What is wrong with this Article?

[finman]

Okay, i'll bite. A question for the article author: Explain the hybrid sales increases, expecially the Prius sales increases? I feel so foolish for having all these $30 fillups each month.

[BrianR8011]

I just wanted to share my personal experience with this matter.

My car is a 2006 Hyundai Sonata V6- EPA 19 city/ 29 hwy.
My wife's old car was a 2007 Hyundai Tiburon EPA 20/28.

We traded in the Tiburon for her 2008 Prius (currently averaging 45.4 mpg @2200 miles- can't wait for that first break-in to hit).

We went from driving my Sonata everywhere to driving her Prius everywhere. I keep a log for my fillups in the Sonata and the day we got the Prius, I went from filling up once a week to once every 3 weeks. We were filling up her Tiburon about once every week to week and a half. We now fill the Prius up once every week and a half to 2 weeks.

Before:
Average fillup on the Sonata - $48-50 ( x 1/week = $192-200/month)
Average fillup on the Tiburon - $35 ( ~$105-140/month)
Total-$297-340 per month

Now
Average fillup on the Sonata - $48-50 ( x 1/3weeks = $60-65/month)
Average fillup on the Prius (~3/4 tank)- $28 (~$84-$112/month)
Total- $144-177 per month

Worst case scenario savings of $163 (-$163) in gas

Now, the prius increased our car payment from $300 to $470 (+$170) for my wife, but decreased our car insurance by $10 (-10). We also got a much better interest rate on the Prius than we had on the Tiburon, but I won't factor in intrest savings.

Now, add it all up - $170-163-10 = -$3

I am ahead 3 dollars a month on average, so I personally don't see that much of a premium. But that's just my two cents.

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by Fibb222

ok point taken, it's just that I do great on the highway, but I drive slow, always under 90 km/h and usually 75, so I get great mileage on the highway - no lights is gold for me. I guess most people who are speeding over 110 might get as good mileage with some of the more efficient non-hybrid's out there, but as you say, most people don't only drive on the freeway....

Sorry I wasn't having a go at you, just saying when you look at all hybrids across the board the author is correct however the Prius is still a very economical car on the highway. I wonder how economical an efficient conventional car would be on the highway if driven at no more than 90km/h and usually at 75km/h and hypermiling techniques?
I'm one of those people who drives at or a tiny bit over the 110km/h speed limit. When I hit the highways I am normally going a long way and travelling 20km/h faster on an 8 hour leg of a journey allows me to cover 160km more or cut nearly 2 hours off a 900km drive. My time has a value to me especially when I'm on holiday and I suspect that is the case for a lot of working people.
A lot of people who drive long distances are driving as part of earning their income, that 2 hours or 160km might be another sale or a day off at the end of the week.

[tochatihu]

For another perspective, let's assume that the hybrid alternatives do not save any money. Or, that they cost slightly more over the ownership period. In that case, owners would have little to fall back upon, other than their vehicles are quiet, comfortable, reliable and clean.

Perhaps some owners would be willing to pay for those 'hybrid advantages'. Certainly, other vehicles cost more than their 'equivalents', and buyers pay more because of size, speed, noise, lateral acceleration or styling cachet. Fine for them, as well.

In a world with rapidly increasing fuel costs, one must wonder if the advantages offered by all those other vehicles will increase in value. Because they will need to...

[darelldd]

Originally Posted by Fibb222

I'm sure that overall the Prius is more fuel efficient than any non-hybrid car even if highway miles were 85% of the miles driven.

While of course I understand your meaning, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that you should not be so sure - provided that the non-hybrid car you compare to is a full battery electric vehicle. I get the equivalent of about 130mpg in my EV. Off the highway, I do much better.

[Fibb222]

Originally Posted by darelldd

While of course I understand your meaning, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that you should not be so sure - provided that the non-hybrid car you compare to is a full battery electric vehicle. I get the equivalent of about 130mpg in my EV. Off the highway, I do much better.

Touche. That's about the 100th time you've nailed someone like that I think. Heh.

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by darelldd

While of course I understand your meaning, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that you should not be so sure - provided that the non-hybrid car you compare to is a full battery electric vehicle. I get the equivalent of about 130mpg in my EV. Off the highway, I do much better.

And where does one buy an affordable pure EV with a 900 to 1,200km per day range at 110km/h? Lets compare apples with apples.

[tochatihu]

With batteries that are now currently available, and at non-fabulous prices, electric vehicles are not the highway cruisers that Patsparks desires. But still, they might provide urban transport solutions for a very large number of vehicle users. I wish there were more of them available.

For the long-legged runs, the energy density of gasoline still tops the batteries. And if you are going to burn petrol, why not get the most out of it with a hybrid?

[resoh02]

Originally Posted by Fibb222

Why do we see this mis-information over and over again....



from Welland Tribune - Ontario, CA

Point 1 - In the USA anyway, where Prius' are dirt cheap, it's a no-brainer. The car doesn't have a hybrid premium.... In Canada where the cost is 60% higher, yeah maybe.

For other models that come in gas-only and hybrid versions... yeah there is a premium, but some drivers will easily hit break even. Studies have confirmed this, no?

The second point - what person never, ever drives at city speeds? I'm sure that overall the Prius is more fuel efficient than any non-hybrid car even if highway miles were 85% of the miles driven.

Why people think the price is worth the money in savings in gas. What planet are they on. The Prius is not a high priced auto, check out the american cars. Look at the Saturn, its hard to find decent American car at this price.

[triumph1]

Originally Posted by pelewis2

I get 65+ mpg driving on the highway(mostly) with my HCH-I, show me a gas only car that I could get 50+ in...

?? Downhill?