general hybrid car advice?

[Ronny88]

Hey there,

I am looking to buy my first hybrid car, but have really no idea about where to go for the best infromation. Frankly, the more general the information, the better - as I really have no clue what I'm doing! The only resource on hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars that I've found that is as general as I would like is http://fuelfriendlycars.com but I would like some other hybrid car resources as well. Any suggestions? Thanks -

Ronny

[J-Ri]

I personally believe hybrid cars are part of a conspiracy by oil companies to keep us happy so they can continue to rob us at the pumps.

If you buy a car that gets 60 mpg, most people think that's great. But keep in mind that you're burning gasoline. Gas here is about $3 a gallon, how many years do you think it will be until it's $6 a gallon? When that happens, you'll be exactly where you are now.

On the other hand, you could buy an E-85 capable vehicle and get 20-30 mpg depending on model (and pay less than half of what gasoline costs per gallon), but you'll only be using a very small amount of gasoline (15%), the rest is ethanol (85%), a clean burning renewable energy source. It's my understanding that the only emmissions from 100% ethanol are water (which we drink) and carbon dioxide (which we exhale every time we breathe).

Ultimately the choice is yours, but my next vehicle will run on E-85

[stick99]

Get a 4 cyl diesel, too bad there aren't many here in the U.S. (europe has plenty of them and they get 50+ combined mpg)

This is from the Volkswagen UK website about their S 1.9L TDI Diesel Engine:

Fuel Consumption: Urban 43.5mpg
Extra-urban 65.7mpg
Combined 56.5mpg

I don't see the point in getting a Hybrid until:

• you can plug it in to the wall
• only electric motors run the wheels (ie. no mechanical connection between ICE and wheels)
• you can run 40+ miles on without the ICE ever turning on, i see no point in getting a hybrid.

[bmwgolfguy]

My is don't buy one. It you get an electric hybrid, eventually it will need the batteries replaced just like tires, brakes, etc. What all the hybrid makers are conveniently forgetting to tell the public it will cost you more than the car is worth to replace them; $4-5 grand is what I have been reading.

Then of course is what do you do with all the old dead batteries? It will become an environmentalist nightmare. Pretty ironic heh? The very people pushing for such an alternate fuel source will be contributing to the pollution problem when they have to unload the batteries.

Wait for a 4 banger turbo diesel.

[sickcallawayc12]

I hear some batteries can cost as much as 8 grand. Goodness!

[bmwgolfguy]

Originally Posted by sickcallawayc12

I hear some batteries can cost as much as 8 grand. Goodness!

I heard 5 grand

[stick99]

I've heard that if designed right, and with the newer technologies of batteries, they will last 100,000+ miles.

as for cost, you may pay $10k for one of these batteries now, but as they get more popular, cost will go down.

as for an environmental issue, batteries are very recyclable. you already get a discount on a new 12v car battery when you trade in your dead one. why not do that on a much larger scale with larger batteries?

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by stick99

I've heard that if designed right, and with the newer technologies of batteries, they will last 100,000+ miles.


as for an environmental issue, batteries are very recyclable. you already get a discount on a new 12v car battery when you trade in your dead one. why not do that on a much larger scale with larger batteries?

Batteries generally last a certain amount of time, not miles (12v anyway, I have no experience with the big hybrid ones). If you drove constantly, I'm sure you could get the battery to last longer than the car.

The "discount" you get for the old battery is a "core charge"
Lets say battery X costs $30. When you buy battery X, you pay $35 plus any applicable taxes. If you have the old battery with you, they never add the $5 on. If you bring it back later, they give you $5 back at that time. This is to keep people from throwing them in a lake, river, playground, etc. rather than taking time to recycle it.

[KiwiBacon]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

Batteries generally last a certain amount of time, not miles (12v anyway, I have no experience with the big hybrid ones). If you drove constantly, I'm sure you could get the battery to last longer than the car.

This is certainly true for lead/acid batteries like forklifts. 10 years is the accepted lifetime. Some last longer than that, some don't. But if you've got a forklift with a 10 year old battery you've already got your eye on the next one.

The eletrolytes (acid) and lead in 12v car batteries are easily and cheaply recycled. The more complex the battery the harder recycling becomes. Cellphone batteries anyone?

[Rickottman]

Stay AWAY these cars are not tuned right yet they do not get 60 mpg its more like 45 at best then after about 3 years the battery dies and they are not $50 battery you are looking into more than $2000 to replace these i would say another 4 or 5 years

[curtis73]

I suggest you read the thread called How Long Before Hybrid Cars Make A Real Impact

After you have read that, buy a VW TDI, burn biodiesel, and get 50 mpg for 300,000 miles with no $6000 batteries to replace. Not to mention you will be burning carbon that originated in the atmosphere, not from miles below the surface.

I get a kick out of the fact that the hybrids use fossil fuels, but they're allowed in the carpool lanes, while diesel cars here in CA have been banned from sale even though their net emissions are zero. Our dolphin-huggers at work

[fuelfromwater]

Hi All,

As I've told Bart, there is an alternative.

The idea is old, but have been suppressed by the oil industry till lately.

It's a simple process that turns water into gas - no joke!

The site below should explain things. Just check it out now.

Stephen Grech

['97ventureowner]

Please check the date of the last post and avoid posting in the thread if it is older than 3 months. Closed.