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5290 messages, Last post on Oct 25, 2006 at 8:37 AM
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Replying to: larsb (Oct 13, 2006 9:18 am) No, that's not what I say. What I say is: check the global numbers. Hybrids aren't selling well except here in the US. What is selling over there? Diesels. If Honda successfully completes it's recently announced diesel catalytic converter, and license it as they have said they will, there will be CARB acceptable diesel engines in 2009. Such diesels are the main challenge to hybrids. If they ever catch on in the US, it may well be curtains for hybrids - because hybrids require even further "economies of scale" to maintain profitability. Simply put, they have to sell a lot more to drive the costs down. It is a closed circle loop. If they sell (not build) more, the costs go down, and they sell more. If they cannot drop the cost and there are other high MPG alternatives, the loop goes the other way (the speed of declining sales depends upon the additional cost of a diesel engine vs. a hybrid engine). High costs that cannot be dropped = higher base price compared to the alternatives = fewer sales = more expensive hybrids = fewer sales, etc.
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SolarHybrid viable? Venturi (the company that brought us the autonomous solar/wind powered Eclectic) has now introduced the AstroLab, the world's first commercially available electric-solar hybrid. The vehicle is capable of working with very little energy; it can recharge while in motion and does not need permanent exposure to the sun in order to move. The AstroLab performs surprisingly well for a non-petrol vehicle. It reaches a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour (about 74.5 mph) and has a range of 110 km (about 68 miles). Astrolab attains this level of performance thanks to its ultra-light carbon monocoque (single-shell) chassis, which serves as an oversize protection cel, in case of collisions, and the 3.6-square-meter (about 38.75 square feet) photovoltaic cells on its surface. |
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Replying to: stevedebi (Oct 16, 2006 11:20 am)  A new law recently went into effect here, in the US, mandating a low sulfur form of diesel, which should help. Although it has raised the price of it by more than a Nickel per gallon.
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Replying to: stevedebi (Oct 16, 2006 11:20 am) I don't think so. Diesel fuel contains something like 20% more energy than gasoline. That's a huge benefit but where do you go from there? Hybrids represent the evolution towards electric vehicles that hold far more potential. I'm not sure why the auto manufacturers are so reluctant to offer plug-in hybrids with a minimal 20 mile all electric range. |
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EPA list of 2007 Top Fuel Economy chart
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Replying to: terry92270 (Oct 16, 2006 11:30 am) As I filled up yesterday, I noticed the diesel pump had a sticker saying it was Ultra-Low Sulfur diesel. |
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Replying to: larsb (Oct 17, 2006 8:44 am) |
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Replying to: bamacar (Oct 17, 2006 12:40 pm) I believe the list is based on city mpg, where the Escape was rated at 32mpg. The Fit Auto is rated at 31mpg city. The Corolla Auto is rated at 30mpg city. The Accent Sedan Auto is rated at 28 mpg city. The Rio Sedan Auto is rated at 29 mpg city. The Civic Coupe manual/auto is rated at 30 mpg city. The Elantra Sedan manual/auto is rated at 27/24 mpg city. The Sentra manual/auto is rated at 28 mpg city. |
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Replying to: rorr (Oct 18, 2006 10:37 am)
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Replying to: bamacar (Oct 18, 2006 12:50 pm) Why ask why? Making sense of the government, and how/why they do things is a endless riddle. 
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