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http://www.kcchronicle.com/BusinessSection/327498364036624.php
Kia: Hybrid coming
"Kia Motors Corp. U.S. Chief Executive Peter Butterfield said Tuesday that the Seoul-based automaker will develop a "hybrid" model sooner than planned as rising U.S. fuel prices push buyers into more fuel-efficient models.
The shift has prompted Hyundai Motor Co.'s Kia affiliate to pull forward a program for a model using a combination of electric motor and gasoline engine to either late 2006 or early 2007, Butterfield said.
— Bloomberg News"
Most people don't need huge trucks, even in Texas, except for their image. The majority of Texas' population lives in urban areas and many people in rural areas really don't need them either. They WANT them for the few times a year that they use the capabilities, but could easily rent when the need arises.
I agree that an F350 CrewCab is overkill for a solo commuter. Of my 4 vehicles I would rather drive my PU truck than any of the others including the Lexus. I force myself to drive the Passat TDI as it is the most economical. I do not feel as safe in it as I do the PU. There are a higher percentage of big PU trucks and SUVs than any other vehicles. Besides my PU has the best climate control of all the others. I would expand on your position with why does anyone NEED a vehicle. You can ride a bike to the bus and get where you are going. I think that is possible in most parts of the USA.
http://www.bridger.us/2002/12/16/CrashTestingMINICooperVsFordF150
If I had to have a pickup I'd either get the Titan or possibly the Colorado.
IIHS Link
DaimlerChrysler engineers have developed two variants of the new dual-drive Sprinter. In the “Plug-In” van model, the diesel engine is accompanied by a 70-kW electric motor and a socket for charging the battery. The other version of the Hybrid Sprinter has no charging socket and is equipped with a somewhat smaller electric motor producing 30 kW of output. This motor’s battery has a capacity of three kilowatt-hours, which translates into a range of three to four kilometers when the electric motor is used exclusively - enough for operation in just about any pedestrian zone.
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0,,0-5-7165-1-456546-1-0-0-0-0-0-243-7165-0-0-0-0-0-0- -0,00.html
So we have a comparison above between a hybrid SUV and a non-hybrid SUV. Guess which one got superior mileage and was chosen by the test drivers?
HINT: It was not the RX400H!
Are you sure of that? The MB is able to pass Euro4 emissions without the Particulate filter that was used in this test. I would bet that the diesel has lower CO2 output than the RH. The urea filter will all but eliminate NoX. I have not seen the EPA rating on the RH or HH yet.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103069
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-diesel28aug28,1,3279063.story?coll=la-headlines-busi- - ness
Cheaper than milk, coffee, and water, depending on how you look at it !!
"Zero Emissions Evo IX MIEV Produces 268-HP and 1,528 LB-FT of Torque
The 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX (ninth generation in case you were wondering) is set to go rallying later this week. While this news wouldnt be out of the ordinary, given the Lancers winning history in rally racing, this is no ordinary Evo, and the rally event isnt an FIA sanctioned WRC event. Instead of burning high-octane gasoline, this car runs on volts and amps. The vehicle in question is Mitsubishis Lancer Evo IX MIEV (Mitsubishi In-Wheel Electric Vehicle) prototype, and the rally is this years Shikoku Electric Vehicle Rally."
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/mitsubishi-creates-electrifying-lancer-evo-ix-miev-- concept/1403/
How does that pickup do in rollovers? I'd bet not too good...
The bottling is where all of the cost comes from. What a silly editorial with nonsensical comparisons.
Diesels will provide better mileage, but they aren't very clean so will either need to be made so or will not be accepted by areas with smog problems. The new fuel standards for lower sulfer diesel will help, but not eliminate diesel's particulate problems.
Have you driven the E320 CDI? It outperforms the gas version and gets 37 MPG on the road. It is a nice car. I like my 2005 Passat TDI, just a bit small. Fun to drive and I love that torque on on the highway.
It should be noted that a gallon of diesel produces more CO2 than a gallon of gas when burned. So just because a diesel gets better mileage than a gasoline engine doesn't necessarily mean it produces less CO2.
Diesel's could potentially benefit from hybrid technology as well, although they may not tolerate being started and stopped so frequently without something to keep them warm.
The heat produced by a heat engine burning fossil fuels comes from the chemical reaction where hydrocarbons, which have H and C molecules in a long chain are combined with oxygen to create H2O and CO2. For every C molecule in the diesel, you get a CO2 molecule. This is also true of gasoline, but the molecules are different so one or the other could produce more CO2 per gallon. If diesel tends to have lots of H and little C, then it very well could produce way less CO2 than gasoline. Diesel does have more BTUs per gallon than gasoline, but that really doesn't answer the question.
I tried to find information about the number of carbon atoms in a gallon of diesel vs a gallon of gasoline, but I couln't find the info. Alternately, a description of the amount of CO2 produced by burning each would give the same information. If I have time this evening, I'll try to look for more info on the content of each fuel.
Diesel has 18% more energy per gallon. Burning 1.18 gallons of gasoline releases the same amount of CO2 as burning a gallon of diesel.
A diesl car getting 40 mpgs will produce the same amount of CO2 as a gasoline powered car getting 33.9 mpg if each are driven the same distance. The diesel car will produce more particulates and sulfates.
I found that diesel produces 18% more CO2 per gallon than gasoline. So, to achieve low CO2 output, you must achieve high mpg, whether you are talking about a diesel or a gasoline engine--hybrid or not. And when comparing gasoline to diesel, the diesel must get 18% better mpg to have lower CO2 emissions.
The Lexus hybrid has fairly poor CO2 output because it only gets mid to high 20s for mpg. A diesel that gets 30 mpg would compare favorably to it. The lexus hybrid actually produces much more CO2 than a regular 4 cyl Camry.
My key worry about owning a diesel will be future prices. The diesel premium over gasoline has been increasing these past few years and may increase even further. Diesel is a commercail fuel and with thirsty emerging markets and increased trade--diesel may sell at at even a higher premium to gasoline prices.
Plus even with the cleaner fuels and emisison standars, the new diesels will still produce more particulates (which come from non combusted carbon) and sulfer, which causes acid rain. Gasoline engines produce these as well, but they have been greatly reduced through the use of additives in gasoline.
I agree that diesels will provide an alternative to hybrids, though.
http://www.firehouse.com/extrication/archives/2001/july01.html
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2005/bray083105a.htm
"Well, is my face red.
I like to pooh-pooh political correctness, and things apparently designed to appeal to the liberal mindset. Hence my built-in aversion to hybrid cars, which at first bloom seemed to be a case of pandering to the enviro-whacko fringe.
After all, Honda’s first hybrid, the Insight, was indeed a technological marvel, but so utterly impractical as anything other than a commuter vehicle — not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with that. The Insight sipped gas, but with only two seats and limited storage space — and anemic power — it wasn’t really a vehicle you could take into the mountain passes and expect pulling power. I know this because that’s exactly where I took it.
Look, I have nothing against hybrids as such especially as a techno guy. But hybrids seemed to up the gas mileage ante at the expense of the "fun to drive" I love so much, and at a price that means you’ll probably never recover the extra outlay unless gas prices approach the price of premium bottled water.
Then along comes the second generation Toyota Prius for review and I’m all set to dust off my political correctness jokes to pepper my column on the hybrid.
But then, this fantastic car blew me away on its own terms! Again, my face is red - or is it green?"
If the gas prices continue in this range, sep sales will crash.
Let's keep this topic for Hybrids in the news items. Thanks!
Somehow I feel .....I really don't have a right to complain about gas prices when so many good people have endured the worst of times losing everything in one of America's most horriffic catastrophies. I sure hope that WE, as a nation, pull together and rise above these difficult times.
Railroadjames (Hybrids Save Bread)