Secondly, gasoline engine cars RARELY achieve anything close to the mileage ratings posted. Having owned a Prius for nearly three years I can say that in summer driving conditions I can routinely achieve 4.5 – 4.6 L/100km. My model year is rated at 4.5 L/100 km. I also own a Mazda 5, which is rated city/highway combined somwhere around 8 L/100km (sorry, the exact number eludes me), but I have been tracking my mileage and I am realizing between 10 – 12 L/100 km in the winter, and between 9 – 10 L/100km in the summer.

It doesn’t seem like much, but the difference between 4.6 and 4.1 L/100 km is over 100 km in driving distance.

I own a Ford Escape Hybrid. I bought in 2008 for $30,500 plus tax and recieved $4000 in rebates($2K from prov, $2K from feds). My loan is prime plus 1% which is 3.25% today.

Oil changes are required only once every 12,000kms vs 6,000kms for standard model (on account of fact car runs in electric mode and electric motor assists when engine runs). Brakes also requires less service due to regenerative braking which reduces stress on brakes. Next time you are in Vancouver ask a cabby running a prius about their maintaince and fuel costs – they will tell you far less than reg vehicle.

Check auto trader – hybrids retain value far better than counterparts.

Check manufacture websites – my base hybrid came with options only found on more expensive non-hybrid models. Comparing apples to apples and you will find the price differencial far less than you might think.

Honda Civic is worst value – doesn’t go into electric mode and your milage will not be as good as you would expect. Right now Ford Fusion Hybrid and Prius are best deals. Escape Hybrid overpriced.

Hope this helps.

-danny(man)

Electric powered cars are obviously the way to go. Now that its been shown that they can produce exceptional power (see the Tesla), batteries are lighter than every, and plug in technology is coming to fruition, soon we should be able to put some solar panels on our roofs (that’s online too!).

We’ll just have to wait and see how strong a hold the oil industry has on our world… ;)

That’s terrible. (A rake is a quieter and better exercise.)

I hope we learn to vote with our wallets: buy organic and free range eggs etc. People are looking to Obama to help build the infrastructure that will make many of our dreams for greener planet a reality. If the will is there we’ll reach the tipping point soon enough.

(As a side note, that is exactly why the ‘quiet’ leaf blower has never gained a substantial market share — people don’t believe it works as well because it’s not making a loud combustion engine noise!)

I read an article many years ago about a visitor to this country (I think from some Asian country). He was completely stunned at the sheer number of cars driving around with only ONE occupant! Exactly. We have far, far, far too many vehicles than we actually need. In Vancouver the HOV lanes had to be reduced from 3 people to 2 because no-one was using them! Two people is ‘high occupancy’?!?

There is much more to do, vehicle wise, to save the planet than just choosing a hybrid. It requires a paradigm shift in personal, cultural, and societal mentality. Think that will ever happen in your lifetime?

As far as how quickly one recoups the ‘extra’ cost of the hybrid, solely depends on the DRIVER, not the car. Prior to this purchase I did my research regarding MPG, features, etc., not considering recouping any costs later. Honestly it wasn’t a factor what-so-ever. However for those of you that find this to be a factor, do research regarding hypermiling. It took me a tank or two to get effective at it, but it works. I now only fill my 12 gallon tank twice monthly, versus the 17 gallons 6 times monthly in a 4 cylinder 5 speed pick-up on the exact same commute.

The oil changes for my HCH II are a lot more expensive, $10 per quart of oil, but only needs to be changed approximately every 9k miles. In the long run, savings over other straight fuel engines.

Just my $.02. Plan on having this car for the next ten years (10 year all inclusive warranty), and it will pay for itself several times over.

:: Total carbon footprint of hybrids currently offset environmental benefits. Environmental benefits don’t seem justified unless they’re getting over 100+mpg..

:::: Hybrids are a beautiful idea, but not economically or scientifically smart YET. (I smell big oil stalling things still.. help us Obama – you’re our last hope.)

Buy a gas car and buy $20 of carbon offset credits a year for equal environmental impact… don’t forget to put the sticker on your car so you can feel proud. Better — buy a good diesel for overall fuel value, affordable longevity, and footprint.

BATTERY: -heavy.
-toxic (sealed or not, one day you recycle it).
-efficiency and capacity decreases over
time, just like in your cell phone battery.
-expensive.

MAINTENANCE: -expensive.
-complicated and specialized.

ENGINE: -high revving and running all by itself on a highway.

DRIVETRAIN: -stolen.
+genius.

BODY: +very low air drag coefficient.
-heavy for its dimensions.

And one thing also, you want to save the nature, – just don’t have more than two children and use public transportation. So next time i zip by in my lightweight turbocharged ride, i want to see your pseudo-intelligent Prius face expressions gone.