Ignorance is a harder problem and so systemic, I hardly notice it anymore . . . except when I see my reflection in the mirror.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Sadly true. I force myself to notice it occasionally because if we can't wake them (us) up .... they are the ones that will eventually kill us all. By the time they decide to do something about the environment, global warming, overpopulation, species obsolecence [etc.] ......... it will be too late!

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.

So much of the purchase-planning discussion about a hybrid revolves around whether the engine premium can pay for itself in the long term. Although I would agree that this is a logical argument, logic often takes the back-seat to passion any ways: You might choose a higher trim of a model because you want certain features; You elect a long-term financing arrangement without knowing that you'll have a long-term source of income; Or, you choose a car simply because it's sexy and catches your eye. So, it's not fair to play rational and so single-minded against a hybrid cost when vehicle purchases are irrational any ways. What matters is the daily experience: Lowered fuel costs or longer periods before refuelling; Cleaner emissions; A more pleasant drive; And/or, a more sporty drive that only electric torque can provide.

Auto journalists aren't paid to be rational. It's passion that sells copy. So, if they can't find the passion in a hybrid, then they don't deserve an audience.

AHHHHH!!!! Now I see the light!!! I've been 'engineering' instead of "JARHEAD" hybrider.

Time to let out my inner Grunt!

Sniper-hybrid modifications . . . a little cameo . . . tracks mod for the tires . . . TOW fittings . . . reactive amour . . . SUV lugnuts on a string.

Bob Wilson
former marine, 71-75 . . .

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

If you've heard Rush Limbaugh and/orFox News but especially CNW Marketing then they would be the voices of that 'lobby'. The term 'lobby' probably gives this group too great a sense of organization. It's probably closer to say that this loosely knit group sees hybrids as the moving symbol of the 'enviro-greenie' movement. Thus everything associated with that movement is anti-business, anti-growth, anti-traditional values and just plain too progressive.

I have sold them since before they first came here. There are still a lot of Toyota buyers that when the word 'hybrid' is mentioned pull back in horror ( not kidding ) and almost give a hex sign to ward off demons. The kinder ones will often state 'I'll wait til these are more proven.'

The next focus of the hybrid message should IMO be purely and simply on saving ( by not spending ) money on petroleum products as Shaun mentioned originally.

Here is some very positive but quiet 'trends'.
1) All 3 of the biggest vehicle makers here in NA are on the same page in regards to the preference for hybrids over diesels at this time. I do not think that this is a coincidence.
2) Toyota did the 'grunt work' to get the hybrid message out have the Prius carry it to the public. But Toyota is still not GM or Ford with their often ultra-loyal fan base. GM's new 2-Mode hybrids are every bit as capable as the HCH or TCH in the segment they focus. Ford's new FEH/MMH are very very good. IMO Toyota has cobbled together it's own 'lobby' to bring the message to every part of the market and every segment.
3) Hybrids thus no longer can be labelled as some anti-American hoax to bamboozle the buying dupes by some phony 'greenie' do-gooderism.
4) All the current hybrid technologies accomplish about the same benefit, some more than others but that's to be expectd.
..a. they all save 30-40% of the fuel used in City driving;
..b. they all save 8-10% of the fuel used in Highway driving;
..c. they all essentially make the least efficient driving characteristic, City, equal to the most efficient characteristic, Highway;
..d. they all save about 20-30% of the total fuel used by a non-hybrid vehicle every single day they are on the road.

As Shaun noted we use about 14 million bbl per day just for transportation ( we use 20+ million bbl in total ). Transportation is the largest factor in our total usage. In the near future due to a larger population, more vehicles and more drivers, as well as more congestion in heavily populated areas the studies estimate that we will need 60% more fuel.

That fuel is not available today. Think of that ramification!!! 12 million bbls lacking from the pumps.

Luckily most of our 'imported' oil now and in the future will come from our two closest friends and neighbors, Canada and Mexico, who each have huge reserves. But these new sources are a lot more expensive to develop. However oil is a fungible product so buying from Mexico is not much different than buying directly from Venezuela or Iran or Nigeria. It's all in the worldwide supply. Yes we could effectively buy every bbl that Mexico produced but that would only mean that Mexico would be removed from the world market. In this situation Iran or the 'new Iraq' or Qatar or Libya would step in and reap the windfall of Mexico leaving the world market.