Maybe You Don't Need a Hybrid

I drive a 2005 Chev Impala from Seattle to Sought Dakota ever fall. At around 80 miles an hour I get 29 mpg. I notice about 2 mpg drop off, when I used the 10% ethonal ( 87 octane) in Montana. Stop using the 10% ethanol, with octane level at 85, the mpg went back to 29.

It would not surprise me to find somewhere down the road that hybrids are actually worse for the environment than normal cars. That is because the batteries found in hybrids contain chemicals that are going to have to be disposed of in some fashion. How is that going to be accomplished? I think a small, say 1.4 liter, gas engine with a turbo or supercharger will produce great results. These cars are coming on line now.

I don't know any conventional car that gets the 45-50 miles per gallon that my Honda hybrid does.

I believe that hybrid cars are a transition technology toward more efficient cars. I drive a 1985 Golf diesel, not because there aren't better cars available but because there is nothing that can replace it. It has enormous distance on the odometer, but still burns no oil, and delivers 57 mpg US or 65 mpg CDN. I can operate the car for a year (including insurance, repairs and service, and fuel) for less than the first year's depreciation of a replacement. It carries two to four people comfortably (with luggage) at 110 km per hour (65 mph). It is easy to service and repair because the engine compartment is spacious and parts are easily replaced. It handles well, has a short turning radius, good visibility, It has very simple technology, doesn't require a computer and technician to diagnose and tune it.

In short it has a small carbon footprint, operates efficiently, and just plain works well, if the oil is changed once a year and the injectors serviced every few years.

I have owned a Prius for over 2 years now and average about 51 mpg. I have dropped down to 48 on the interstate but thats driving 65 to 70 mph and no car is doing as well. Strickly around town I get about 53 to 54 but if raining and using AC it drops to 51. If you are familiar with the Prius its almost a full size vehicle fully capable of 5 adults with room for groceries in the hatch back. Nothing on the market that is not a hybrid gets anywhere close to it. It performs well and is fairly comfortable. My wife calls it her sports car as its fun to drive and zips in and out of traffic.. We love it and intend to buy another when the technology improves to Lithium batteries which will further improve the gas milage. .