Re: Toyota want to sell 100% hybrids

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 14 Sep 2005, gremlin1 wrote:

> The downfall of these cars is the time it will take you to
> recoup your investment over a non Hybrid in a small high
> mileage car. Depending on driving habits and mileage it
> could take 10+ years before you recoup the $5000.00 of
> additional investment from fuel economy savings.

This is often the problem introducing new technologies; it's
initiallyy very expensive, but when it works out, scale fixes
things. Cellphones are a good example. There's an absolutely
incredible amount of computer and software technology in even the
crappiest modern cellphone, and they're now available for nothing
in thrift stores (usable GSM phones).

Individuals buy for component cost (whatsa car cost me?) but the
overall system cost (car, fuel, fuel supply, pollution, health,
road maint from drips, recycling) matters too, or ought to.  With
air pollution increasing in places, and gas costing $3 and up
seeming without limit, etc, the scales seem to be tipping that
way.

It's too bad for me they all seem so soulless to drive. I dislike
even plastic interior parts; my 1970 Hornet was a hard compromise
for me to make, but at least I was able to make it my own colors,
and not Corporate World Market Neutral Gray.

(I want everyone else to drive a clean ZEV car, and for us to

happily drive our old cars. :-)