Hybrid Car ??

If you want to look cool and make a statement, walk, and end up making an even bigger carbon footprint. 😀

Back in the 90s, California wanted 10-20% of all future cars to be electric.
No one ever asked the question where the electricty would come from.:rolleyes:

Probably from the coal fired plant in Arizona that was making smog at the Grand Canyon…but at least LA’s air would be clean and people could feel good about themselves. Don’t even THINK of a new nuke plant, and coal/oil plants weren’t being built either.

I don’t have a very high opinion of self appointed “environmental activists” precisely because of situations like that.

Rant over.

But, the gas/electric hybrid isn’t a bad idea, IF you’re going to own it long enough to make it economically viable…or if you want to look cool and make a statement.

Oh how we Europeans laugh at Americans who complain about fuel prices.:D

All the other points have been covered in this thread, man made global warming is another tax gathering myth, fact!

Sea levels have been rising at a 1 to 1.5cm (or is it mm?:diablo:) increment per annum for as long as the levels have been recorded and there is no sign of the mahusive increase that the doom mongers promise.

The planet is overcrowded, but an enormous amount more of it is uninhabited than unoccupied by homo sapiens.
I’ve flown at low altitude and driven across the USA, with its vast population, but little evidence of life is visible on that ginormous continent, save for the cities.

The second point regarding “plug in ” electric cars amuses me – lots of people believe think they are going green and reducing their carbon footprint by driving an electric car.

Surely, unless, and until all the electricity used to charge the batteries on such cars is solely produced by wind/wave/hydroelectric power, they are simply being naive, as the electricity that they use is probably 90% generated by fossil-fuel burning power stations.

Absolutely spot on.

But the original poster appeared more interested in his personal fuel costs, rather than the emissions/global warming debate.

For him, the plug-in hybrid is more relevant than the current one.

Moggy

First point is veryt true Moggy – originally the point behind the Prius was indeed to reduce emissions in urban areas, not about fossil fuel economy as such.

The second point regarding “plug in ” electric cars amuses me – lots of people believe think they are going green and reducing their carbon footprint by driving an electric car.

Surely, unless, and until all the electricity used to charge the batteries on such cars is solely produced by wind/wave/hydroelectric power, they are simply being niaive, as the electricity that they use is probably 90% generated by fossil-fuel burning power stations. So, although they may not be burning fossil fuel under their car bonnet, they are simply one-stage removed from the power station that did so in order to “fill” their battery :rolleyes:.

Too many people confusing two different issues – low emissions and carbon footprints – the two are closely related, but not necessarily the same thing!

And don’t get me started on the fact that regardless what powers your car, the biggest chunk of it’s “lifetime” carbon footprint is probably the energy used to produce it from the ultimate starting materials such as iron ore, oil etc. The amount of fuel it burns “in use” is just one small part of the overall “whole life” footprint.

-It probably does less damage to the planet resources overall to repair/support an older, albeit less fuel efficient, car than it does to scrap it and buy a new one which has consumed goodness knows how many tonnes of virgin iron ore, and how many killowatts of power (wonder how was that generated?) to make it. But of course, that means you cannot enjoy the “green prestige” of a new “greener” car.

Anyone ever asked their car dealer to confirm exactly how much CO2 was generated in producing the sparkly new “green” model on the forecourt, or how many tonnes of “new” natural resource went into making it and shipping it to the dealer, or trying to work out similar figures for the ongoing running (till it really does fall apart beyond repair)of the vehicle you’re thinking of trading in….no, thought not….as the answer is probably quite unpleasent, and will almost certainly prove that running the dirty old car will be more “green” in the long run.

It might just put you off buying the new car if dealers were forced to display such info…i.e. a standaridsed “100,000 mile lifetime carbon footprint”, including all consumables/spares, all fuel etc.

PaulF

And no, I don’t worry too much about green issues myself, as it’s all a load of hype unless you really worry about (and calculate) every single kg of raw material used, and every single watt of energy used to support your lifestyle. Yes we shoudl all try not to waste non-renewable energy, fossil fuels, natural resources etc, but it takes more than just buying a green car to do it properly – what about the nice new mobile phone you’ve just bought, or that new flat screen TV, or the new Blu-Ray player (and all the new discs to go with it), or the Nintendo Wii, or latest x-box….. or the “on trend” footwear…need I go on?

Current hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, perform two functions.

One is the minimising of polluting emissions, particularly when used in town where by running on electric only they make a significant contribution to everybody’s well-being. (Also reducing noise pollution too). Unless town use is a significant part of your motoring profile there is little to be gained for you personally from a switch to petrol/electric hybrid unless….

…. you particularly want to make a statement about your ‘green’ credentials.

People seem to think the hybrids are to do with economy. They are not, they are to do with emission control.

BUT

Just down the road (I am not certain of the timescale but we are talking months rather than years) the next generation hybrid is launched. This will be a developed Prius with ‘plug-in’ ability.

If your use profile is largely short journeys then this will give really significant savings, as for most trips you’ll just unplug your car, take it out of the garage and complete your shopping / commute without using any petrol (gas) at all.

Beyond this the petrol engine in the hybrid will be supplemented by a more economical diesel, after that will come fuel cell hybrids.

We will all be driving hybrids within the next twenty years or so, of that there is little doubt.

Moggy

Have to say I don’t do Green! hate all the global warming hype. I am going to leave my carbon footprint.;)

Hybrids are overrated, get a small or mid-size diesel.

The gas price will rise soon enough again. Once the current economic mess gets sorted out again.