Comments on: Report: Carmakers Squander Fuel-Saving Potential of Hybrids, Pad MSRPs With Forced Features

By: tapra1

tapra1 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:02:32 +0000

hen carmakers force hybrid buyers to pay for features that don't come standard on non-hybrid base model equivalents. In the case of some vehicles, this can add thousands of extra dollars to the price of a car.Engg Blog

By: Rayman

Rayman — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:51:05 +0000

There is a huge potential in saving fuel and pollution in the education of American drivers. The typical driver approaches driving as if in a high state of anxiety, ETA anxiety. Something about driving fast regardless of the cost. While most of us complain about the cost of fuel, most of us do NOTHING to lower the use of said fuel. Speeding, in contrary to the visual perception of going fast, does not save time on our usual drives because of: traffic, traffic lights, road design and the short distances we normally drive. To go 70 mph for 7 miles compared to driving 60 mph reduces ETA about 7 seconds per mile. That is less than 1 minute! while using 25% to 39% more gas depending on how much you get to use the gas and brake pedals. The visual illusion of your passing 50 vehicles as you fight your way ahead of a line of cars is just that: illusion. If I were to follow you and drive 60 mph I would arrive less than 1 minute later with way more gas and just catch up with you. Multiply that by the number of times a week and you have 400 bucks more, at least, that you have donated to the oil companies. Check it out. I have. I am going to Europe in September for 3 weeks with all the money I have saved these last two years. Good luck.

By: Fred133

Fred133 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:10:26 +0000

I have heard a lot about raising the price of gas to drive the sale of hybrid vehicles. What about the truckers, last I heard most of America is delivered on the back of trucks? What about the people who can not afford to purchase a new vehicle? If you are set on raising gas to force people to purchase what you want then why not tell us what make and model of car we should purchase? Please note that if everyone in America drove an electric vehicle, we would still be dependant on oil. Less dependant yes, but still dependant.

By: Shines

Shines — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:51:52 +0000

skecky you say: the big automakers are in collusion to keep the gas-guzzlers on the road for as long as possible.
I say: as long as gas is cheap people will buy these big tanks.
People don't want to hear this, but putting a big tax on gasoline (and use it to improve the EV and other infrastructure) will get people to think twice about buying these big beasts.

By: skeckyvegas

skeckyvegas — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:58:54 +0000

That being said, the Big 3 could make EVs and hybrids cheaper by simply offering a base vehicle design (with corresponding price) and then have all those add-on's as ala carte features.
Not everyone clamors for an iPod attachment. Or GPS system. Or ass warmers in the seats.
Let the yahoos who want those pay for them as extras and leave the base model for the rest of us.
'Nuff said...

By: skeckyvegas

skeckyvegas — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:47:04 +0000

"You can have your choice"???
Not in this country, negro. Not when the big automakers are in collusion to keep the gas-guzzlers on the road for as long as possible. Why do you think the gist of this article was about the manufacturers having forced features on energy efficient vehicles, just to drive up the price? Or that they purposely hold back the potential on true fuel efficiency?
These scumbags have ties to Big Oil so close and for so long, they practically wear each other's underalls. Keep it Big! Keep it Oily!
Not to mention they never want to pay to re-tool their plants, in order to make the cars people are now clamoring for. They'll still blame labor costs, or how it's not cost effective for them "in the present juncture" (whatever the hell that means), or they'll come up with some other excuse to delay the transition to EV tech. They need to get rid of the freakin' trucks they have now before they'll try anything new. But the more they sell off their freakin' trucks, they more they build to replace them. As as long as they can sell without getting off the pony ride, the less reason they need to try.
One of these days, though, baby, these no-nothing yahoos will wake up to find that nobody is buying their 5-ton penis-mobiles anymore. It'll hit them hard, and it'll hit them fast. Only THEN will you an attempt to a transition. But by then the fat will be in the fire, and their gooses will be cooked.
Remember a little company called VW in the '60-70's?

By: Shines

Shines — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:10:22 +0000

OK, I need to play the devil’s advocate here. I don’t know what the concerned scientists are complaining about. This is America – you can have your choice. A truely efficient relatively inexpensive hybrid (Prius or Insight), efficient hybrids within classes (Fusion, Sonata, Camry, Escape, Highlander, EH250H etc…) or you can get the hybrids connected to V6s and V8s for performance boosting. What law says a hybrid must improve fuel efficiency? As far as the hybrids having the baby seal hubcaps and on demand movies, everyone should know that the profits are highest on luxury vehicles. The luxury items help compensate for the additional cost of the hybrid technology. More choices are good – even if they are bad (like the one pictured above ;-b).

By: IcanhasEV

IcanhasEV — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:11:09 +0000

I have close to 70k problem-free miles on my ’06 Civic Hybrid, and I’m averaging 44mpg. The only option there was when I bought it was a navigation radio. I had the choice of 4 exterior and 2 interior colors. Things certainly have changed in a few years. There are far more options to choose from now. Looking forward to an EV in the near future!

By: Oldarmyag

Oldarmyag — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:16:46 +0000

The Leaf might as well have an Infinity tag on it. It is by far one of the most comfortable cars I have ever sat in, but do I need all that luxury to drive to/from work? NOT. Give me a Leaf with all the features of my bare-bones Prius and I might be interested.

By: star

star — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:16:05 +0000

The volt is the first series hybrid produced by a major auto company. Unlike the prius which runs primarily on gas, the volt will run the first 25 to 50 miles on electricity alone. For most people this means that if they only take the occasional long trip the volt will only cost them about $1.50 in electricity a day.