Hybrids Consume More Energy in Lifetime Than Chevrolet's Tahoe SUV

I hear you - but to that I think the reason why is that they're made in such small numbers compared to gas cars that economies of scale come into play. If everybody drove hybrids (not saying everybody should, mind you) then I think the costs of making one go way way down.

And anyway - like I said, energy "cost" does not correlate with harmful emissions - the costliest energy in the world is that with fewer emissions, that's why cheaper (dirtier) fossil fuels are used instead.

I think what you're saying goes more in the realm of the hydrogen powered vehicle - or the "freedom car" that the President likes to tout. Hydrogen is great and clean, but hard to find naturally. So getting it means -yup - burning fossil fuels to generate it.

 

Did you make that? Hilarious!!!

 

yeah, but I don't mean any of it. Just all for a laugh.

 

People who drive hybrids that think they’re actually “saving the environment” are sorely mistaken.

“oh I save money on gas”

The money you save on gas does two things

1) you end up using that money to buy consumer goods such as clothing, dvd’s, food, ect…ALL OF THAT STUFF TAKES PETROLEUM in some form to produce.
2) Into your savings account. Well your bank is gonna turn around and lend your money to some small business startup or someone of that nature to open some sort of revenue generating business. For example; a restaurant. Which starts this vicious cycle in motion again.

IT WILL NEVER END unless we can find a viable alternative energy source.

it's called cold fusion and as of now, it's not viable.

 

Pessimistic, a little?? One could invest in socially responsible companies, or funds....but I guess some money will be sucked out in fees going to lawyers and brokers who will inevitable consume themselves, eh?

In either case, according to the nay-sayers, you don't save any money driving hybrids, so your point is invalid!

 

It's so dump. The results, as indicated by the article, are in dollar/mile not energy/mile. If cheap fuel, ie gas, is used, it is going to have a lower dollar/mile number.

 

....actually, it's non-existant.

 

Cradle to death costs are always much higher with newer technologies. It takes an ungodly amount of energy and raw material to make computers and cell phones.

I think it's good that the public start recognizing that key factor, but like hybrids, they should also know that early adopters will not receive all of the promised benefits. Last year, there was this study that criticized the accuracy of the EPA's given milage of some hybrids. It turned out that local road milage was widely overestimated possibly because the engine couldn't recharge the electric component efficiently during erratic driving. Also, batteries in hybrids need to be periodically replaced around 3-5 years. They don't come cheap either.

So I don't really mind the smugness of early adopters. They're the guinea pigs for this movement. 15 years ago, they had those giant Zack Morris cellphones. Now the batteries are smaller and more efficient, let alone all the gadgets that come with other than just chatting.

 

I don't want to keep responding in this thread, but it seems there is some mis-information being spread. A simple google search would indicate this is wrong.

http://www.hybridcars.com/faq.html

If you don't want to read this, most hybrid car makers warranties cover batteris for 8-10 years.

Moreover, batteries are hardly ever replaced. Toyota has yet to replace a Prius battery since the car first went on sale in 2000.

 

I stand corrected.

 

What if I save my money in my own home? But this can be said for anything, the point is that Hybrid cars do not require as much petroleum, therefore it doesn't have as much exhaust, thus better for the environment.

While it may not save the environment, it is probably better for it vs. the conventional vehicle.

Like most have said, hybrid vehicles are relatively new. Improvements will be made. If people don't like Hybrids or see them as being "whimpy," that's their opinion. But I don't think one can argue that hybrids are as bad as conventional cars in terms of environmental concerns.

 

Hybrids are a scam. They are a way for the auto makers/big oil to keep people addicted to petrol. Why are there no solar cars available at the dealership? That is a technology that gets proven over and over again, with yearly races. Guess what, there is no way to charge people for use of the sun, giant Burnsian sun-blockers not withstanding. I've said it many times, including here, SOLAR ENERGY IS THE FUTURE! Why do we cling to the same means of producing energy that the cavemen used (ie burning stuff)? Come on people, lets start a revolution.

 

I honestly don't think this is true. I think people still see "hybrid" and think "better mileage". It still would take about 10 years of ownership of many hybrids for their owners to break even over the costs of comparable non-hybrid editions of the car.

 

post #6,996.


did anybody see the south park episode about hybrids?