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[reilo]

My problem with hybrids is that they are overpriced, ugly, and in the end, the cost to the environment that is incurred by disposing one of the batteries in a hybrid is horrid, which sort of defeats the purpose of a hybrid.

 

[speculawyer]

I wish I could buy one of these:

All electric, top speed 100km/hour (62MPH), 170km range, etc.

It would be a cute second car.

 

[Pneuzy]

I wish I could buy one of these:

All electric, top speed 100km/hour (62MPH), 170km range, etc.

It would be a cute second car.

I wonder how quick you'll die if you get hit by a car or truck in that thing. It looks to be the size of a golf cart.

 

[speculawyer]

My problem with hybrids is that they are overpriced, ugly, and in the end, the cost to the environment that is incurred by disposing one of the batteries in a hybrid is horrid, which sort of defeats the purpose of a hybrid.

Actually, the batteries are recycled. Try again.

 

[IronicallyTwisted]

My problem with hybrids is that they are overpriced, ugly, and in the end, the cost to the environment that is incurred by disposing one of the batteries in a hybrid is horrid, which sort of defeats the purpose of a hybrid.

I think the Prius is quite a good looking car.

 

[Fowler]

I have a Prius for basically the same reasons as the OP and I love it. As an added bonus, it's my first car, so I'm used to the car's sluggish acceleration

It works well in a place like Hong Kong. Engine is off while in traffic jams and the battery kicks in to power the car while you're inching forward in traffic. And when cruising on highways again the engine dials down and the battery helps maintain speed.

I also hacked my car and added a Mac mini, playing songs via Front Row. I couldn't get it running through the Prius' touchscreen though, so I added a second one.

 

[speculawyer]

I wonder how quick you'll die if you get hit by a car or truck in that thing. It looks to be the size of a golf cart.

The cars are from Scandavia with help from Volvo engineers, so they actually work pretty hard on that area.

Safety
Safety and reliability are crucial factors for any car manufacturer. Think believes that electric cars should have the same level of safety and comfort as any conventional vehicle.

Safe and reliable
The key to a safe car is a structure with a good crash performance. The backbone of the TH!NK city is a strong lower frame made of high tensile steel. This frame carries all the suspension and crash loads and is designed with a stiff passenger compartment and deformable zones in the front and rear.

An extruded aluminium space frame is mounted to the lower frame. The thermoplastic body panels and all other components are attached to the frame. The material used for the dash board, knee bolster and the door panel trim is expanded polypropylene (PP). The density of this material has been carefully selected to provide maximum safety for the passenger.

The active safety system consists of state-of-the-art seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters. The car is equipped with dual airbags.

Numerous computer simulations and full-size crash tests have been done to optimise the crash performance. TH!NK city meets all European and US requirements with good margins.

 

[Xeke]

Wouldn't a plug in Prius just run up your electric bill instead?

 

[reilo]

Actually, the batteries are recycled. Try again.

Yeah, recycling is such an efficient and environmentally friendly process. You got me there!

I think the Prius is quite a good looking car.

You need to redefine the word "good" then.

 

[courage201]

I'm planning to buy a PRius as well... but I'm holding out on the 2009 Version which should be coming Fall 08'-- I'm hoping for a retooled design.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

beermonkey: I don't drive much on the freeway (hence, this is a great chocie for me) but the car will allow you to reset a counter to agague your average use. If you could test-drive for about a half-hour you could get an average, just ask them to show you how to reset the counter.

My average MPH so far isn't quite what is advertised (no surprise)-- it's about 32 MPH in the city. More than double my old car.

And yeah, I know there's a steep break-even price, but it's helped by the fact that I generally keep my cars a looooong time. I traded in a 10+ year old car (that I had bought new) to get this one. But I'm more in it for the environmental benefits anyway.

 

[Beer Monkey]

My average MPH so far isn't quite what is advertised (no surprise)-- it's about 32 MPH in the city. More than double my old car.

And yeah, I know there's a steep break-even price, but it's helped by the fact that I generally keep my cars a looooong time. I traded in a 10+ year old car (that I had bought new) to get this one. But I'm more in it for the environmental benefits anyway.

I'm driving a 1997 Miata that was manufactured in 1996, so my car is approaching 12 years old. Until recently I averaged less than 8,000 miles a year because I always tried to minimize my daily commute. Now, much to my chagrin, I'm working at a job that is 40 miles away, 36 of which is on the interstate (there are upsides though, like almost no overtime even though it's in software). I get 26-27 MPH. I'm all for the environment as well, but $2,000 in gas per year just to drive to work is a tough pill to swallow.

Ultimately I need to find a good job that is close to home. I managed to do that for the first 18 years of my career.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

At freeway speeds, there are probably cheaper alternatives that are in the same range (though perhaps not as nice cars). The prius actually gets (slightly) worse highway milliage, at least on paper (haven't done much yet).

 

[Beer Monkey]

The 'new' EPA listings show 45 Hwy which I already suspected to still be bullshit:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

The nice thing about the site is that you can input your own mileage and driving habits (well, at least city/highway breakout) and see the projected fuel cost and carbon footprint.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

I was wondering about that, since the new ratings are supposedly more accurate. I also wonder how much my own driving habits affect the number.

What kind of MPG do other Prius owners get in the city?

 

[Lucky Forward]

First up, I'm a total geek. I love gadgets and tech and the Prius is like a big gadget on wheels. I mean, it's got a transponder for a key, a start button, silent running...

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8S1KNHO0&show_article=1

Blind People: Hybrid Cars Pose Hazard

Oct 3 03:57 AM US/Eastern
By BEN NUCKOLS
Associated Press Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) - Gas-electric hybrid vehicles, the status symbol for the environmentally conscientious, are coming under attack from a constituency that doesn't drive: the blind.
Because hybrids make virtually no noise at slower speeds when they run solely on electric power, blind people say they pose a hazard to those who rely on their ears to determine whether it's safe to cross the street or walk through a parking lot.

"I'm used to being able to get sound cues from my environment and negotiate accordingly. I hadn't imagined there was anything I really wouldn't be able to hear," said Deborah Kent Stein, chairwoman of the National Federation of the Blind's Committee on Automotive and Pedestrian Safety. "We did a test, and I discovered, to my great dismay, that I couldn't hear it."

 

[Sol..]

Can someone post more info on the "disposing the batteries is dangerous to the environment!" thing. Because It really doesn't feel like a problem to me.


oh and as lame as hybrid cars are.. You can convert those bitches into a full plug-in.

du-it du-it.

 

[Beer Monkey]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8S1KNHO0&show_article=1

Blind People: Hybrid Cars Pose Hazard

They are good for sneakin' up on motherfuckers.

 

[Keylime]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8S1KNHO0&show_article=1

Natural selection?

hmm...

More like Artificial Selection I suppose.