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Toyota Prius and Honda Hybrid: Will anyone buy Hybrids??
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Comments
drive it. It has more than enough acceleration for
our San Diego Freeways. I was to 75 before I
realized. So quiet, so roomy ( I rode in the back
seat). It is definitely the car of the future.
Kinda ugly like the VW bug. But for 52 MPG around
town it is beautiful. And a warranty to die for 8 years on the drive train. Toyota wants this car to succeed. I hope it does.
Minneapolis Minnesota
This article is dated July 25th. And the Prius went on sale July 14th. In 11 days, Toyota recieved 1,800 orders for Prius.
From what I heard from the dealer, there is currently a long waiting list taking up next 2 months of production. You can expect a 3-4 months wait if you order now.
Has anyone seen any reports forecasting how many hybrids will be sold over the next few years and also what numbers must be sold for toyota and honda to breakeven.
gracias. chaz
"No we're not selling well below cost. Remember that the car has been in production for three years and now at 3K/month global production we're real close to break even."
For more Prius info, visit:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/toyota-prius
Enjoy--Eric in Enfield, ME
Awaiting his Prius in 31 days!
A LOSER......FUEL CELLS ANYONE????
I think that is premature to declare hybrids a loser. The game has just begun. We will have to wait and see.
Martin
(1) where did you get the data that the Nickel Metal Hydride battery require replacement at 100,000 miles? The warranty coveres up to 100,000 miles alone. And usually things are still good to go at least several years beyond warranty. And how do you know that the replacement battery cost $5000? The battery pack in the Prius has individual cells, and you only need to relace the broken cell, not the whole pack. Also 10 years down the road, the battery could cost only severl hundred dollars. These things tend to get cheaper over time. Example, Japanese Prius, when it was introduced in the fall of 1996, used a older Nickel Metal Hydride battery. The U.S Prius 3 years later, uses a battery that's cheaper, more than 100 lbs lighter, smaller, and has greater storage capacity.
(2) I don't think either of these cars require 91 Octane fuel. Not sure, but I think they run on regular 87 gasoline.
(3) depreciation might be high. I agree, since it's novel technology, and novel techonlogy tend to get updated very quickly, and old technology tend to depreciate.
So it's a calculation of gas saving Vs depreciation. I agree that for most people, it's not that big of a saving, if at all. 100,000 miles at 2x gas milage means you save 50% on fuel cost, that at $1.8 a gallon, translate to be about $3,600 in fuel saving. So the question is will this saving override the depreciation.
I don't really know.
Fuel cell car:
Both Honda and Toyota has prototypes that's already in the trials. But they are not expect to be put on the market in the next couple of years. The cost is just too high, and the equipment is too heavy.
Major problem with the fuel stack. Hydrogen could not be safely stored, it's too explosive and too cold to be stored in the liquid form. So they had to come up with alloys that behaves like sponge and soak up the hydrogen. But then, the extraction process becomes complicated and costly.
Fuel cell has a way to go yet. Mean while, hybride will be the most efficient way to go.
If you live in a state with electricity deregulation, you can choose the company that provides your electric generation. The one I went with (and Kenny Loggins pitches), Green Mountain Energy (greenmountain.com), offers various green sources of electricity such as biomass, geothermal, small hydro, solar, and wind.
So, a 100% electric vehicle running on power generated by wind turbines would seem better, from a green view, than a hybrid using gasoline or hydrogen.
Do you know how many wind generators it would take to keep a fleet of electic cars going? The landscape would be totally encrusted with them.
Ever drive by the wind mill farm on I-10 outside of Palm Springs? When you first see them, they look pretty cool. They make good backdrops for car ads too. But I bet if they started building them by the hundreds of thousands we'd need, the Greenies would protest most loudly.
The best places for them are wild, unspoiled valleys. Don't forget they need access roads and support buildings too.
Go nuke, I say. (58 million Frenchmen can't be wrong.)
Matt
There is simply not enough "clean" power to go around, a lot of it is not clean. Hydro hurts rivers, and wind mills kill large numbers of birds.
Andrew
Now, that said, I also have to admit that I am not consistent. I only get my information from TV and groups like this. I don't do my homework on the issues as well as I could (in fact, probably pretty far from it.) I don't have a single solar panel on my 3000 sq. ft. house and don't loose any sleep over it. (I am pretty sure that my household energy consumption and resulting pollution are far greater than what even my 15-passenger van produces.)
I am no greenie, although environmental concerns do have some importance to me. So, I guess, I am looking for an easy to evaluate contribution that I can make. Something that I am comfortable with defending without having to be an expert on all the potential impacts of my contribution attempts. A hybrid car gives me that. The only area that might trip me up is any part of the hybrid that is not recycled that I wouldn't also have on a normal car (if any.)
Martin G.
I'm very happy with the car.
I'm getting about 47.5 mpg. Had it up to 51.x
for awhile, but apparently reverted to bad habits
that have dropped me down to my current 47.5.
I paid MSRP for the car ($20450) and have the
impression that one cannot bargain for a lower
price -- that Toyota is making little or nothing
on the car at MSRP. In California, a $2000
tax rebate is available, I have heard.
I am putting 87 octane gas in the car, per
instructions in my owner's manual.
According to the specs in my owner's manual,
maximum torque for the electric motor is 300
-350. That means that, while the horsepower
is very low, torque is higher than what is
available with a Camry.
I would be interested in hearing what other
folks think about their Prius.
Also, the cost of the car is heavily subsidized by Toyota. THus the above is tilted for the priapus.
If you don't believe me, look at Europe. The cost of gas there is 2-4 times higher than our "high" prices, but gas and diesel engines are still the standard propulsion method.
So, way do I really want a Prius yes, it will cut the amount of gas I use in half per year, but the is only $800 per year it is not for monitory gain, it is half the amount of poplution and mostly it is to say we’re not going to take gas-pigs any more!
When our ancestors through tea into Boston harbor, it was a clear message we’re not going to take it any more! With the oil industries as heavy investors in US auto manufactures, do we really think the US auto industry will be jumping on board with new auto designs that slash gas guzzling. I live in CA CA thinks nothing of adding extortionate taxes to our gas price when will all of this stop!!! It wont until the US says we have had it states can not control my monitory spending by control a FIXED cost and the oil industry we will not be dancing to the tone you are playing rather take heed and listen we are the customer and we’re right!
attending the first annual West Coast G.O.H.E.V (gathering of hybrid
electric vehicles) Saturday December 23rd in Griffith Park, (Los
Angeles) CA.
This is a BYOBBQ (Bring your own BBQ.) Or, bring a picnic.
This gathering is open to all Hybrid or EV car owners and enthusiasts
(Prius, Insight, EV1 or other EVs) including all who are on waiting
lists for one.
There will be at least one Toyota representative there.
Appropriately, this gathering will be in the vicinity of Travel Town,
so if you have kids, you can explore the old trains and take a ride
on a mini train around the park or go to the Los Angeles Zoo
afterwards.
Please write me and tell me:
1) the most often asked question you have had about your car
2) the most ridiculous question about your car
3) the most incredible story about your car
4) the most desired accessory for your car
5) any interesting or funny anecdotes you may have about your car.
6) other eco-things you own
These will be read at the gathering.
Besides food, Frisbees etc., bring $1.00 for each door prize ticket.
a $3.00 donation is appreciated but not mandatory.
RSVP is mandatory to determine which area of the park to reserve.
When e-mailing, please give the following information:
Name
Email address
Home City
Car Driven, ordered, or desired
Amount of people in your party
There will be a special prize for the person (with a hybrid) that
traveled the farthest to reach the gathering.
Please email me at: jimalden@email.com to be added to the list and
for specific directions and times.
Hope to see you there!
-Jim Alden
Upon entering the car, neither head nor shoulders met with obstructions. Great. Seating was very comfortable. Upon exiting the parking lot, I just had to push pedal to the metal. I was amazed at the smooth accel it delivered. It wont beat my 99 Acura, but totally acceptable. I then shot up to 80 mph, listening for engine and wind noise. Surprise. No noise at all from windows or engine. I then hit the backroads with my wife and this 275 pound salesman in tow. I slowed down, accelerated, stopped, accelerated, and hit every pothole in sight. This baby acted like a big timer. Someone got something right. I was sold.
Sure, I can nitpick the Prius, but I do that with every car I own. I wish the shift were in a different location. I wish there were more trunk space. The many positive attributes just outweighed the few negative ones. I placed an order in August and will consider myself lucky to get it by Xmas. I have gone back to drive the car on three more occasions and cannot find any reason to cancel my order. Before you knock this car, you just gotta give it a test drive. I will write again after I am a proud papa of a baby Prius.
There is nothing wrong with this, people buy more expensive cars because they go fast (Corvette). A corvette does not save you much time driving, some people just are willing to spend more $ to have a fast car. Why not spend money on a clean car? This is just consumer choice.
That said, your whole rant about the oil companies controling auto technology is paranoid and silly. For years people have whispered about the biggest urban myth of all time, the "200 mpg" carbeurator. If car makers could increase the mileage of their cars cheaply they would.
Making cars much more efficient is very expensive, the prius is very expensive to make. Honda loses money on each one they sell. Even WITH these subsidies gas is so cheap that people will only buy them because they like the idea of saving gas, whilst spending more money. Now their is just not a big enough market for these cars. Standard gasoline propulsion is cheap, and fairly clean.
Not sure what your problem with gas taxes are, they are about the only effect way of reducing gasoline consumption.
I think that Honda is smart to do make the Prius, it might not be competitive NOW, but when (not if) gas starts getting scarce prices will go to the high level (6 bucks per gallon?) where this technology can really shine.
Andrew
It appears to me that some posters just "don't get it" when it comes to the Prius.
Here is a car that is VERY fuel efficient AND has extremely LOW emissions AND drives/rides well AND seats 5 AND has a generous trunk. All this in a little car!! It also incorporates advanced technology like CVT as well!!
Prius, in my humble opinion, is the IDEAL and BEST "city car" ever made. It is fairly cheap and quite usable. Gas costs are negligible (even when gas rises inevitably to MUCH higher prices). Cost of operation is $0 for at least 3 years (all scheduled maint including oil changes are included). Hybrid elements (including battery) warr for 8 YEARS/100k miles!! BTW, in 8 years the cost of a battery for this car will be peanuts (if indeed you still own the car), AND the warranty is COMPLETELY transferrable if you choose to sell the car.
This car brings together an AMALGAM of ligh tech, low emission, nice/easy to drive, LOW gas mileage, and VERY reasonable cost that is NOT available ANYWHERE else at this time.
I have been working on SIMPLIFYING my life. Prius CERTAINLY plays into that concept quite well.
To me, this seems like a pretty good deal, and although I'm still doing research (I've only been looking for a week), I think that I'm pretty well convinced on the Prius. I've heard good thing after good thing, and the only complaints I've heard in articles and such so far are the cost and the type of battery/future costs. Neither of which seems like much of a problem to me.
http://members.nbci.com/gohev/gohev.htm
At the request of a several people, because of proximity to
Christmas, the GOHEV, (gathering of hybrid electric vehicles)
originally scheduled on Dec. 23rd, has been moved to Sunday, January
7th 2001 at Griffith Park, in Los Angeles, CA.
There has been a great response to this event so far.
Edmunds.com has offered to give out shirts, mugs and other goodies.
A representative from Toyota will be joining us as well.
So far, both Toyota Prius and Honda Insight owners will be there.
Actor Ed Begley Jr. emailed to say he might also be joining us.
Hopefully he’ll have his EV1 with him.
A writer from Entertainment Today will also be there for a story and
pictures.
This will be in a picnic/BBQ area, so you can bring food, Frisbees etc.
The Grills are in the park. Expect 65 to 70 degree temps. (updates coming)
The gathering will be from 12:00 noon till the early evening.
Anyone owning or interested in owning any type of alternative fueled
vehicle is invited.
Please email gohev@email.com for specific directions and registration.
Please let us know if you will attend, and how many people are in
your party.
Hope to see you there!
Before I bought my Prius, I checked a website which was supposed to show how much I would save driving it versus my old vehicle. The savings were not impressive. I gassed up after two weeks of driving my new Prius. My last weekly fillup on my 1982 Land Cruiser was $30 and the Prius is running on $6.50 a week, with considerably higher than normal miles on Thanksgiving week. I didn't buy it mainly to save money on gas, anyhow, but I'm surely pleased with these results.
The Echo gets about 30 mpg overall, the Prius seems to get 45 mpg.
But like you say, the gas savings are not the main reason to buy a Prius.
Andrew
Prius with an automatic (it only comes with automatic) gets 52(city)/45 (highway).
In 50/50 city/highway driving, the difference is the difference of the 2 average (35-48.5), so the fuel economy between Echo and Prius differ by 13.5 mpg.
Geeze
Compared so a similarly capable car such as the Ford Focus, which gets 28 mpg (50/50 city/highway), the difference between 48.5 mpg and 28 mpg is much more dramatic.
but who wants to be stranded in the bleak, dismal Nevada desert or the wind and snow swept plains of Wyoming?
ECHO has proven Toyota technology. Insight is a very impractical 2 door with very little usable space. I would buy a Prius if the Sienna were not so much more comfortable at a very reasonable price.
carlady/host
Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
http://freeweb.pdq.net/rfruth
1981 Raleigh for commuting, errands & fun
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun !
2000 DX 5 speed Civic hatchback
o
Does anyone know what rpm the Prius turns at 60 mph? Most of you probably know that the Prius does not have a tachometer; so, the only way that I can tell is to find some technical data or have a mechanic hook up some instrumentation to the car. The local Toyota dealer's special Prius mechanic said that he did not know. My Acura turns 2,600 rpm at 60; the Honda Insight turns a low 2,500 at 70, a very high gearing for a little 3 cylinder but this means the engine is just loafing at freeway speeds.
Second, does anyone know what the crankcase lubricant requirement for the Prius is? The Toyota mechanic showed me some oil; but, it looks just like something like 10W30. I suspected that the Prius would use a synthetic like the Honda Insight which uses a synthetic 0W20 at ($8.50/quart from the dealer only at this point). If the Prius normally uses only a regular mineral oil, a shift to a synthetic, like Mobil 1, might improve mileage somewhat even thought the engine is only a 4 cylinder.
Thanks for any info that anyone can provide.
Edmunds.com will be there with give-a-ways.
Temps should be in the mid 70s. Get there early so we can line up all the vehicles for pictures. We will post them later for everyone to see.
If you wish to get on the list, please email:
gohev@email.com
Mention your vehicle, (or one you're interested in)
Where you're driving from.
How many in your party.
See you there.
-Jim
carlady
Host
News & Views and Hatchbacks Message Boards
When I bought the car, the salesman said it qualified for the "Qualified Electric Vehicle Credit". At 10%, this was a major selling point. Now that I'm looking at my taxes I'm not sure the car does qualify. Does anyone know with any authority?
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c106query.html
Search on hybrid, then select item 3, this is the tax code passed this year for hybrid vehicles.
Now trying to interpret this code is a problem and I think we need input from Toyota for the Prius.
The way I read it is that we can take a tax credit for an amount based on the percentage of the power provided by the electric motor.
If the electric motor provides greater than 5 per cent but less than 10 per cent of the total power than the credit is $500, etc. according to the table.
The same type of credit applies for the regenerative brakes the way I read this. The question is how do we determine these percentages?
Can we take the horsepower of the electric motor, 44hp, plus the horsepower of the gas engine, 70hp, so 114 total hp, thus 44hp is 39% of the total.
This seems to imply that $2000 is the tax credit. I'm probably not doing this correctly. Can anyone else give any input on this?
Not to get too far off-topic, but for those of you worried about car size, power, and efficiency, VW's TDI engine (currently available in the Beetle, Golf and Jetta) may be the answer to your needs. Just for grins, I looked up the sticker for a Jetta GLS TDI, along w/ the mileage:
MSRP: 18,700
Mileage: 42/49
Very close to the Prius, plus the Jetta will actually give you some fun in your driving experience. My $0.02
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Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
http://freeweb.pdq.net/rfruth
1981 Raleigh for commuting, errands & fun
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun !
2000 DX Civic hatchback
Floridian