Re: GM/Hybrids/Hydrogen

[farna@xxxxxxx]

For those with pretty much city type driving commutes (more stop and go than steady speeds), the Prius will generate great numbers, as you got. It will actually get a little LESS mpg than a Matrix or similar size vehicle on long commutes on the interstate where it runs mainly off the gas engine and uses spurts from the electric side for acceleration. It's a trade-off. That's why I mentioned it would be the perfect "second car". Drive it back and forth toe work and such, then take the "family car" on long trips. So for a two car family, the one that does the least driving can use the "family car" on a daily basis, and the most use the Prius. I haveto admit, it's probably more like 75% of families that could benefit from the Prius in this way. But for me that would mean driving the Rambler on all long trips. I really don't mind it that much, but even though updated it's a 40 year old car, and noise is a little more toward the hot rod side. You can have a conversation or listen!
  to the radio while going down the road, but both are a bit of a strain! A quieter muffler would fix most of that "problem", but I like my mild hot rod. It definitely rides comfortable enough, though the steering is a bit touchy with a quick ratio R&P from a T-bird (note: don't get a quick ratio R&P if you ever do that conversion!! quick is 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, standard 3-3.25).

I was just reading that if the battery isn't charged at least every two weeks it could seriously degrade battery performance. A retired couple bought one expecting to lock it in the garage several times a year for vacations lasting up to a month. They were a little upset to discover that fact AFTER buying! Toyota customer service told them they should have read the owners manual before purchasing. They've been telling friends they have to limit their vacation to two weeks or have a car sitter. Many have decided not to buy because of the two week deal. You'd think that a simple plug in battery maintainer would be available. A 1A motorcycle maintainer could be connected to the auxilliary battery terminals easy enough, but would that get through to the main battery? 

On February 17, 2006 Robert Sliko wrote:

> Just for comparison,  I got to borrow a Prius for 2 weeks while the inlaws
> were on vacation.  My daily comute, mainly in town, drop off kids at school,
> go to work, come home, total 25 miles a day.
> 
> 2001 Pontiac Aztek (I know, but it was cheap used) 16 MPG
> 
> 1986 Mustang GT 16 MPG
> 
> 2005 Prius 48 MPG.   Triples my mileage, performance is more than ok, but
> definitely not a hot rod.  Hybrids are not pie in the sky...They are here
> today, seem to work just fine.
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sandwich Maker" <adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 10:35 AM
> Subject: Re: GM/Hybrids/Hydrogen
> 
> 
> >" From: farna@xxxxxxx
> > "
> > " This is what GM has said for the last 2-3 years at least -- they were
> > " going to skip the electric and hybrid drives due to limited
> > " practicality,
> >
> > ummm aren't fuel cell cars electric?  perhaps developing a
> > cost-effective mass producible electric drivetrain is easier than i
> > think, but i recall the troubles gm had with the initnal ev-1s.
> >
> > " and go straight to hydrogen fuel cells. This makes a
> > " little sense -- people aren't exactly flocking to hybrids.
> >
> > true - but toyota for one is selling as many prii as they can make.
> >
> > " They're impractical for the vast majority of drivers.
> >
> > i'm beginning to wonder if hybrids are impractical period.  they
> > -sound- good, but i haven't seen any analysis of total life-cycle
> > costs including additional manufacturing pollution, battery
> > replacement, disposal of hazardous waste...
> >
> > " It makes sense not to waste R&D money on a stop gap.
> > " []
> > " But there will be some lean years
> > " during that gap if they don't do something to show the public they are
> > " on the power curve -- hence the EV-1. Maybe they should have kept them
> > " out there with some minor improvements? At least something would be
> > " running around.
> >
> > as i recall, folks who were lucky enough to get ev-1s loved them and
> > tried to get gm to let them buy the cars when their leases were up -
> > and there was a long waiting list of folks who wanted more ev-1s.
> >
> > imho gm would've been -very-wise- to keep the ev-1 going and perhaps
> > even slowly evolving, even if it was never more than a halo car.
> >
> > " Converting the big vehicles to hybrid doesn't net much.
> >
> > not the way they're doing it for sure.  it's just marketing, and if
> > anything they're selling it as a 'clean' way to get -more-power-.
> >
> > " A Malibu converted might, but one of their smaller cars would be better.
> > " Some cost involved, but the public confidence it would inspire would be
> > " priceless.
> >
> > it would be an excellent move, but somehow i can't see gm putting the
> > commitment into it that toyota and honda have.  it'd probably wind up
> > another half-fast product like the olds 5.7 diesel.
> >
> > " As you pointed out -- they are betting on someone else developing
> > " infrastructure by the time they are fully ready for production. That's
> > " the only real loop hole in their strategy, other than the public
> > " confidence, but it's a big one! There has to be some partnering with oil
> > " companies (the most likely distributors of hydrogen) and other industry
> > " contacts to get that infrastructure in place -- maybe even the
> > " government. That's the only way Brazil got turned on to alcohol fuel --
> > " government investment. A very good case of government working for the
> > " greater good of the country!
> >
> > we're talking about a long slow process here, with a large scale
> > commitment.  i don't see any sign the relevant parties are even
> > thinking about it, let along talking or planning.  certainly the
> > government isn't likely to consider that kind of horizon.
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> > Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
> > internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
> > adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >


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