Nissan CEO ridicules hybrids

[Random Variable]

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The head of Nissan Motor Co., breaking ranks with some of his leading rivals, said Saturday that building fuel-sipping hybrid vehicles makes little sense in today's world because of their high costs.

"They make a nice story, but they're not a good business story yet because the value is lower than their costs," said Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn.

Nissan will, in fact, start manufacturing a gas-electric hybrid version of its Altima sedan for the U.S. market in 2006.

But Ghosn said the model was only intended to help Japan's second-largest automaker comply with strict fuel economy and emissions standards in states like California, not because he expects it to be a money-maker.

...He also poured cold water on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which many automakers see as the industry's next big technological breakthrough.

"The cost to build one fuel cell car is about $800,000. Do the math and you figure out that we will have to reduce the cost of that car by more than 95 percent in order to gain widespread marketplace acceptance," Ghosn said.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/01/3...l/nissan_hybrids.reut/

 

[acemcmac]

smart guy

 

[Aharami]

yea its expensive to make now. but working on it now will make it cheaper in the future...when we'll really need it

 

[Ryan]

He is just saying what Toyota and Honda have already said - both are not looking to make CURRENT hybrids sources of huge profits - hell, Toyota and Honda LOST money on the first hybrids, but it seems that their gamble has started to pay off (prices of production have gone down, and they're actually a hit!).

 

[gopunk]

stating the obvious... honda and toyota know this, but they're getting their foot in the door so they don't get left behind

 

[dman]

As said above, he's saying nothing new. The regulations are in place to get the process rolling, otherwise manufacturers would continue using these arguments until gas prices got so high that alternative fuel vehicles would someday be cost effective. That's maybe not too far around the corner... but it's nice to have a headstart.

/Still waiting on my flying car.

 

[Phokus]

Well duh, but once hybrids become more mainstream, it'll be profitable... economies of scale and all that.

 

[Dari]

this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

 

[OutHouse]

a hybrid chevy silverado is coming real soon.

 

[FrustratedUser]

I'd take a hybrid.... between a V8 and a F16.

 

[Transition]

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Citrix
a hybrid chevy silverado is coming real soon.

GM is saying they expect 10 to 12 percent increase in fuel efficiency over the regular model. At the current prices for gas, that means you'll save about $8 a month in fuel by buying the hybrid Silverado instead of the standard....and you'll pay about $4000 to do it

A lot of us are buying/considering hybrids just because it feels good and not because they're cost-effective. I know I was looking at the Ford Escape Hybrid before deciding to just wait a couple years when Hybrid vehicles are less trendy and the market price of them truly reflects their tangible value.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

More power and good mileage. 37 mpg highway and 240hp (plus the extra 100ft-lbs from the electric motor). Its faster then the Accord couple V6-6MT.

 

[rh71]

that's like making fun of solar power. In due time, it will be better... it's just not the most practical yet.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Hey man you gotta do what you gotta do to pay the bills and feed your kids

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

More power and good mileage. 37 mpg highway and 240hp (plus the extra 100ft-lbs from the electric motor). Its faster then the Accord couple V6-6MT.

Which is great, but it's not functioning as a gasoline alternative. Once again, 37MPG isn't even a moderate savings over a regular Accord. I really really like the Accord V6 hybrid because of the performance and slight increase in fuel savings.... but the eletric motor is kind of like adding a turbocharger that saves you a little gas at the same time. Nothing revolutionary, just evolutionary.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Red

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

More power and good mileage. 37 mpg highway and 240hp (plus the extra 100ft-lbs from the electric motor). Its faster then the Accord couple V6-6MT.

Which is great, but it's not functioning as a gasoline alternative. Once again, 37MPG isn't even a moderate savings over a regular Accord. I really really like the Accord V6 hybrid because of the performance and slight increase in fuel savings.... but the eletric motor is kind of like adding a turbocharger that saves you a little gas at the same time. Nothing revolutionary, just evolutionary.

I don't see the Hybrid Accord being sold to tree huggers. I see it as a hot-rodded Accord that's more eco-friendly. Besides, 37mpg is still about 10mpg better then the regular V6 Accord.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: Red

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

More power and good mileage. 37 mpg highway and 240hp (plus the extra 100ft-lbs from the electric motor). Its faster then the Accord couple V6-6MT.

Which is great, but it's not functioning as a gasoline alternative. Once again, 37MPG isn't even a moderate savings over a regular Accord. I really really like the Accord V6 hybrid because of the performance and slight increase in fuel savings.... but the eletric motor is kind of like adding a turbocharger that saves you a little gas at the same time. Nothing revolutionary, just evolutionary.

4 cylinder accord gets 30 HIGHWAY MPG. this is a V6 that gets 37 mpg.. I would say this is amazing..

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

More power and good mileage. 37 mpg highway and 240hp (plus the extra 100ft-lbs from the electric motor). Its faster then the Accord couple V6-6MT.

250 HP, actually. it's the most powerful accord money can buy. it's also the most luxurious!

 

[desy]

Yup Bridging technology, tide us over till we go full electric or bio diesel/hybrid
I don't beleive hydrogen has much of a chance.
I'd buy this tommorrow if Toyota would sell itDamn you toyota!

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

More power and good mileage. 37 mpg highway and 240hp (plus the extra 100ft-lbs from the electric motor). Its faster then the Accord couple V6-6MT.

Does 15 HP = $3000 faster?

As for the mileage, every real-world review I've read gets less than that number...Car and Driver got 26 mpg

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Aharami
yea its expensive to make now. but working on it now will make it cheaper in the future...when we'll really need it

Right, the fist computers used to cost millions and could barely calculate anything. But now for less than $200 you can buy a used computer that has 100x more processing power than Nasa had during the apollo program.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: Red

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

More power and good mileage. 37 mpg highway and 240hp (plus the extra 100ft-lbs from the electric motor). Its faster then the Accord couple V6-6MT.

Which is great, but it's not functioning as a gasoline alternative. Once again, 37MPG isn't even a moderate savings over a regular Accord. I really really like the Accord V6 hybrid because of the performance and slight increase in fuel savings.... but the eletric motor is kind of like adding a turbocharger that saves you a little gas at the same time. Nothing revolutionary, just evolutionary.

4 cylinder accord gets 30 HIGHWAY MPG. this is a V6 that gets 37 mpg.. I would say this is amazing..

You're thinking of the V6...The V6 gets 30 mpg highway. The I4 gets 34

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Transition

Originally posted by: Dari
this guy is no different than Michael Dell. He wants others to do the research so that he can reap the overall benefit by simply licensing it. No heavy investment and a wait and see attitude means no innovation from Nissan.

Well said. Look at the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid though. Nissan can't say that car isn't a prime example of why hybrid's can work.

Explain...

More power and good mileage. 37 mpg highway and 240hp (plus the extra 100ft-lbs from the electric motor). Its faster then the Accord couple V6-6MT.

Does 15 HP = $3000 faster?

As for the mileage, every real-world review I've read gets less than that number...Car and Driver got 26 mpg

Well, to get a regular V6 as fast as this you'd need to spend more then $3k for the Jackson Racing Supercharger and you still wouldn't have better mileage.