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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius New Prius Owners - Give Us Your Report
541 messages, Last post on Oct 14, 2009 at 6:10 AM
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When I read that Oldsarg needs to ride an SUV for his comfort, I felt that I was reading the sentiments of more than half of all citizens of the United States. I hope that this attitude will change someday soon. As long as we are driven to have a strategic military interest in the Middle East that leads to repeated wars, then driving an inefficient vehicle is a core cause of maiming and murdering our own citizens as well as those of foreign lands. As long as we import oil from foreign states, the United States will need to kill or maim people abroad as well as our own soldiers. The best response is conservation of resources through the operation of vehicles like the Prius, living in smaller efficient houses, and generally consuming fewer disposables. The great myth about oil reserves in the United States, whether in Alaska or off-shore, is that we possess adequate supplies to perpetuate our current level of consumption. Here are a few of the relevant facts: Currently, the United States consumes 19.6 million barrels per day, of oil, which is more than 25% of the world's total.. Despite predictions that the U.S. will exhaust it's supply of oil in as little as forty years, the demand is on the increase. Consumption of oil in the United States is increasing at a rate of about 2% annually. Oil production for 2000 in the United States was 5.8 million barrels per day of crude oil. The U.S. produces 12% of the world's oil, and and this production is concentrated on-shore, and off-shore along the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast, extending inland through west Texas, Oklahoma, and eastern Kansas. There are also oil fields in Alaska along the central North Slope. The United States has 21 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. The U.S. uses about 6.6 billion barrels per year. That is only enough oil to last the U.S. about three and a half years without importing oil from other countries. The top five nations with proven oil reserves are: Saudi Arabia, 264 billion barrels; Canada, 178 bb; Iran 132 bb; Iraq, 115 bb; and Kuwait, 101. Note for indications of dangerous strategic entanglements that we have occupied Iraq and Kuwait during the past couple of decades as well as shown a desire to invade Iran. My conclusions: 1] We need to get out of our SUVs; 2] We cannot produce enough domestic oil to provide for our present demands; 3] We cannot produce enough domestic oil even with the total exploitation of all oil reserves in ANWAR, Alaska, and off-shore taps.
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Check these or other newspapers for a discussion of the Prius wave: Rocky Mountain News http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/21/coloradan-extols-virtues-hybri- ds/ National Public Radio http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89800264 The Seattle Times Seattle, WA http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004362575_aphybridsgro- wth.html?syndication=rss Modesto Bee Modesto, CA http://www.modbee.com/2020/story/275256.html The News Tribune Tacoma, WA http://www.thenewstribune.com/904/story/340410.html |
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Replying to: snowboarder4 (Apr 27, 2008 7:42 pm) I'm getting over 30 MPG on my AWD FEH SUV, and I love it!
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Replying to: stevedebi (Apr 28, 2008 12:32 pm) What is an FEH?????
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Replying to: hihostevo (Apr 28, 2008 2:34 pm) |
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Not really.... But I need the expertise of those, here, who post. Please help me to understand this. Friday I picked up my new Prius 2008. It was well appointed with Navigation, Blue-tooth, etc. I love the car at this point. The dealership "filled" the tank. I have been learning to read and interpret the "Consumption" screen, though not fully. I seem to average 37 MPG, but the other bar graph shows more than that as I go. My dilemma. I have put only 36 Miles on this car at this point. The fuel lines on the dash, now have 2 less than when I took the car home. I am not good at figuring these things out, though I want to learn. Am I getting poor mileage at this point? Do I have cause to be concerned? Should my MPG improve as my driving becomes consistant? I traded in my beloved Pathfinder which gave me the worst mpg, (14) and I am willing to forget the "past" BUT, does it seem that 1) Am I doing something wrong" or is typical of what a "break-in" period truly is? Any advice you can offer wil be so appreciated. I truly hipe that I did not make a mistake in purchasing this car. I don't believe I did, though I am just a bit concerned seeing 2 gas gauge bars gone after only less than 40 miles. Help please... 
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Replying to: rolin (Apr 28, 2008 4:52 pm) First the vehicle needs to breakin which happens at about 5000 mi and 10000 mi. For the next 200,000 miles after that you should have good solid readings. Seriously though, don't worry. The computer in the vehicle is brilliant. If you drive more than 20 min at a time and don't try to set land speed records your results after 10000 miles and 50000 miles and 100000 miles and 200000 miles will be right around 48 mpg lifetime. Trust me on this. Just drive normally and let the brilliant HSD do the rest. BUT... if you only take short trips then you have to do some adjusting. Short trips are death on fuel economy on every vehicle on the road. A 30 mpg Camry might only get 20 mpg over a series of 4 min trips. A 18 mpg Tundra might only get 13 mpg over the same series. A 50 mpg Prius might only get 40 mpg over these same 4 min trips. To compensate try to combine short trips. After 15-20 min the vehicle is at optimum operating conditions. Other 'tricks' ...stay off the Highways ...follow the speed limits ...avoid stop signs and stop lights if possible ...if you can't avoid them try to 'time' the lights so that you don't have to stop and try taking trips using as many right hand turns as possible. ... keep your tires inflated fully ... keep a light touch on the pedal ... don't worry, ... Use the constantly fluctuating bar graph as a biofeedback device to show you how to drive more optimally. Everytime that you let off the pedal and that bar graph goes to 100 mpg you've stopped burning fuel and your overall economy goes up. Try to keep that bar graph above 50. ... Let off the gas pedal as often as you can without creating a hazard and annoying the rest of the population.
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My wife and I got a new Prius in November 2007. We love it very much. We have owned SUVs, sedans and even a couple of Lexuss and are used to room and convenience. The Prius totally surprised us with its room, creature comforts and quiet ride. I am thinking of selling my Azera (another good car) and getting another Prius, probably a next gen model. I have a couple of questions though that will help me make the best of the Prius. 1. Is the Hybrid tax credit still available. I hear conflicting descriptions of what is available now. 2. We are only averaging about 41 miles per gallon as indicated by the car's computer. This is great and much more than I am used to, but I continually hear of folks getting 50+ mpg. What am I doing wrong? I drive calmly and coast as much as possible. Driving is 60/40 city/Hwy.
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Replying to: timo6 (Apr 29, 2008 10:38 am)
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Apr 28, 2008 8:24 pm) The consumption gauge shows approx. 44.0 miles per gallon, and of course, somewhat less. My concern is simply being on slightly above 1/2 of a tank at 100 miles. As always, I appreciate your help. Thank again!
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