Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Hybrids the Real Payback 
418 messages, Last post on Sep 26, 2008 at 7:53 AM
You are in the Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Hybrids Host for directions! discussion.
|
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 03, 2008 4:16 pm) Huh? Why WOULDN'T Toyota want to intrude on FEH sales by Ford? Or did you mean to say that a hybrid RAV 4 would intrude on HH sales?
|
|
|
Replying to: bvdj84 (Jul 14, 2008 5:53 am) We must not forget that some people CHOOSE the Prius for reasons other than purchase cost... some people prefer the vehicle. Not me personally, I'm in a FEH. |
|
|
Replying to: stevedebi (Jul 14, 2008 11:57 am) A hybrid RAV would intrude on Ford's turf. Therefore no hybrid RAV from Toyota. Why you say? I'm hypothesizing that back at the beginning of the decade when Toyota, Honda and Ford first came out with their hybrids they recognized that it would be more efficient for all of them to develop 'their' segment of the hybrid market free of compeition. It's a huge market why butt heads? Now that GM has joined the other three it too has its 'own' segment. None of the four compete directly. Now this may be scheduled to 'sunset' after some period of time such as in 2011. Note that Toyota and Honda and GM and Ford ALL have new hybrids 'waiting' in the wings. I don't believe in coincidences where big business is concerned.
|
|
|
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 14, 2008 12:25 pm) Hmm...the collusion theory - I was thinking that it was because Ford paid Toyota for the hybrid technology in the Escape hybrid (right?) and they had an actual agreement not to overlap. I don't see this more global collusion working - what about the Prius and Civic? Lots of overlap there, it would seem.
|
|
|
Replying to: texases (Jul 14, 2008 1:16 pm) The Civic is a 4 door sedan that sells for about $23000 The new Honda hybrid is supposedly smaller and less expensive. The Prius is a 5 door hatch that sells for $24300 - $28300 Toyota doesn't sell a small hybrid. When the TCH came out and showed it was more cost effective than the HAH, Honda yanked it's version immediately.
|
|
|
Anyone ever think about the effects on the Environment of building Hybrids? A Prius has 50kgs or double the amount of copper of a typical car. This is what a copper mine looks like:  This what the truck that hauls the copper out of the mine looks like so that you have an idea of the scale:  The point I'm trying to make is that everything has an effect. Its not just a change of technology that is needed but also a change of consumer habits. Mark |
|
|
Replying to: mschmal (Jul 16, 2008 11:47 am) Eventually, we're going to reduce our national oil consumption to a level that we can sustain with domestic oil production. Then the muslim terrorists can label China and India the new great satans, and attack them instead of us. Those wackos don't really care who they're killing, as long as they're killing someone. If we have to dig giant holes in Utah to do that, it's fine. If it requires trucks whose individual tires cost more than a luxury SUV, it's fine. I'll sacrifice a bit of the environment to preserve my own life.
|
|
|
Replying to: texases (Jul 14, 2008 1:16 pm) Wrong. Nobody paid any $$. Ford and Toyota exchanged patents because they independently developed similar technology. Actually, Ford has around 200 unique hybrid patents. I think Toyota has made some arrangement for the one concerning using ABS with a hybrid. |
|
|
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 14, 2008 1:32 pm) Not sure what point your are attempting to make. Honda pulled the HAH because it was stupid - a 6 cylinder engine in an Accord hybrid??? It didn't get sufficient MPG and therefore it got panned by the public and canned by Honda.
|
|
|
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 14, 2008 12:25 pm) I'm pretty sure such an agreement would be illegal under US antitrust laws, or racketeering laws... "Why butt heads?" It is called competition - the auto company that sells the most vehicles makes the most money. An agreement to NOT sell as many vehicles as possible would be just stupid as a corporate policy, and would not even occur to anyone. If they don't sell more hybrids, there are internal reasons; economic, supply, technological, etc. The more hybrids they sell, the more money they make. I think the biggest reason there aren't more Toyota hybrids is probably the lack of available battery packs. Toyota is focusing on their big seller, the Prius, and allocating the batteries to that model. The reason for the lack of Honda hybrids (besides lack of available battery packs) is that the IMA does not provide enough boost to significantly help heavier vehicles like the CR-V and Element, much less the Pilot. The IMA is limited by the size of the electric motor that can be mounted over the transmission, if I understand the system correctly. Another possible reason, though Toyota (at least) denies it. There is a distinct possibility that the auto manufacturers are still losing money on the Hybrids they sell, so they limit the number of sales. Or maybe some combination of all the above..
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Hybrids the Real Payback
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
