Comments on: Hybrid registration spikes

By: BLISS

BLISS — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:49:37 +0000

GOOD NEWS FOR HYBRIDS

By: Scott Kempton

Scott Kempton — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:31:28 +0000

I hope it does Commodore—the thought of driving to work and back without burning any gasoline is awfully provocative.

By: Commodore

Commodore — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:54:11 +0000

Scott – the Volt has to happen. And that commercial shows it too; I am GM has to be the most irresponsible company to put out an ad for something and then never do it.

By: Scott Kempton

Scott Kempton — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:00:05 +0000

Commodore—thanks for the link. All I can say is, GM better deliver on this one, ’cause they sure are hyping the hell out of it! There was a segment on CBS Sunday Morning this past weekend about this car, and they interviewed the woman who’s in charge of the battery engineering effort, and the bottom line is, if they can’t develop a suitable battery, the Volt isn’t going to happen.

If cars DO end up going all electric someday, it’ll be interesting to see how the operating costs compare to “the bad old days” of internal combustion engines. I don’t know about anybody else, but while I acknowledge that our dependence on foreign oil is a bad thing, what bothers me the most is the cost of gasoline, and the lies that we’re being fed to justify it.

By: Commodore

Commodore — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:32:32 +0000

tripleonefive: I have something just for you about the volt

http://youtube.com/watch?v=R_J2Jx51XZs

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:42:25 +0000

Oh yes, it’s so easy to mislead the masses into thinking they’re “buying green” or “helping global warming” with crap hybrids. Something must be done to rectify this!

By: A4

A4 — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:00:17 +0000

hybrids suck

By: autonut

autonut — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:37:24 +0000

Carguy5, there are two sides to each coin. Toyota Priuses are selling like hotcakes, Camry’s not so good (putting it in Borat’s vernacular). Honda Civics don’t fair very well either. Marketing research tells us (in press) that Priuses sell as a status symbols. It is not the cost, it is desire to look green. Apparently you look greener in a Prius then in Civic, although Civic drives nicer. Of course you have to put an advertisement on the Civic that it is hybrid, otherwise Jones next door may not realize how green you are. And if you Al Gore it is a problem of perception.
But this is perception and perception is reality. The fact that people are buying more hybrids and you can’t keep them on the shelf (in the case of Prius) is a good news. It is the effort trying to do something good that counts. Realistically speaking hybrids are horrible in the winter and ill suited for cold North East, and Mid West. The mileage goes way down in the winter, and car of the same size with a small engine without dead weight of butteries would do better. But as long as hybrids are selling, the manufacturers will try to fill the demand and more fuel efficient vehicles will be produced and sold. Because of production cost, diesels will start coming out and that will increase adoption of efficient cars and trucks.

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:19:57 +0000

GM Sales: I was actually thinking about buying a hybrid tahoe, but Instead, I think I’ll go lambda.

deantj: I thought $2.75 was the floor, and got surprised as he;; when gas went down

jonnycat: Toyota has a better choice in its own lineup

By: 2008PowerStrokeF450Lariat

2008PowerStrokeF450Lariat — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:30:44 +0000

and who said hybrids were supposed to have a decline in sells?

By: Carguy5

Carguy5 — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:05:44 +0000

I thought hybrids were not selling? The media is trying to make people think nobody is buying them so everyone will go back to buying more suvs. Or maybe its not the media its ford or chevy writing the articles.

By: Scarface03

Scarface03 — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:52:29 +0000

I think that oil demand is too vast for hybrid sales to slow down (or to certainly reverse) the trend of escalating gas prices. Especially when you think in terms of absolute number of vehicles on the road. Increases in the percentage sales of hybrids is probably misleading too, especially when you think about other fuel-efficient cars like small econocars and low displacement diesels.

I think Vipallica is right though, all the recent estimates I’ve read are convinced that the extra oil consumption and pollution generated by researching and constructing batteries (on an industrial scale) nets out any eco-savings with the hybrid car out on the road.

By: jonnycat

jonnycat — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:46:32 +0000

I’d much rather drive a Ford Verve than the Prius, all the while, kicking its ass in fuel consumption. Priuses aren’t any better for the environment than virtually any compact plus they have their batteries which be be another concern when the time comes for disposal.

People are sheep. Baaa

By: Vipallica

Vipallica — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:27:44 +0000

Why do so many people think that hybrids are good for nature?
Ever thaught of the production of the batteries…and what you’ll do with them when they are old?
And why do so many people who don’t live in a city buy a hybrid? That doesn’t make any sense…

By: LSC

LSC — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:06:13 +0000

I finally figured it out. 1487_GM_SALES is one of the top executives at GM. That explains everything.

By: 1487_GM_SALES

1487_GM_SALES — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:53:35 +0000

There will be no need to advertise the Tahoe hybrid. People are already lined up out the door to get their hands on one. GM can’t build enough of them!

By: tripleonefive

tripleonefive — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:05:25 +0000

Because they are insignificant just like the rest of GMs lineup. Gm better work on getting that Volt thing out so that the Energy conscious hillbillies can buy them lol

By: Commodore

Commodore — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:29:24 +0000

I just read this article yesterday..

Japan has a massive foothold in the hybrid market – Ford’s Escape barely registers and all the mild hybrids offered by GM like the Aura Green Line. This is one area that domestics need to get their game together on so they can win the hearts and minds of people on the whole “yea, we are environmentally friendly too” thing. And for GM, it will be even harder because of that “Who Killed the Electric Car” movie.

By the way, GM just yesterday released pics of their Tahoe/Yukon hybrids – why aren’t they on LLN yet?

By: autonut

autonut — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:04:33 +0000

In real cost of money adjusted to inflation the price came down quite a few times. During ‘77 the price jumped 50% followed by drastic inflation of almost 20% per year. Then it jumped to equivalent of over $100/barrel and about $4/gallon in todays dollar during 1980. Cars shrunk drastically and price of gas dropped like a rock. In ’90s it was less then $1/gallon at some point. Which raised appetite for monstrosity and every mom had to drive Excursion with every dad protecting their young in Hummer. If folks in love with those fine examples of transportation, it is fine and they certainly welcome to navigate them if they can afford $4/gallon. Of course now we have India and China getting their wheels and therefore higher demand for oil. However, WE(US) are the biggest market of world oil and when public taste will shift and more fuel efficient car will get in vogue again, the price of gas will follow.

By: Deanster

Deanster — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:46:36 +0000

^ Nein autonut. While there might be a tiny dip in demand for gas, the oil companies will not drop prices at the end of the day and the government will keep the difference gained.

You won’t see a red cent – once a tax or price hits a certain height, it never comes down.

By: autonut

autonut — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:38:34 +0000

Actually the rise of sale in hybrids will either slow down rise in gas prices or even reverse the trend. We all should thank the people who are buying those things, because they perform public service. Not that I would like to drive one of them.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:16:49 +0000

I shant be one. Yea Challenger! Yea 6.1L V8!