Am I paranoid or do hybrid cars get bad press?

I have encountered an abundance of articles pointing out that hybrids will not save you money through gas saving compared to their non hybrid counter parts.

Why is it ok to spends 10's of thousands of dollars for a luxury car/suv that you drive around in city traffic but not 3-5k more for a hybrid version of the same car?

Either there is a conspiracy against these cars success or the people being paid to promote those cars are incompetent?

Green Cars Now http://www.greencarsnow.com/

I believe its actually to keep the demand low and the cost of the hybrids at a premium. I think the car manufacturers are making more of a profit on the hybrids over thier non-hybrid counterparts. I guess it helps recoup the expenses of development.

You're not alone.

It seems that in the post Consumer Reports world, the number of articles have increased, both in number and "noise".

In the past 24 hours, I've been shown an article in Good Housekeeping, some Newspaper, 2 sites, and a TV news report about how hybrids "aren't worth it and don't deserve any breaks".

The some newspaper is a clipping sent to me by my Grandparents, about an article that a local city (Ferndale MI) may change to free parking for hybrids. The article talks about how people who own hybrids are very wealthy, get a very generous tax break, and don't get the promised milage, so they shouldn't get free parking. (For a blurb there were a lot of slams; including that the FEH only gets 22 MPGs at best.)

The Good Housekeeping article, the newspaper blurb, and the TV report all mention the Consumer Reports article.



That's why when I reach and pass the break even point, I'm having a party, and letting the media know all about it.

First 4WD Hypermiler

Have you read the FEH FAQ?

Live in Michigan? Let it be known in Michigan Roll Call

Read My Automotive Blog at Rich Rambles

It is a combination of problems:
- our hybrids could be more aggressive fuel savers
- the EPA profile make hybrids look especially good
- skilled hybrid driving is an art and takes self-discipline

My Prius studies indicate there are a number of 'low hanging fruit' enhancements that improve MPG performance: (1) forced stop when stopped, (2) momentum glide, (3) variable air inlet, (4) exhaust heat recovery. There is evidence that heat management in the Prius can be improved.

The EPA profile runs on a 'warmed up' vehicle which means the hybrid auto-stop gives excellent results. This means the warm-up cycle is ignored.

The lack of an miles per hour vs. MPG chart in the owners manual means drivers do not have critical information needed to avoid 'bad speed ranges' especially when the vehicle is cold. This is basic engineering data and critical to maximizing return on investment.

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.

I made a chart to address this (attached). For the new model Prius, data are from Wayne Brown's Palm program, D Lusuardi made the spreadsheet and posted it in the files section of the Yahoo Prius-2G group. The curves represent different ambient temperatures, and the spreadsheet includes others as well.

DAS

Attached Files

mpg miles per hour model.xls (20.0 KB, 20 views)

That's funny! I live in a trailer, my proof I'm not wealthy.

I'm starting to believe that bad press gets people more stirred up and that's what the media wants. So far though I think I've seen more positive articles than negative articles, not by much though.

'00 Insight "Wazabi" -75,000+ miles
'03 Toyota Matrix - 81,000+ miles
'03 HCH-CVT-OSBM-41,000+ miles (retired 04-10-06)
"I'm very secure with my little Insight, no Prius envy here."

Tochatihu: That's fantastic. Thanks.

Hi,

Excellent start. Could you try to confirm one data point?

My testing of our NHW11 shows a distinct dip at 41-42 miles per hour and three tests have confirmed this dip. I would like to know if another Prius NHW20 driver might be able to repeat the test with their Prius:

METHODOLOGY
- Use the same commute route for a Monday-Friday test
- Use cruise control to manage speed on all segments
- Set cruise control speed to 42 miles per hour as much as possible
- Measure elapsed MPG at end of week both MFD and tank with gas recept

I've got a copy of the simulation software too and it is fine for speeds under 39 miles per hour and above 50 miles per hour. It is the 39-50 MPH range where I can't get the model to match the actual Prius I mileage.

Thanks,
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.

I also laughed my A-- off when Consumer Reports tried saying that the HCH got only 28 MPG. I get at least 36 even when I'm driving like Mad Max.

I believe it was that same article that said the standard civic got 18 mpg city. That was before I bought my HCH, and when I read that I knew the data had to be bogus (Think it was the February issue of CR? I actually bought it, but threw it away after reading it). The sad part is, as has already been stated here, all these other media sources smell blood and go for the jugular armed with the CR data. How sad for our environment and the world's energy supplies....