J.D. Power survey re: hybrids

[snoproblem]

According to the J.D.P.'s, demand for Hybrids will peak at three percent in 2010.

Yeah, sure, Wilbur. Just who were they asking? Oil company execs? :roll:

Let the price of gasoline do another spike upward, then we'll see what happens to the demand!

[The General]

Originally Posted by snoproblem

According to the J.D.P.'s, demand for Hybrids will peak at three percent in 2010.

Yeah, sure, Wilbur. Just who were they asking? Oil company execs? :roll:

Let the price of gasoline do another spike upward, then we'll see what happens to the demand!

It may be that they know about new technologies that will make Hybrids less interesting. I'm thinkink of Hydrogen fuel cells for example...

but yeah, they probably got Mr. Exxon as their primary source of info.

[woohoo!]

Uh, isn't a hydrogen and gasoline powered car still called a 'Hybrid' by definition?

[The General]

Yeah, I guess it is but most people now associate Hybrid with gas/electric. A hydrogen/fuel cell would be a Hybrid-electric vehicle.

[hashole]

I have always wondered about Hydrogen fueled cars. Assuming all the technical aspects of fuel cells in cars is sorted out in 10-15 years (a significant assumption ), hydrogen will be the new fuel source right? According to a couple of articles i've read, the thinking is that hydrogen for our cars will be obtained from electrolysing water. So we shift our dependency from fossil fuels today to water and electricity in the future. Most of our electricity is generated by Nuclear, natural gas and coal burning plants. So would we not simply be shifting pollution caused by our cars to greater emissions generated by electric power plants? Am I missing something here?

[woohoo!]

Well, if a car can regenerate power by itself, as is the case with the current hybrids, it shouldn't be too bad.

[gibsonguy]

While it's true hybrids and the technology they bring to the table are impressive, what is not is their fuel economy over their regular gas powered car siblings and diesels.
The expense of ordering the Civic hybrid over an equally equipped gas Civic doesn't even pay for itself over the length of owning the car. It is more economical to drive the regular base Civic.
Unfortunately there are no plans to try and bring the newer, cleaner diesel fuel here to North America, so the sulphhur-laden kerosene fuel we call diesel would not be suitable for these direct injection technological European diesel misers.
Until hybrids can be a small/no cost option on most domestic and import vehicles, they really don't make sense financially.

[woohoo!]

Well, prices will go down when these models go mainstream

remember the first PCs? They cost $10,000 each!! ;-)

[hashole]

If by cleaner diesel you mean what is currently sold in Europe then the Canadian government has legislated oil companies to make it available by mid 2006. So Sulphur content will fall from current 500ppm to I believe 15ppm. Some companies are already selling it. I was told on another forum the in some parts of the country shell diesel is already 2006 compliant and I believe Sunoco Gold diesel is as well. I don't drive a diesel so have not personally checked em out.

Anyone considering a hybrid from strictly a fuel economy perspective will not be satisfied. If significant reduction in tail pipe emissions is not part of your buying decision then you won't be happy. Although I would argue that a couple of hybrids are overall are very good buys in their price category even when lower emissions are not taken into account. I'm thinking of the Prius and the Accord Hybrid.

[Tadashi]

Originally I looked at the Prius from a fuel economy standpoint but then I went from a 15 mpg F250 King Ranch 4x4 CC to my 54 MPG Prius. I think all the other bells and whistles are icing on the cake. Although, now that I have keyless entry (SKS) I am spoiled and will not get another car without it.

My wife liked it so much we got rid of her Honda Civic to get a 2nd Prius (more power, space, better fuel economy, options, etc). She is not in the fuel economy as much as I am but overall we are happy (no buyers remorse what-so-ever), but I do miss my F250.