Comments on: Signs of a Future Hybrid Car Rebound

By: masonic secrets

masonic secrets — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 04:41:22 +0000

Many Hybrid Cars have double systems; a gasoline motor and battery system. This means more potential things to go wrong and therefore potentially more work for automotive shops and service companies.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:24:53 +0000

I paid $15,750 new for my 2008 Honda Fit about 15 months ago. I average 39 mpg overall (5 spd manual transmission) city (granted I live in an inland western town with mild traffic compared to the coasts) and 39 to 42 on the highway (depends mostly on posted speed limits). Hard to justify buying a Prius @ 49 mpg for what was then $8+k more money. The pay back just didn’t work out – not even close. Due to large distances between towns here, a hybrid on the highway is primarily a small car with a small engine anyway.
I do like the Prius and think its a great car in heavy city traffic but the hybrid concept is not a one size fits all solutions at this time. Price reductions and new innovations will make them better but we are not quite there yet in terms of being overall cost competitive with a small fuel efficient car.

By: RW Cole

RW Cole — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:15:01 +0000

Almost any car can be converted to natural gas- for a price. Some cities already do this with some of their fleet.

Hybrids are ready for prime time- The new Prius will get 50 mipg and will sell in the low 20s. The most important breakthrough will be cheaper hybrids. If a Prius can sell at the same price as a four cylinder Camry, they they have won the battle.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:57:18 +0000

did you know that it takes 6 gallens of gas to produce 1 gallen of ethinal

By: zero emissions boss

zero emissions boss — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:04:39 +0000

why dont they put those new printable efficient solar panels on the car then combined with regenerative braking system i think that whoud provide enough power to run gass free

By: Rock Star II

Rock Star II — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:47:29 +0000

I'm afraid you folks are sadly deluded. Hybrids are OK for city driving, but if you do mostly suburban, or highway driving, you're much better off with a diesel or just a very efficient gas powered vehicle. And someone said that there's no payback time for a Prius? Wow. It costs how much more than a Corolla or Civic or Fit or Yaris? $5-10K! I think the Honda Insight will pretty much knock out the Prius. Honda has already raised the Insight price by $1K because it is still several grand cheaper than a Prius.

And what about natural gas? Why isn't somebody working on that ??

By: The Matrix

The Matrix — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:25:01 +0000

I believe hybrid will be the matrix for future technologies for long time to come. Gas and electric today, maybe hydrogen and electric tomorrow. Hybrid will likely be the bridge to most future technologies (e.g. full hydrogen, full electric, and perhaps one day even safe nuclear power!). At least until the future tech can mature (e.g batteries) and function independently.

By: Fibb222

Fibb222 — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:23:00 +0000

There isn't any payback period for a Prius. It's the most affordable/reliable car out there in its class. You have to take the media comparisons between it and gas only cars with a grain of salt as they always compare it to a far lesser/cheaper car. EVs and PHEVs are coming sooner than the average person has any idea about. Soon hybrids will be the norm.

Oh and about the raising of carbon tax via cap and trade permits. Go for it Obama! ICEs and oil are last centuries technology and should have died a long time ago. There are better and cheaper alternatives just waiting for their time to dominate.

By: Michael Comeau

Michael Comeau — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:02:54 +0000

Hybrid cars remain the most practical alternative engine technology and for that reason they will take significant share over the long term. Hybrids are a much smoother transition than hydrogen, plug-ins, etc.

Hopefully, the cost of production will come down over time so the payback period for gas savings will shorten.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:51:28 +0000

Could it be that the the prices at Carmax are too high???