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What Is So Good About HYBRID CARS?!

Kenji4861

Banned
Alright, Hybrid cars are the ones using rechargable electricity to move the car.

Sure, you can get way more miles per galon with the use of these.

But recently I heard, just like all other batteries, these car batteries go bad after a while.

So it wouldn't make sense to buy a hybrid car to get more miles per gallon since you are gonna pay way more when the battery dies.

So in the end, Hybrid cars are weaker and costs more, but is good for the environment. Am I correct?
 
You are absolutely correct.

I laugh everytime I see people in one of those gutless hybrid tin cans. My VW Golf TDI gets as good or better real world mileage than both the Insight and the Prius, and I don't get stuck with a cramped little econobox, AND it costs a hell of a lot less.

No $$$$$$ ($$$$$!) battery change either. 😀
 
The technology is still in its infancy. Give it a few years, and they're bound to get better in terms of efficiency, cost, etc.
 


<< But recently I heard, just like all other batteries, these car batteries go bad after a while. >>


From who? Even if it does go bad, from Toyota's website:

"Hybrid-Related Component Coverage: Prius's hybrid-related components, including the HV battery pack, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles."
 


<< "Hybrid-Related Component Coverage: Prius's hybrid-related components, including the HV battery pack, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles." >>



... and then?

Most people who want fuel efficient cars will blow through that 100,000mi in 3-4 years.
 
You think cars are bad? The FAA just approved the first electric powered plane. No thanks 🙂

The big advantage to electic vehicles is emissions. The by product is water iirc. It's certainly no $$$ savings. Right now the batteries take up 1/3 the weight of the car. That's not so good. Like above, give it a couple of years.
 
I don't know about the batteries but I was wondering how much it would cost if say the timing between the two engines broke down. The hybrid car seems like a nice environmentally friendly idea that could just cost to much in some situations, they had better have a good warranty. I think I'll just wait for the fuel cell version.
 
I laugh everytime I see people in one of those gutless hybrid tin cans. My VW Golf TDI gets as good or better real world mileage than both the Insight and the Prius, and I don't get stuck with a cramped little econobox, AND it costs a hell of a lot less.


um what numbers are you looking at? if your tdi is diesel its emissions suck😛

as for hybrids, the honda exotic dual note seems awesome. instead of a battery, a super capcitor, 400hp and 40mpg🙂
 


<< Right now the batteries take up 1/3 the weight of the car. That's not so good. Like above, give it a couple of years >>

I don't think the batteries in Hybrids weigh nearly that much. I think the Honda Insight battery only weighs 45-50 pounds.
0-60 time is supposedly ~12 seconds. Certainly not a AA Fuel Dragster, but not that bad for an econobox.
The battery is warranteed for 8 years and is expected to last considerably longer. Cost is about $1225 (USD).
I also think the technology will improve greatly over the next few years.
They should work just fine for sitting in bumper-to-bumper commuter traffic on the LIE or the LA Freeways.
 
The only thing good about them is that they make the Enviro-Nazis feel good about themselves.


Yeah but the real enviro-nazis arn't going to buy these cars because they tied there self to a tree somewhere in the forest.





 


<< Alright, Hybrid cars are the ones using rechargable electricity to move the car.

Sure, you can get way more miles per galon with the use of these.

But recently I heard, just like all other batteries, these car batteries go bad after a while.

So it wouldn't make sense to buy a hybrid car to get more miles per gallon since you are gonna pay way more when the battery dies.

So in the end, Hybrid cars are weaker and costs more, but is good for the environment. Am I correct?
>>


No. You are talking about ELECTRIC cars, those are the ones that run on 100% electricity, and the pros of that is no oil change, to tranny to deal with, no anything that causes you problems in regular cars. It is the hybrid cars that get 60-70 MPG since they use gas at higher speeds and electricity at lower ones.
 


<< um what numbers are you looking at? if your tdi is diesel its emissions suck >>



VW Golf GLS TDI = EPA city: 5.6 L / 100 km
MSRP: $24,040 EPA highway: 4.4 L / 100 km

Toyota Prius = EPA city: 4.5 L / 100 km
MSRP: $29,000 EPA highway: 4.6 L / 100 km

Honda Insight = EPA city: 3.9 L / 100 km
MSRP: $26,000 EPA highway: 3.2 L / 100 km

The TDI isn't that far off, and those Honda numbers are under ideal conditions. No auto mag has ever got more than 55MPG in a real world test. I drive with a heavy foot in my TDI an get more than 50MPG. Diesels are worse than gas when it comes to particulate emissions, but are more efficient engines overall. Not to mention, I would hate to see what environmentally crappy stuff goes into the NiMH batteries of the Insight/Prius. (no Cadmium, but still...)



<< as for hybrids, the honda exotic dual note seems awesome. instead of a battery, a super capcitor, 400hp and 40mpg >>



And also not for sale. 😀 Fuel cell cars look interesting as well.

 
Actually, your 50 mpg in a diesel is not directly comparable to 50 mpg in a gasoline engine. The term is "miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (mpgge)" and when you do the conversion (I don't know what it is off the top of my head), you actually get something like 45 mpgge, or something like that. True, not a huge difference, but just letting you know that they aren't directly comparable.


<< And also not for sale. Fuel cell cars look interesting as well. >>


Fuel cells are a long way off from being remotely efficient. Their only benefit is that they have no direct emissions, however, a lot of energy is expended to get the hydrogen into a useable form for fuel cells. The only accurate way of measuring whether or not a given technology is more efficient than another is to look at the big picture, called 'well to wheels.' Right now, with our current technology and infrastructure, gasoline has the highest well to wheels efficiency. Fuel cells are much lower down on the scale. And right now, the most promising technology is hybrid electric cars, because that will only serve to increase this efficiency. And it requires no change in our nations infrastructure, unlike cars that run on hydrogen, natural gas, corn oil, etc etc. Course, if they keep making ugly ass tin cans like the Insight and the Prius, they'll never sell. Hopefully the upcoming Civic HEV will change that.
 


<< Actually, your 50 mpg in a diesel is not directly comparable to 50 mpg in a gasoline engine. The term is "miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
(mpgge)" and when you do the conversion (I don't know what it is off the top of my head), you actually get something like 45 mpgge, or something like that. True, not a huge difference, but just letting you know that they aren't directly comparable.
>>



Why exactly is that? I'm curious...
 
Didn't something called the Geo Metro in the early 90's get about 50mpg anyways?

Nothing new, we just got heavier cars, bigger engines, perhaps heavier people.....who knows.

But anyways, electric cars are quiet, but too expensive and small. As much as I would like to save the earth, I wouldn't want to squeeze someone into the back seat of an econo box.

I still think that these cars are just for publicity, making the respected companies "caring for the earth" ... Look the GM EV1, seems like that thing left the face of the earth, but it was a great gimmick.
 
The deal with hybrid cars is that they are very young. Everything has to start somewhere. Remember the Ford Model T? That would be a complete POS if it were around today (on the streets, not as a collectors item). Give the cars a few years and bring up this question again.
 
I know that fuel cells using hydrogen directly is probably fifteen to twenty years off. From what I've read though using fuel cells with a reformer to split the hydrogen out of the gasoline seems to be a lot closer on the horizon.
It may not happen, but some of the articles I've seen say that we could see these in the next three or four years.
 
The hybrids get better gas mileage, pollute less, and soon will get you tax credits. I'm all for it. If BMW makes a hybrid Mini, I'm all over it 😀
 


<< The hybrids get better gas mileage, pollute less, and soon will get you tax credits. >>


Until we have to throw all the batteries away.
😉
 


<< The hybrids get better gas mileage, pollute less, and soon will get you tax credits. I'm all for it. If BMW makes a hybird Mini, I'm all over it 😀 >>



rolleye.gif
*cough*overpriced*cough*
 


<<

<< The hybrids get better gas mileage, pollute less, and soon will get you tax credits. I'm all for it. If BMW makes a hybird Mini, I'm all over it 😀 >>



rolleye.gif
*cough*overpriced*cough*
>>


Say what you want, but hybrids are the future (the hybrid Dodge Durango boots mileage by 25%). You people can bitch and bitch all you want but gasoline technology can only go but so far. Hybrids take the best of both worlds. Fuel cells are another option (probably an even better option).

You naysayers are probably the same ones that sat on your horse and buggies and cursed people that bought gasoline powered cars...
 


<<

<<

<< The hybrids get better gas mileage, pollute less, and soon will get you tax credits. I'm all for it. If BMW makes a hybird Mini, I'm all over it 😀 >>



rolleye.gif
*cough*overpriced*cough*
>>


Say what you want, but hybrids are the future (the hybrid Dodge Durango boots mileage by 25%). You people can bitch and bitch all you want but gasoline technology can only go but so far. Hybrids take the best of both worlds. Fuel cells are another option (probably an even better option).

You naysayers are probably the same ones that sat on your horse and buggies and cursed people that bought gasoline powered cars...
>>



When I said overpriced, I meant Minis in general are overpriced. Tack on a hybrid powerplant, and you are looking at a $40,000+CDN MINI.

Now lets be realistic here. Hybrids may be the way of the future, but they ain't even close yet. At least Honda is taking a step in the right direction by making a Civic Hybrid, and not some garish looking econobox.

As technology sits right now, diesel engine are the way to go.
 
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