A Plug-In vs. Standard Prius Question.

The graph illustrates the law of diminishing returns. Improving fuel economy in a vehicle tends to cost an exponentially greater amount the further one attempts to improve it. Meanwhile, the fuel savings due to these improvements become less and less substantial.

If I reduce my fuel consumption by half to go a given distance, I might save 10 gallons. By doubling my fuel economy I can cut my fuel consumption in half again, but this time I only save 5 gallons. This monumental task of doubling efficiency and getting half of the benefit continues the further you go.

Ahhh so this is the smug factor people are thinking of as they cringe while I tell them that I'm shopping for a Prius.

So driving a car is akin to raping the earth. Since the Prius is more efficient, we can feel pretty good because it's just a little rape.

You mean there are even more things I can feel pretty good about! I'll have to remember this next time I drive through skid row, remembering that the looks on their faces as I drive my Prius through their hood is really just speechless appreciation and gratitude that I helped deliver them from one of their most pressing concerns; polluted air. They might even light up a celebratory cigarette.

Sarcasm aside, a Prius is a consumer good not appreciably different than any other. It takes resources to construct, resources to operate, and acts as a status symbol. The "Earth" doesn't love someone because they bought a Prius. Cleaner operation is a nice benefit, but economics must be a primary consideration if good is to be done. The impoverished aren't burdened by "toxic air" as much as they simply don't have adequate resources. Money can be spent much more wisely directly addressing problems associated with destitution than immeasurably improving air quality. Besides, every gallon of gas not consumed by us merely makes it available at an affordable price for others in developing countries to consume. Fossil fuels will be burned as long as they are cheaper than alternatives.

I don't mean to rain on the parade here, but lets be honest, if you're buying a Prius you are reasonably well off and don't need a subsidy.

 

Delete - repost

 

Delete - repost

 

And then there are people like the above poster who just don't get it and like to act even more smug.

 

This graph has caused some to cringe.

 

I see a lot of pimped out cars in the hood with no cat and blowing smoke. They don't seem to care. I tend to think the number one health hazard in the hood is illegal firearms.

SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 ? 2

 

They don't care but the entities sending checks to pay their bills do. So should you because the money came out of your pocket.

 

redpoint, i would drop the prius search, you have problems which no automobile can solve. save your money for a psychoanylyst.

 

Very true; most of the problems I have cannot be solved by an automobile. However, I test drove a 2010 Prius for the first time yesterday, and I was impressed with the technology. It makes financial sense for me to purchase a reliable car that has great interior room and has good fuel economy. As an added benefit, it's less polluting per mile than most of my other options. Once I get this fuel efficient vehicle, I'll likely put in many more miles than I would have otherwise. Road trips across the US and Canada appeal to me, and the Prius will allow me to do this more frugally. The large interior space will allow me to sleep in the back.

Conserving resources, protecting the environment, and considering the less privileged are important endeavors, but I only disagree with the amount of good that you imply a Prius will do for these concerns. My point is that there are better ways to directly address these problems with a given amount of money, whether that is our personal money, or "government" money.

The facts that I presented earlier suggest that purchasing a Prius will do very little in the long run to reduce worldwide fossil fuel consumption. This means that the primary reason to buy one should be that it serves the needs of the individual and fits within their financial goals, not for saving the earth from the brink of destruction.

If you want to do good in the hood, then build a personal relationship with the community, observe what their personal needs are, and help the people address those needs.

 

Getting off topic here but to do good in the hood, you must change the culture of the hood. Teach them to take responsibilities for their lives and achieve more. Subsidies and handouts only serve to reinforce the bad habits, I am afraid.

 

Does it seem to anyone else that even with the EV part of the battery used up, that the PiP goes into and stays in stealth mode much longer.

 

Below is what I posted from another thread and still holds true with almost 11k miles. It really comes down to your overall driving circumstances. I now Average 73mpg and Charge overnight before my commute and whenever possible over the weekend. No Charging at work possible for me right now

"So far on my Pip I have noticed better fuel economy then my previous 2010 Gen3. I have seen on average 6-8mpg better. Seems to do a better job of blending EV throughout my commute. I averaged 48-52mpg in my gen3 and I now average 54-60mpg This is with EV completely depleted so equal circumstances as far as my drive. Just in case some where wondering, Yes I drive conservatively (ECO mode/gradual acceleration etc)."

 

My 2006 Prius with 164k miles lifetime averaged 53 MPG.

I have about 10k miles on PiP and lifetime average is 100 MPG. I cut my gas consumption by almost half. I think my lifetime EV ratio is 44%.

I cannot be any happier. PiP is a very practical EV for my New York City driving needs. It is also a better driving more efficient hybrid on the highway over the 2006.