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Hybrids - News, Reviews and Views in the Press

567 messages,  Last post on Oct 30, 2009 at 9:21 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Honda Civic, Hybrid Cars


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#408 of 567
Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids- Sensible or Stupid by moparbad
Aug 01, 2007 (2:44 pm)
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Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids- Sensible or Stupid
 
Starre VartanWhat we need now is cars that run on batteries that we can charge up at night from our solar panel
 
This is GREAT, I needed a laugh today!
#409 of 567
Re: Hybrids Better for Enviro. than Wallet [moparbad] by hiwayman
Aug 01, 2007 (3:22 pm)
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Replying to: moparbad (Aug 01, 2007 2:39 pm)

From a CA driver, it depends upon what you mean by the question. I personally do not have an HOV sticker. They were limited in quantity, and are only issued to hybrid owners who's vehicles get 45 MPG or better overall (Nissan hybrids, which is my car, do not). If you're asking if the state issues HOV stickers, the answer is "yes", but only to a limited number of people. The state has stopped issuing stickers temporarily because the quota has been met. If you were one of the lucky drivers to get a sticker, you are allowed in the HOV lane with only one person in the car.
#410 of 567
Re: More tax incentives for hybrids? Are they needed? [gagrice] by hiwayman
Aug 01, 2007 (3:29 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 31, 2007 7:05 am)

That's a pretty uninformed statement. Here in Northern California in the San Francisco area, the cost of living is incredibly high. EVERYTHING is VERY expensive. This is not uncommon around large cities such as New York or Los Angeles. My family has a total income of slightly over 100K per year. We do not take vacations. We drive old cars (except for our new hybrid, which we would have bought used had their been any used ones available) and we can put very little away in long-term savings. We live in a 50 year old tract house of about 1300 square feet on an unimpressive lot. We barely make ends meet. While our income might be impressive to someone living in the midwest or in the mountains of Virginia, it doesn't get us much out this way....I'll take the tax break, thanks very much....
#411 of 567
Re: Hybrids Better for Enviro. than Wallet [moparbad] by kdhspyder
Aug 01, 2007 (4:38 pm)
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Replying to: moparbad (Aug 01, 2007 9:00 am)

This European writer is 18 months out of date. Yes CR did write that in their 2006 Annual Auto edition but they had to retract the article 2 weeks later after the reading public discovered that their math was faulty.
 
This euro-reporter is stupid beyond belief. Stupid people irk me. But lazy people who don't do the work to investigate a subject before pontificating about it are next to navel lint in the hierarchy of sensient beings.
#412 of 567
Re: That study fell one year short - competing data [cdptrap] by kdhspyder
Aug 01, 2007 (4:43 pm)
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Replying to: cdptrap (Aug 01, 2007 1:35 pm)

Our local gas price went up to $4+ for a week or two before sinking back to $3.97 for a couple of months before dropping to the current $3.75.
  
All the analysis I have seen used $3 a gallon over the entire lifetime of the vehicle. This is a critical flaw that renders the analysis completely meaningless. It is like someone computing investment return by assuming a wonderful 10% gain year over year and completely ignore market conditions, changing tax rates and annual inflation rates.
 
This is our best insurance against future rising prices of fuel. My personal opinion is that we will see $6/gal before we see $1.50 again. I wouldn't be surprised to be paying $5 within 5 yrs and $6-$8/gal within 8 yrs. $10/gal by the decade of the 20's I'd say is a certainty.
 
Hybrids, diesels and any combination of the two along with PHEVs will be necessary to allow us to keep using our vehicles. $10/gal in 12 yrs and 'only' a 25 mpg midsizer or a 17 mpg SUV will kill the auto industry.
#413 of 567
Re: Hybrids Better for Enviro. than Wallet [moparbad] by cdptrap
Aug 01, 2007 (5:55 pm)
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Replying to: moparbad (Aug 01, 2007 2:39 pm)

Our family hybrid is the Highlander so it does not qualify for the sticker.
 
Yes, there was a mad rush to get the stickers so people can drive in the HOV lane. Those stickers are done, no more new ones will be issued. The MPG requirement was 45 and up so only smaller cars qualified.
#414 of 567
Re: Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids- Sensible or Stupid [moparbad] by cdptrap
Aug 01, 2007 (5:57 pm)
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Replying to: moparbad (Aug 01, 2007 2:44 pm)

Actually, if there is a plug-in hybrid, I can do exactly that. Our entire farm is on grid-tied solar power. If Toyota or Honda or Ford or Porsche (Cayene) come out with a gas-electric or diesel-electric hybrid that supports plug-in, I will be plugging it into our solar array everyday .
 
I do have one beef with the writer. While I agree that GM's "mild" hybrid really should not be called "hybrid", I disagree that we can suddenly jump to plug-in EV's.
 
The path to plug-in EV's require political will at the state level and CA is leading the way with prodding by many environmental groups.
 
First, there needs to be infrastructure support. Either hotels need to provide some sort of charging stations or we will need EV Stations where cars can charge overnight. Problem is, where do they all park over night? Do we use coal power from Nevada? midwest? or do we use solar power plants in souther CA?
 
Until plug-in batteries can handle a fast charge in 1 hour, drivers have to stop, park, go sleep somewhere while their cars charge up.
 
So to claim that gas-electric hybrid is "too late" is really naive at best and ignorant at worst.
 
Gas-electric or diesel-eletric hybrids are necessary stepping stones. Even when EV, as we know it today, is fully available, I still see a high-efficiecncy fuel engine (H? gas? diesel?) that charges the battery to extend the range.
 
#415 of 567
Re: That study fell one year short - competing data [kdhspyder] by cdptrap
Aug 01, 2007 (6:23 pm)
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Aug 01, 2007 4:43 pm)

Can't agree with you more. When Katrina hit and prices rocketed up, friends told me they expected price to drop back to 2.10 or 1.99 a gallon after recovery. I laughed at their comments and they laughed at my skepticism and my wife's foolishness for buying a hybrid. Today, price is at $3.75 and they are not laughing.
 
At this rate, $5/gal in 5 years is a definite possibility.
#416 of 567
Re: Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids- Sensible or Stupid [cdptrap] by tpe
Aug 01, 2007 (6:46 pm)
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Replying to: cdptrap (Aug 01, 2007 5:57 pm)

Good for you. While its not cost effective there is something to be said for security and independence. Terrorists could sabotage oil fields driving gas prices through the roof but I don't think the sun will ever increase its rates. And I do believe that solar electricity will eventually be cost competitive with the grid.
 
With that said there is one thing that infuriates me about some people that have gone this route. It doesn't apply to you since you already have a PV system but I suspect that you've heard this rational before. Some people justify the cost of a PV systems by comparing it to the price of the gasoline that will be saved. You have to compare the cost of PV electricity with the cost of grid electricity. After all, grid electricity could have just as easily been used to charge your EV or PHEV so any cost analysis has to include this option. It's not like EVs and PHEVs can only be charged off solar electricity.
#417 of 567
Re: More tax incentives for hybrids? Are they needed? [hiwayman] by gagrice
Aug 01, 2007 (7:37 pm)
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Replying to: hiwayman (Aug 01, 2007 3:29 pm)

I feel for you trying to live in that area on $100k per year. I would say move out or up your income to a minimum of $150k. I Have a good friend that turned down a job in Silicon Valley because they were only offering $135k. He took a job in Detroit and lives like a king on his $100k. He could afford a hybrid. Just does not see any benefits. So if you want to struggle to make a statement that is your decision. I still say tax incentives are a poor way to WASTE my tax dollars.

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