Posted by rpn:
quote:
If you compare a slightly frivolous vehicle like a Prius to a completely frivolous vehicle like a G35, you're always going to come out ahead in cost and environmental impact with the Prius!
Absolutely correct, and an integral part of the point I’m trying to make – that these “one size fits all” generalized criticisms of hybrids don’t really have much meaning, because everyone who looks at one is coming at it from a different set of circumstances.
You also stated:
quote:
I think that any Camry driver could get by with a Corolla.
Oh no, not so. Respectfully, why do you presume to know what’s best for me, or anyone else, for that matter? Actually, in my case, depending upon the mission to be accomplished, the Camry (and Prius) is substantially
too small. I have three kids. Sure, for a trip for dinner, we can pack in the whole family, but for a road trip, forget it. And when my mother-in-law is in town (frequent for us, but OK
), my mid-sized car is out of the running, unless we take two cars (how envirofriendly is that?). OTOH, when it’s just me, which is most of the time, actually, sure I could get by with something smaller. Even so, there’s no getting around the occasions when I need more capability than a tiny car can ever provide.
You said:
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I just have a problem with the hybrid hype. They're not environmentally friendly, but no car is. Smaller cars are more environmentally friendly than a Prius though, and that's something that mainstream society doesn't seem to recognize.
1) The hype machine is running overtime, on both sides of the equasion.
2) The environmental impact question is far more complex than a mere “is or is not” characterization. Battery rebuild programs will mitigate the harm associated with battery production. And with each additional hyb that hits the road, replacing a standard mid-sized car, there will be a) another family consuming half the gasoline they used to, and b) a continual reduction in associated costs as numbers increase and competition and efficiencies of scale come into their own.
In my opinion, anyway, it’s far too early in this game to be making unqualified conclusions about how good or bad a thing hybrids will turn out to be. For now, I’m keeping an open mind. In the meantime, oddly, I already find it disturbing that some cars don’t shut their gas engines off when stopped at a redlight. . .