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Hybrids & Diesels - Deals or Duds? - READ ONLY

5196 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2006 at 6:55 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Alternative Fuels, Biodiesel, Hybrid Cars


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#2906 of 5196
Re: Hybrids [stevedebi] by kdhspyder
Mar 16, 2006 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (Mar 16, 2006 9:40 am)

I know .. I was commenting on the Toyota trucks mainly and especially the Tundra which is flat in it's lame duck year.
#2907 of 5196
Re: Hybrids [winter2] by john1701a
Mar 16, 2006 (2:52 pm)

Replying to: winter2 (Mar 16, 2006 6:51 am)

> Here is something constructive for you to chew on.
 
Constructive means: "not personal". Commentary about a person isn't the slightest bit helpful. Instead of attempting to discredit, stick to the facts. And try being objective.
 
FACT #1 - Clean Emissions means the vehicle achieves a rating of at least SULEV. Percentage of improvement is not appropriate, since that is only a relative measure. The rating is a precise ppm quantity, and using that is the truly objective approach.
 
FACT #2 - Stop & Slow traffic is a common problem a majority of the population has to deal with. So MPG data must include this requirement. The exclusion of that is an obvious attempt to mislead. It must be included to be objective.
 
FACT #3 - Automatic Transmissions are what over 90 percent of the drivers in the United States have purchased. That makes the “not required to shift” type the undeniable preferred choice. Yet the discussions here quote MPG values from the Manual Transmission instead but fail to point the efficiency difference out. That is not objective, it is deceptive.
 
FACT #4 - Full Hybrid technology can be implemented in a very wide range of vehicle types using a variety of engine & motor sizes. The flexibility of configuration is astonishing; however, responses dismiss this inferring that isn’t actually possible. But it is, and will be expanded upon as the years progress. Being objective means not ignoring that.
 
JOHN
#2908 of 5196
Re: Hybrids [john1701a] by gagrice
Mar 16, 2006 (4:28 pm)

Replying to: john1701a (Mar 16, 2006 2:52 pm)

Your statements of facts are pretty much irrelevant to the discussion with the exception of fact # 1. And your total insistence that SULEV is the only possible objective where emissions are concerned means you are incapable of compromise. You would, if made king, OUTLAW 99% of the cars being sold today. The percentage that have attained SULEV II is very small. Somehow I don't think the whole automotive world is going to goose step to the emissions gods and put 4 cylinder SULEV II engines in all their vehicles. In fact Toyota your beloved car maker only offers 3 models that are SULEV II. That is out of over 50 variations on numerous models. The crown prince in your kingdom the PRIUS is only SULEV II rated in the five CARB states. You can buy a 2006 Camry that is only rated a 2 down there in the dumps of emissions with the diesel cars, yuck. There are a few cars that rate higher in your part of the USA than the Prius. The VW Jetta for example has a non CARB state rating of 9 vs the 8 rating for the 2006 Prius. SULEV may be possible on a wide scale, just not practical.
 
The only way you can truly save fossil fuel even with a Prius is to park it and not drive it.
#2909 of 5196
Re: Hybrids [gagrice] by john1701a
Mar 16, 2006 (7:57 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 16, 2006 4:28 pm)

9 direct mentions. Talking about not even trying to avoid making it personal!
 
And the only attempt to be objective claims that I'm "incapable of compromise". That's clearly not correct. I accept SULEV, it's a compromise.
 
PZEV is cleaner (since it also requires significantly reduced evaporative emissions). No compromising means that I'd insist on PZEV (especially since Prius & Camry-Hybrid have that rating). But I don't. You have been proven wrong. Now stop with the personal attacks.
 
JOHN
#2910 of 5196
Re: Hybrids [john1701a] by gagrice
Mar 16, 2006 (10:11 pm)

Replying to: john1701a (Mar 16, 2006 7:57 pm)

PZEV is cleaner (since it also requires significantly reduced evaporative emissions). No compromising means that I'd insist on PZEV (especially since Prius & Camry-Hybrid have that rating)
 
You can insist all you want. PZEV is a CARB rating. Without the designer gas sold in the CARB states you will not get that rating. As it is currently sold in 45 states the Prius is BIN 3 with an 8 rating. Prius is not the cleanest gas car available in your area. As I have already pointed out. There are several cars that rate cleaner in the 45 non CARB states. Cleaner than any of the hybrids except the Honda Civic Hybrid. So I apologize you have accepted a compromise by buying the less than SULEV II Prius.
 
Automobiles receiving a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) credit have met the Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) tailpipe standard which is 90% cleaner than the average new 2003 automobile. In addition, they have near-zero evaporative emissions and their emission control equipment has a 15-year/150,000 mile warranty
 
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/ccbg/atpzev.htm
 
Check out PZEV. It is SULEV with a 15yr 150k Mile warranty.
http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions/detailedchart.pdf
#2911 of 5196
TDI may be slow, BUT, by gagrice
Mar 16, 2006 (10:28 pm)
they are on the pole at Sebring. The number 1 & 2 spot are Audi TDIs. Nothing like diesel to make you go fast.... Doing there part not to waste so much fuel in the racing sport.
 
Sebring diesel
#2912 of 5196
Re: Hybrids [gagrice] by john1701a
Mar 17, 2006 (5:32 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 16, 2006 10:11 pm)

> Without the designer gas sold in the CARB states you will not get that rating.
 
First, since all 50 states now required to sell that "designer" gas, known as LOW-SULFUR, that claim is meaningless. The nationwide mandate took effect January 1, 2006.
 
Second, it doesn't really matter anyway. The purpose of the reduced sulfur level was to ensure emission ratings would be retained for their entire required duration. They will initially achieve their clean rating even with really dirty gas.
 
SULEV = 120,000 miles
 
PZEV = 150,000 miles
 
By the way, that is yet another compromise I have accepted. I would very much like that additional 30,000 miles. But I chose to accept the lesser distance instead.
 
JOHN
#2913 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [gagrice] by john1701a
Mar 17, 2006 (5:40 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 16, 2006 10:28 pm)

> Nothing like diesel to make you go fast
 
That's not true.
 
The newest hybrid from Lexus, GS450h launched yesterday in Japan, can go 0-62 MPH in just 5.6 seconds.
 
JOHN
#2914 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [john1701a] by gagrice
Mar 17, 2006 (6:35 am)

Replying to: john1701a (Mar 17, 2006 5:40 am)

The newest hybrid from Lexus, GS450h launched yesterday in Japan, can go 0-62 MPH in just 5.6 seconds.
 
It is a fast hybrid from the reviews I have read. It will get some diesel competition later this year. We shall see how it matches up to the Bluetec CDIs from Mercedes. If it gets mid to high 30s on the highway it should be a decent car. My only complaint so far is the very small trunk space. I have read figures from 7.5 to 9.9 cu ft. At this time I prefer the LS430 to the GS models. They are only a few dollars more, with a lot more room and luxury. Not sure why they did not hybridize the flagship model first.
#2915 of 5196
Re: Hybrids [john1701a] by winter2
Mar 17, 2006 (7:05 am)

Replying to: john1701a (Mar 17, 2006 5:32 am)

As to "Designer Gas" you are only partially correct.
 
Gasoline is low sulfur but will be going to Ultra Low Sulfur (< 15ppm of sulfur). There still going to be specific "designer" blends for various regions of the country. And actually, it does matter. Sulfur poisons some of the catalysts used to control certain emissions, especially NOx. Sulfur also contributes to another serious problem or two, namely acid rain (in the form of an acid) and to global warming (same acid compounds).

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