state and local governments have been bending over backward to encourage the sale of hybrids, with a bewildering array of tax breaks, traffic lanes and parking spaces dedicated to hybrid owners.

But just because a car has so-called hybrid technology doesn't mean it's doing more to help the environment or to reduce the country's dependence on imported oil any more than a nonhybrid car. The truth is...

[gondramB]

I was talking to physicist in California who told me there is a major problem with the way people are using hybrids - that they are using the brakes rather than letting the energy be reabsorbed and stored and that, he said defeats the whole purpose.

[martin_fierro]

In other news:

Ghosn: Hybrids Could See Sales Slowdown (not meeting expectations)

[Starwolf]

The real reason people buy them is not the mileage, its access to the carpool lanes and thereby save commute time. Many studies have shown, that in the long run the current hybrids cost more per mile to use.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

If you wanna save on gas $$$, there are plenty of ways to do so starting with:

1. Purchase a simple compact car with manual transmission.

2. Drive the speed limit at a steady rate, and refrain from going over 65 MPH on the interstate.

3. Clean your fuel system regularly, and get brakes and tire pressure to standard.

4. Carpool if possible, and take turns with your driving shifts.

5. Ask yourself before leaving the house, "Is this trip (to the store, movie theater, office etc.) REALLY necessary?"

You don't need a hybrid to save money, just a little bit of discipline with maintenance and driving habits.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

Absolutely.

A car is a complicated machine already.

A Hybrid is a complicated machine on steroids.

[Spktyr]

A better option, perhaps, would be to buy a motorcycle.

Then you can stomp all but the fastest cars, use the HOV lane, and still get better gas mileage than even the most economically driven hybrid.

[gondramB]

"
You don't need a hybrid to save money, just a little bit of discipline with maintenance and driving habits."

Hybrids have some built in disadvantages - like carrying around all those batteries and the extra heavy metals and energy used in construction.... but in principle I like the idea of recapturing my breaking energy. But I'm not gonna buy a new car to do that. I buy only used cars and save more energy by them not having to manufacture a new car than I would in the life of a hybrid.

[Starwolf]

Not so sure about the mileage part. I have a liter bike and I run in the low 40s unless I decide I need to get some place in a hurry ;-)

[miliantnutcase]

Yeah, people always want a more fuel efficient vehicle, but what they don't due is proper maintenance to their existing car. I ask "When was the last time you changed your fuel filter, air filter, pcv valve? Are you over a 100k miles? Then change your plugs and wires". Amazing how a mature or older car can run like new and get a drastic improvement in mpg.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

Absolutely.

Problem is that Louisiana roads are a motorcyclist's worst nightmare.

I will get a motorcycle once I move outta here, though!

Good advice!

[Spktyr]

No need to worry. Hybrids in the real world seem to get 30-40mpg. Your liter bike should edge them nicely.

[gondramB]

"Absolutely.

Problem is that Louisiana roads are a motorcyclist's worst nightmare. "

Not just Louisiana - I have a cousin who lost his testicles when he hit a armadillo with his motorcycle. I'm sure the armadillo wasn't happy either.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

Ouch.

My Uncle Allen calls them "donorcycles."

Your unfortunate cousin presents a convincing case.

[RandallFlagg]

Gonna keep repeating on these threads again and again:

We have the technology and capability to use surf-powered generators to seperate hydrogen from water, store the hydrogen and use it to fuel our vehicles. It would run just like the propane-powered cars do. We can do this RIGHT NOW! EVERY single enemy of America would implode immediately if we did this. WHY AREN'T WE AT LEAST TRYING?!?!

(I wonder if I can rig this into the biggest Lincoln I could find and drive it up to Boulder. Think the treehugging smelly hippie freakshows would have second thoughts about their hatred for American technology?

Probably not.)

[Spktyr]

As opposed to being roasted to a cinder when that 600V battery pack shorts out through the shattered chassis - and you.

The chances of being seriously injured when an accident happens is greater on a bike than in a small car - but, oddly enough, your chances of *surviving* a severe accident is better if you ride a bike than if you drive a small car (they don't have to cut you out of the wreckage - it's a scoop and run job).

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt and my shattered helmet still hangs on the wall - but I'm still here.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

Well rock on!

Just be careful on the road!!!

[Fielding]

And die.

[goldstategop]

I'm surprised this was published in the New York Times. The gist of the article is if you must have a hybrid car, keep it for in town use like you would with an electric car and use a conventional gas or diesel powered car on the highway. Most people would want to keep the hybrid car for every day excursions in the local area and save their gas or diesel engine car for the open road.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")