One of the founding reasons for Hybridfest was to share correct information about hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. There is a lot of information out there, and sometimes that information is just plain wrong.

It takes people like you and me to help share the correct information.

In the end I want people to be able to make an informed choice about their next vehicle purchase. It doesn't matter to me if it's an SUV, pickup, or compact car; each person's needs are different. I simply want them to at least be making their decision based on facts.

Eric Powers

MHG Organizer - www.MadisonHybridGroup.com
Hybridfest 2008 - A Hybrid Electric Car Show and More! www.hybridfest.com
Third weekend in July
Madison, WI

Even with gas prices as high as they are, in no way, shape or form are people driving slower (not as a general rule, anyway). That concept does not enter a driver's mind when driving. You've just happened to get behind a few more feather foots that usual! Driving habits (other than routes taken or driving less often) just don't change in the overwhelming number of cases.

Well around here they have slowed down. I am finding more people drive significantly under the 70 miles per hour speed limit, many appear to be "hypermiling". When people pass me they dont floor it and they usually only go about 10 miles per hour faster than me.

Ducit Amour Hybridae
Mark Smith
Master Certifited Technician
Tempus non reparabilis fugit
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

Best Tank 35.0 MPG

Here in New Jersey it is business as usual. No one slows down and the obscene hand signals continue. I think it will finally hit home when gas is un-affordable and all food stamp scams have been discontinued. Even then it will only turn to a mad max situation, good, hard working citizens will be held up at gun point for their gas. "OK open your gas tank, this is a gas jacking" Ironically, people in sub compacts and hybrids will probably be the targets.

No slowdown here either. People still floor it to get by me, only to slam on their brakes at the red light that they could have seen, had they looked.

Here in St. Louis, MO... while people are still doing jack-rabbit starts, I'm noticing a shift of 5-10mph below the speed limits.

We have a major 15 mile stretch of interstate complete shut down for complete reconstruction, and my commute home includes going off the detour route onto the still-open stretch of highway.

Being the highway is close on the other side, there is no traffic at this point (at least past the merge), and usually at this point people were cruising at 85-90mph during this time (the limit is 60). I've noticed the last couple of months, it's a struggle to maintain 55!

As far as stupidity... well I'm the lead diagnostic tech for a chain of repair stores in my area. They had a policy of not even touching Hybrids (not even for oil changes or tires!), as the owner was afraid of the techs getting electrocuted!

Since I bought my '05 FEH a couple of months ago, I've had three 'unofficial' training sessions at our HQ store with the techs from our other shops, along with the Managers and the Owner. I never really planned these, they all just kind of showed up to check out the new ride!

Anyways.. they've since changed their policy, and the General Manager is in the process of purchasing a Silverado Hybrid.

Speaking of purchasing my ride... we got it used from a local Saturn dealership. It had been traded in on Saturday evening, and Sunday morning the wife and I got bored.. and just went to different dealers so I could show her all the different cars (we weren't actively looking for anything, but knew it was coming soon). Sundays are fun because they are closed, so I don't have to mess with salespeople.

I saw it buried in the back of the Saturn lot with no plates. I called first thing Monday morning and they quoted me a price of several thousand below bluebook. We kind of had to jump on it!

Needless to say, they hadn't even had it in the shop yet and didn't even know it was a Hybrid! It was while my wife was driving it up to my shop for me to look it over they realized their mistake, and when we showed up that afternoon, the Salesman who had quoted me the price was in the Sales Manager's office getting chewed out over something (I wonder what?)

Anyways he came out and admitted their mistake. When I tried to talk him down a bit more because of the choppy tires, he pretty much said 'take it or leave it'. We didn't have much of a choice. I could sell it today and make a couple grand on the deal (or total it and make several thousand!)

Then the finance people tried to sell us GAP insurance! It was fun.

One gallon of gas - $3.49

One used four wheel drive SUV that gets 30+ Miles Per Gallon - $15,999

Purchasing it used for $5000 UNDER bluebook because the dealership did not realize it was a hybrid - PRICELESS

Funny story, Brad!
Congrats, and welcome to GreenHybrid.

Steve

STOP terrorism - Drive a HYBRID

Vehicles:
350 miles a week ------------ 2006 HCH II, Magnetic Pearl, w/NAVI (born on May 25, 2006)
350 miles a month ---------- 2003 Mazda Tribute ES-V6
350 miles a year (for now) - 1986 Mercedes 560SL

Ask 100 people (outside of this forum) what 'hypermiling' is and two might know.

Why are so many people clueless to the "rules of the road" - the law?
Why are so many people clueless as to how -their- vehicle operates?
etc.
etc.

It's morons. They spread.

Pearl is a
2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius
Package "B" (everything but leather, nav, and rear camera)

I've finally noticed some easing off around here too. While we are used to paying more for gas here, we recently hit the equivalent of $4.75/gallon ($1.25/L). Last weekend's long drive I stuck to about 5mph over the limits and was generally surprised to end up grouping with other cars, and those passing were generally sticking to 10 over. Normally 10-15mph over would be considered normal for the slower drivers. There are still some that have a love affair with both their pedals though, we'll see if that changes when it hits ~$5 which should be, oh, next month some time...

My new bumper sticker will be:

"Keep driving your gas guzzlers. I own energy stocks, thanks for your donation to my retirement fund"

Two climate control systems, one inside and the other at the tailpipe.

2007 Camry Hybrid (in service June 2006)
FE: 6.67L/100km or 35.3 mpg (6.11L/100km or 38.5 mpg in summer)