Online Letter-Yes to Hybrids, No to the Auto Alliance "The Auto Alliance is the lobbyist group representing most of the major automobile manufacturers. Its stated priorities include blocking any increase in fuel economy standards, and overturning California’s breakthrough global warming regulations on vehicles. Please contact the CEOs of Nissan and Hyundai and let them know that the reputation they are trying to develop with these hybrid vehicles will be severely damaged by associating with the Auto Alliance." Click on Hybrid Action box for Online Letter: http://hybridcenter.org/good-step-or-greenwashing.html
I actually e mailed Nissan a few months back to tell them that I just departed from purchasing a Nissan for the first time since driving (I've owned three of their vehicles). I cited fuel efficiency and my environmental slant as the reason. I also just signed the e mail to them via your link. Thanks.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Oct 20 2006, 11:08 AM) [snapback]335660[/snapback]</div> Yes, that is a bummer. A blog from the hybridblog.org site illustrates just how deceptive the Alliance is: "Honda (not a member of the Alliance), Toyota and Ford already provide 40%, 50% or greater increases in fuel economy with their hybrid models. Having the Auto Alliance foist hollow hybrid vehicles along side the Prius and the Escape Hybrid is yet another attempt to dilute the hybrid field. Seems like they won’t be satisfied until any car that can power a toaster is considered part of the “hybrid revolution.†They are again attempting to confuse the consumer by lauding marginal technology improvements in a limited number of vehicles as “hybridâ€..." http://hybridblog.typepad.com/my_weblog/20...dsauto_all.html
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HBO6 @ Oct 20 2006, 02:50 PM) [snapback]335695[/snapback]</div> Does any hybrid currently provide a 40% or 50% increase in fuel economy? I thought the upper limit was around 20% right now...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Oct 20 2006, 12:07 PM) [snapback]335721[/snapback]</div> I would think the Prius and Insight are 50% targets.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 20 2006, 03:10 PM) [snapback]335724[/snapback]</div> Compared to? There's no conventional models to compare them to, so there's no way to know for sure what kind of efficiency gains are had. I would suspect that the Prius, even without HSD, would probably clock somewehre around 40MPG. The best way to determine efficiency gains are to look at the Hybrid Camry, Ford Escape, Saturn Vue and Civic. You've got regular and hybrid models available for comparison. They all turn in around a 20% gain.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Oct 20 2006, 01:27 PM) [snapback]335740[/snapback]</div> Vehicle weight, capacity, and performance would do it I would think. How would you compare models made by different manufacturers? Surely it's done all the time and I would think the above metrics would be the most likely ones.
