How many of you drive hybrids? with all the global warming hullabaloo and fuel prices going up I was curiuos, how many seti crunchers drive hybrids, do you like it? How many plan to buy one in the very near future?

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How many of you drive hybrids? with all the global warming hullabaloo and fuel prices going up I was curiuos, how many seti crunchers drive hybrids, do you like it? How many plan to buy one in the very near future?

I have my eye on the Ford Escape Hybrid. I am waiting to see how it actually does now that it's been officially released.

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

if i had the money i would be buying a hybrid car NOW...but i don't...so i'm looking for a car that gets better gas mileage than my '97 F-150.

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PROUD TO BE TFFE!

if i had the money i would be buying a hybrid car NOW...but i don't...so i'm looking for a car that gets better gas mileage than my '97 F-150.

Pick one any one :)

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

if i had the money i would be buying a hybrid car NOW...but i don't...so i'm looking for a car that gets better gas mileage than my '97 F-150.

Pick one any one :)

ain't that the truth...i'm looking at mostly GM cars...they have several full size or mid size cars that get 30mpg or more on the highway...chevy impala, chevy monte carlo, chevy malibu, pontiac bonneville, and buick century...with the demand for oil getting higher and higher worldwide everyday...it's something i feel i need to do before this big 'ol truck has no trade-in value left at all...but i'd really like to try a hybrid...maybe next time.

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PROUD TO BE TFFE!

ain't that the truth...i'm looking at mostly GM cars...they have several full size or mid size cars that get 30mpg or more on the highway...chevy impala, chevy monte carlo, chevy malibu, pontiac bonneville, and buick century...with the demand for oil getting higher and higher worldwide everyday...it's something i feel i need to do before this big 'ol truck has no trade-in value left at all...but i'd really like to try a hybrid...maybe next time.

My Cherokee gets decent mileage. Now that I can walk to work it pretty much only gets used when I head back to NC once or twice a month. The Camary my wife drives still gets great mileage despite the fact it's pushing 400K miles on it.

I want to see what the Escape Hybrid will actually do.. Up till now it was all Ford Hype. It's been released now so we can get real data.

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

[font="courier,fixedsys"]I know someone who has for at least two (three?) years now.

I was told that the only thing it needed in all that time (aside from the usual oil change) was one firmware update.

Pretty nifty IMO. If I had the cash (and NO2 for acceleration), I'd get one.[/font]

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The main issues I have with hybrids are that:

• They still are very problem prone (know of 2 people that have Toyota Prius' and their cars are both in the shop at least 10 days a month on average with various problems)
  
• They aren't as fuel efficient as one is made to believe.
  
• Emissions aren't that much lower than a standard engine model.
  

I believe they are the wave of the future but I sure wouldn't want to own one during what one could still consider the developmental/field testing stages of the technology. I have driven one and have found little performance difference and was pleasantly surprised at the power the hybrids had. I was expecting a much more sluggish response when accelerating but the Prius I drove responded pretty well and I really have no issues with the power performance in normal, everyday driving.

Being involved in public transit, I know that hybrid technology has done little to improve air quality or conserve fuel in the public transit sector but has done a lot to increase costs to the transit systems. A 40 foot diesel bus with clean air technology gets on average 3.5 mpg and a 40 foot hybrid gets about 4 mpg (mileage averages vary per system). The hybrid model costs close to twice as much to purchase, operate and maintain compared to the identical model with a diesel. Emission differences between the diesel hybrid and clean air technology diesel are minimal.

My wife just bought a hybrid.

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BOINC WIKI

We got a used 2003 model Prius. Of couse you are taking a chance with new technology, but to answer a previous post.
-The reliability so far is excellent. Toyota has had hybrids out since 1999. Owners are very pleased according to most surveys. What happens after we get a large number with over 100,000 miles remain to be seen.
-Contrast that to American car makers who were given millions of dollars by our government in the 1990s to develop hybrids and said it couldn't be done.
-They get excellent gas milage compared to every other type of car out there. EPA figures are unrealistic for all cars, but you can expect to get 40 plus miles per gallon easily. It is worse in winter and better in some driving conditions.
-Yes, the pollution is substantially less compared to every other type of car out there. Do your own independent investigation.
When the number goes up and we begin having used Priuses and figure when the batteries go and how much it cost to replace them we will get a better idea of the Prius. In the meantime 20,000 dollars for a bare bones Prius is not b, especially if the Toyota dealer is anxious to finance. So far my wife and I love ours!
Ed Griffith

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How many of you drive hybrids? with all the global warming hullabaloo and fuel prices going up I was curiuos, how many seti crunchers drive hybrids, do you like it? How many plan to buy one in the very near future?

I was in the market for a Toyota Prius a year and a half ago but there was around a 6 month waiting list here in SoCal.

We got a used 2003 model Prius. Of couse you are taking a chance with new technology, but to answer a previous post.

As your post seemd to be directed at me I wish to elaborate some. I didn't say hybrids were bad and I'm glad your Prius is doing well and that you love it. My point was that even though hybrids are available for the public, they technically are still being tested to work the kinks out and improve the technology for the future. My friends that rushed out to get a hybrid car most likely ended up with lemons, it happens, even with the most expensive and luxurious of cars and after years of perfecting the existing technology.

For the most part, the hybrid cars are towards the end of this "public field testing" stage but they still are working the problems out. The early ones are racking up the mileage and changing hands and problems found in the earlier models are being corrected for the newer models.

As far as mileage, 40 + mpg in many cases. In my area of Pittsburgh, PA it's more like 32-38 mpg (city) for a hybrid Prius. Testing that was shown on several local news stations last year indicate that emissions aren't quite as low as one should expect due to the fact the hybrid engine is under load much more often due to the terrain of the area. The tested Toyota Prius hybrid came in slightly lower than a similar Toyota model with a 4 cylinder gas engine under Pennsylvania emissions testing and came in with around 34 mpg for the hybrid vs 26 mpg for the gasoline engine. The emission difference was described as minimal for congested, stop and go city driving where stops were less than 10 seconds and average rush hour speed fluctuated between 15 to 35 mph. As you said though, do your own independent investigation as each area is different and some areas are much harder on vehicles than other areas. In some areas the hybrids perform much better and that's great.

While 32-38 mpg (city) is still pretty good for my area, it isn't close to what the car is being touted to get at 48 mpg (city). While I agree the EPA estimates are usually off, manufacturers aren't required to use the EPA estimates. The only legal requirement is that they can't claim higher mileage than the EPA estimates. They are legally allowed to post lower and more realistic mileage estimates but rarely does this happen.

Considering my old 82 Cavalier with 2.0 liter 4 cyl got 28 mpg city, my old GMC S-15 2wd with a 4.3 liter 6 cyl got 23 mpg city and my current 97 S-10 4wd 4.3 liter 6 cyl gets about 20 mpg city, the mileage difference between those and a hybrid in my area really isn't all that much. At minimum, 12 mpg at the low end and the difference in gas tank sizes mean I'd still be getting gas as often as I do now.

One day a few years from now I'll probably end up with a hybrid. In driving a Prius once, I said I was pleased with power it had but the fact my freinds have a lot of problems with their hybrids, it gives me a pause to wait for a while until the technology matures a little more. All in all though, hybrids are here to stay and more models will be offered. People just need to do the research first before making the initial plunge.

As far as diesel hybrids, which I'm more familiar with, there's little difference besides the much higher cost to obtain, operate and maintain it.

Right now I cant afford a hybrid auto
My solution to high gas prices is simply to display a sign
In the back window of my 32MPG-11 gallon tank subcompact
That clearly states:
I'LL TAKE YOU THERE FOR GAS
Most folks are very generous
When you just take'm where they really need to go.
Just 2 weeks of that got me a set of new tires
I might buy me a hybrid yet...cc

Bush, has recently started mentioning clean diesels. My VW TDI clean diesel gets 40+ on the interstate amd 35/38 around town. VW advertises higher milage, but this is actual.

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With all due respect, I don't know where you're getting your information. No one I know with a Prius is having the kind of difficulty you or another poster talk about. The Prius is rated VERY HIGHLY by the industry and owners:
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http://news.usti.net/home/news/cn/?/world.asia.japan.biz/2/wed/ch/Uus-hybrids.R1D__FM8.html

YONKERS, N.Y., March 8 (UPI) -- The Toyota Prius, which is powered by gasoline and electric motors, has won the highest ranking in a prominent U.S. vehicle owner satisfaction poll.

When Consumer Reports asked owners or lessees if they would get another Prius, 94 percent of 1,640 respondents said they would, beating out the 92 percent score achieved by the Lexus LS430 luxury sedan, the magazine said Monday.
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The Prius was sold to the public in Japan beginning in Dec 1997. It was modified slightly and brought to the USA in Aug 2000. Some version of the Prius has been in production and sold commercially for OVER SEVEN YEARS. I believe that it is well beyond the stage of merely "working out the kinks." Toyota has cross-licensed the technology to Ford, and that is largely what is in the hybrid Escape. Toyota has also sold the technology to Nissan, and that is what is going into the hybrid Altima coming out in a year or so. Toyota is using similar hybrid technology in their fuel cell prototype vehicles, as any fuel cell powered car will by necessity be a hybrid (use a battery at times for assist or full motive power).

I bought a "Classic" Prius (model years 2001-2003) in April 2002 partly because of fascination with high technology and partly because I wanted to find ways to send less money to Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia supporting terrorism and avoid giving the USA a reason to send troops to war. For three plus years I've been extremely happy with the Prius, having no problems other than needing to replace the low wear-rating tires that came with the car. My Prius handles better than my conventional Honda Civic (a high mpg car), has more "pep," drives better in the winter, gives me a higher more comfortable seating position, and is all around a better car. I regularly achieve in the mid-forties mpg on average in the summer (running about 45 mpg on my current tank of gas), and I can get 50 mpg on a long trip or certain driving routes around town. I have a short work commute, and this brings down my average mpg as short trips do for ALL CARS. Gas mileage for ALL CARS drops in the winter due to several factors including the cold dense air and engine warm up inefficiency. My Prius gets mid to high 30s mpg in the winter. If you want lots of real life data on the Prius, John has documented his personal experience with the Classic and the 2004+ Prius extensively on his site, http://john1701a.com/

Remember that simply calculating your mileage on a given single tank of gas is inaccurate. You can only get a long term, total gas mileage number by keeping a continuous count of all gas put in the tank and all miles driven. Just because the window sticker on your car claims 28 mpg highway doesn't mean that you're getting this all the time in mixed driving, winter and summer. MPG estimates are calculated for 72 degrees, no adverse conditions, no extra load in the car, no air conditioning, and for 2WD mode of 4WD vehicles. Unless you have a calibrated trip computer in the car, you probably don't really know what mileage you're getting.

Prius emissions are supposed to be about 1/10 of a conventional, low emission vehicle. This rating is called SULEV on my Prius, which stands for Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle. My conventional Civic is rated as a LEV, for Low Emission Vehicle. I use low sulfur gas to keep my Prius catalytic convertor from being damaged by the sulfur. This kind of gas is not yet available widely in the USA, so that may explain why some testing shows the emission levels are not as low as expected. Do you have a reference for this testing info? The Prius goes to great lengths to minimize emissions and was technically designed around this requirement instead of simply trying to achieve the highest gas mileage possible. It captures the exhaust from the first few minutes of run time until the CC is warmed up and working.

So I don't think anyone is taking a chance with buying a Toyota hybrid car. They have the most extensive experience of any automaker with a full hybrid gas/electric system---seven plus years. Honda's hybrid system is quite different and has it's pros and cons. My impression is that it is a simpler technology with fewer advantages and less long term potential. Battery technology is improving all the time, and the coming "plug-in" hybrids have huge potential to reduce oil consumption much further. People tinkering with the Prius (which Toyota does not condone) have added battery power and are getting on the order of 100 mpg (plus the electricity from the grid). See http://www.calcars.org/priusplus.html

--Chris

We got a used 2003 model Prius. Of couse you are taking a chance with new technology, but to answer a previous post.

As your post seemd to be directed at me I wish to elaborate some. I didn't say hybrids were bad and I'm glad your Prius is doing well and that you love it. My point was that even though hybrids are available for the public, they technically are still being tested to work the kinks out and improve the technology for the future. My friends that rushed out to get a hybrid car most likely ended up with lemons, it happens, even with the most expensive and luxurious of cars and after years of perfecting the existing technology.

For the most part, the hybrid cars are towards the end of this "public field testing" stage but they still are working the problems out. The early ones are racking up the mileage and changing hands and problems found in the earlier models are being corrected for the newer models.

As far as mileage, 40 + mpg in many cases. In my area of Pittsburgh, PA it's more like 32-38 mpg (city) for a hybrid Prius. Testing that was shown on several local news stations last year indicate that emissions aren't quite as low as one should expect due to the fact the hybrid engine is under load much more often due to the terrain of the area. The tested Toyota Prius hybrid came in slightly lower than a similar Toyota model with a 4 cylinder gas engine under Pennsylvania emissions testing and came in with around 34 mpg for the hybrid vs 26 mpg for the gasoline engine. The emission difference was described as minimal for congested, stop and go city driving where stops were less than 10 seconds and average rush hour speed fluctuated between 15 to 35 mph. As you said though, do your own independent investigation as each area is different and some areas are much harder on vehicles than other areas. In some areas the hybrids perform much better and that's great.

While 32-38 mpg (city) is still pretty good for my area, it isn't close to what the car is being touted to get at 48 mpg (city). While I agree the EPA estimates are usually off, manufacturers aren't required to use the EPA estimates. The only legal requirement is that they can't claim higher mileage than the EPA estimates. They are legally allowed to post lower and more realistic mileage estimates but rarely does this happen.

Considering my old 82 Cavalier with 2.0 liter 4 cyl got 28 mpg city, my old GMC S-15 2wd with a 4.3 liter 6 cyl got 23 mpg city and my current 97 S-10 4wd 4.3 liter 6 cyl gets about 20 mpg city, the mileage difference between those and a hybrid in my area really isn't all that much. At minimum, 12 mpg at the low end and the difference in gas tank sizes mean I'd still be getting gas as often as I do now.

One day a few years from now I'll probably end up with a hybrid. In driving a Prius once, I said I was pleased with power it had but the fact my freinds have a lot of problems with their hybrids, it gives me a pause to wait for a while until the technology matures a little more. All in all though, hybrids are here to stay and more models will be offered. People just need to do the research first before making the initial plunge.

As far as diesel hybrids, which I'm more familiar with, there's little difference besides the much higher cost to obtain, operate and maintain it.

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Bush, has recently started mentioning clean diesels. My VW TDI clean diesel gets 40+ on the interstate amd 35/38 around town. VW advertises higher milage, but this is actual.

With the low sulphur diesel standard coming for 07, more small diesels will be on the way.

RDC- have you had any experience with the clean diesel/hydraulic hybrids. UPS has a few they're testing (sorry, I have no details on where), and the Expedition (Ford seems to be pretty deep into this research co-op) has a combined increase of 85%. That might be a bit unfair as the diesel isn't an option for that vehicle yet, but the hydraulic system gains 30-40% with the current motor. BTW here's a link to what I'm talking about.

BTW I own one yet as there isn't one made today that meets my needs.

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Still looking for something profound or inspirational to place here.

http://www.fedex.com/us/about/news/?link=4

April 22, 2005 09:00 AM US Eastern Timezone

FedEx Announces Plans to Add up to 75 ''Clean Air'' Hybrid Trucks to Fleet

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 2005--FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), has announced plans to add up to 75 hybrid, diesel electric trucks to its service fleet in the next 12 months, contingent upon pricing and availability. The announcement coincided with the unveiling of two FedEx hybrid trucks in the nation's capital on Thursday, which brought the company-wide total of hybrid trucks in use to 18.


"Placing hybrid trucks in Washington D.C., and the planned increase for next year reflects the growing viability of hybrid trucks," said John Formisano, vice president of Global Vehicles, FedEx Express. "It also shows the commitment of FedEx to pursue the use of promising technologies that both reduce fuel costs and provide more environmentally responsive vehicles for the communities in which we live and work."

The Washington D.C. rollout is a joint initiative with Environmental Defense and Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN).

The FedEx Express E700 hybrid electric vehicle decreases particulate emissions by 96 percent and travels 57 percent farther on a gallon of fuel than a conventional FedEx truck, reducing fuel costs by more than one third.

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If running your car by gasoline power part of the time, and having to get out and push it under your own power at other times, counts as a hybrid... then yes I own one. :)

If running your car by gasoline power part of the time, and having to get out and push it under your own power at other times, counts as a hybrid... then yes I own one. :)

HAHAHAHAHA You own a wanker hybrid too hey???

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_Shadow,,00.html

THE HUMVEE GOES HYBRID: The Diesel-Electric Shadow RST-V

Is the DoD going green? The new diesel-electric hybrid Shadow RST-V certainly makes it seems that way. It uses less than 50 percent of the normal fuel weight of a Humvee, and runs on four magnet motors and two lithium-ion battery packs. A typical Humvee guzzles over 1,000 pounds of fuel per mission, and the civilian equivalent (the Hummer H2) was ranked among the "12 Most Environmentally Unfriendly Vehicles of 2004." But don't worry, a green-friendly Humvee is fairly low-priority on the DoD's list of innovations. The Shadow RST-V's reduced fuel consumption wasn't created to make it better for environment, it was designed make it the stealthy and efficient multi-purpose attack vehicle of the future.

The Shadow RST-V is a new diesel-electric hybrid vehicle used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting. The vehicle is aluminum bodied, with two side doors and a rear access ramp. Bulletproof windows are standard, and for added protection against small arms and mines, an armor package can also be installed. The Shadow RST-V demonstrates the most current of cutting-edge technology developed by Naval materials scientists with sponsorship by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Shattering records during testing, the Shadow is poised to replace the Humvee as the Marine Corps' new multi-purpose vehicle.

Powertrain

Why replace the Humvee? First of all, the Shadow RST-V can run circles around the Humvee, and go undetected while doing so. Its diesel-electric hybrid powertrain makes the Shadow's "stealth" mode possible. In this mode, the Shadow is operated on pure battery power, allowing for silent movement for over 20 miles with very low thermal and acoustic signatures. Four RST-Vs were tested during the last few years. This included more than 7,000 miles of field-testing and 1,000 mile endurance runs. The Shadow successfully completed live firing and severe off-road exercises, and broke a few records in the process. At the Army's Rock Ledge Course at Yuma, the Shadow came in with a time of 13 minutes and 50 seconds. The previous time was over 32 minutes. The RST-V also breaks records with fuel economy. The Humvee typically uses 1,040 pounds of fuel per month during extended reconnaissance missions. The RST-V uses only 440.

The Shadow's diesel generator is a Detroit turbocharged, intercooled 2.5-liter DI-4V inline 4 engine that drives the Shadow with 138 Hp -- as much as your typical Honda Accord or Mazda Miata. Not very impressive until you realize that the Shadow is about 3 times the size of a normal sedan. On top of that, the Shadow uses a series of magnets for propulsion, driven by the main diesel motor. An 110kW Magnet Motor drives four 50kW Magnet Motors mounted on the each of the Shadow's four hubs, which are powered by two SAFT Li-Ion battery packs with a total rated output of 20kW hours and a peak power output of 80kW. The batteries augment the diesel generator for "burst" energy requirements, and are recharged during low demand operations. They can even recuperate energy when breaking.

In the event of battery failure, the Shadow can run on the diesel engine alone, in which case it has a range of 758km at 50km per hour. Operating on battery power alone, the Shadow's range is 32km. The vehicle is even capable of movement on a single hub motor.

One benefit of the Shadow's unique powertrain is the two axis pneumatic suspension, which allows the tires to be pulled in, reducing its footprint from a 79 inches to 62 inches. The ground clearance can also be lowered to .1m.

Renaissance Vehicle

Marines can configure the Shadow for a wide range of missions including mobile command post, forward observation, forward air control, reconnaissance, light attack, air defense, logistics, personnel carrier, and anti-armor and mortar weapons carrier. It can even serve as a battlefield ambulance. The Shadow's versatility is complimented by its remarkable deployability. It can roll on and off standard helicopters such as the CH-53 Super Sea Stallion, CH-46 Sea Knight, and CH-47 Chinook with relative ease, and is also compatible with the standard aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, and the new V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Up to 12 RST-Vs can fit into a C-17 Globemaster, or as many as 21 into the C-5 Galaxy.

Surveillance

The Shadow is equipped with an electro-optical (EO) sensor package, mounted on a 3 meter telescoping mast. The EO package is capable of dual Field of Vision (FOV) daylight/thermal imaging, and includes a Northrop Grumman Lightweight Laser Designator and Ranger (LLDR). The LLDR system can recognize targets in day, night and obscurant conditions, and determine the exact range to the target. The system then communicates this information to other members in the Shadow's digital battlefield. The entire sensor package is linked to an inertial navigation and Global Positioning System, incorporating a Smiths Industries north direction finder (azimuthal accuracy is 3.6 miliradians or .21 degrees). Also packed with the best in defense countermeasures, the Shadow can be equipped with smoke grenade launchers, laser and radar detectors, and missile launch sensors.

Under development by General Dynamics Land Systems Division since 1997, the Shadow RST-V is slated to replace the M151 A2 fast attack vehicle currently used by the Marine Corps for Special Forces (SF) support. After test and evaluation and rigorous trials, the RST-Vs superior mobility, deployability and fuel economy are welcome advantages over the Humvee's loud, gas guzzling ways.

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