Are Hybrid Cars rubbish?

[Mikel]

Thanks for the pics,Myra..I only got round to viewing them this evening...they're lovely.

It must keep you fit towing that child trailer....but doesn't it feel great arriving home after a strenuous ride?

My bike is now my only means of transport,I'm retired and I became fed up with the hassle of traffic jams and the horrific cost of motoring.

But being retired makes it easy to not need a car....I do 10 miles nearly every day,20 a lot of days,and 30 some days...but sometimes,when it's throwing it down with rain I do wish the car was still stood out on the drive...I call at the supermarket every time I'm passing,as my panniers don't carry as much as a car...but the loads I can carry are amazing.

I also take my bike on the train to North West Wales quite regularly....panniers packed full again.

And I bet I'm lots fitter than I would be if the car was still there...and I see lots more of nature than I would in a car.

[Enviro-mental]

I think the most important thing is to educate people on just being responsible. Car pooling, walking or cycling to places closeby (within reason) and being aware of carbon footprints will go a lot further than bashing certain vehicle makes.

Personally I love Land Rover and would be anti-giving up on mine although I am very aware of the emissions and damage it does when I drive around unnecessarily. Plus I like what Land Rover is doing in terms of offsetting their CO2 emmissions and reducing their carbon footprint.

A holistic approach is needed, not a one dimensional choice over whether you prefer hybrid or not.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by Enviro-mental

I think the most important thing is to educate people on just being responsible. Car pooling, walking or cycling to places closeby (within reason) and being aware of carbon footprints will go a lot further than bashing certain vehicle makes

But you have to be realistic (note: NOT pessimistic) in this case in knowing that you'll never educate everyone. There are people I know that work 200 metres from their houses yet they drive to work every morning and drive home every evening. If you were to present them with a plethora of facts on emissions and other environmental studies, they wouldn't give a damn, like many thousands of humans. It comes down to laziness and selfishness.

[eeyore]

also global warming aside , oil is definitely running out so it makes sense to research other car/van/truck/bus etc fuels now rather than waiting til peak oil is reached and petrol is unaffordable to the ordinary man in the street.

[Myra]

Hi Mikel,

The trailer is not as difficult as many people think it is. It isn't any more work than cycling without it, since I simply shift down to compensate for the extra load. So I end up going slower and thus my journeys take more time, so I guess I end up getting more exercise one way or another.

Congrats to you for getting rid of your car completely. My in-laws are retired, and yet they still have 2 cars. They have thought about having just one, but I get the impression that they find that occasionally having 2 cars is useful, and they have the money to maintain 2 cars, so why not have them both?

We do know some families with no car, and they manage. But although we don't use the car for our day-to-day journeys, it's great for getting out and about on the weekends, and for visiting the in-laws. So we will keep our one car, at least for now.

I highly recommend a trailer for carrying groceries. Occasionally I treat myself to a shopping trip in town. I take the kiddie trailer, and I tell you, you can get a lot of stuff in a 2-child trailer! I also have a Bob (1-wheel) trailer, but this is nowhere as good for hauling loads in town. Since it has just the one wheel, it relies on your bike to keep it upright, and it waggles the back end of your bike around something rotten.

You can buy 2-wheel cargo trailers, but if you're on a budget the best thing would be to find a used kiddie trailer.

[Boddie]

When they start producing hybrid cars that are as stylish as mine, and available as convertibles I will consider buying, but they are all gopping.

Why not get a design consultant in to actually put a nice looking model together?

I am all for helping save the planet, but not if I have to sacrifice style

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

When they start producing hybrid cars that are as stylish as mine, and available as convertibles I will consider buying, but they are all gopping.

Why not get a design consultant in to actually put a nice looking model together?

I am all for helping save the planet, but not if I have to sacrifice style

you could get a very stylish push bike

joking aside i can see your point - the design consultants obviously had the day off when the prius was conceived. Part of the problem is that hybrids need to accomodate serious battery storage and an electric drive system alongside the petrol engine which needs a lot of space and thus compromises design away from sleek and stylish. It also tend to do away with convertibility because the space the roof would fold into is taken up by battery.

that said you could fit a hybrid system into a retro jag shell or something like that , they dont because i would suspect the target market for hybrids isnt that style conscious.

[Staycee1]

I think that the general overall idea of hybrid cars is good. It shows that steps are being taken into changing the environment.

However battery issues around these cars cause concerns for me. How many times will the batteries need changing? Also will car retailers do deals considering that some of these cars will be expensive?

[hank]

Originally Posted by eeyore

you could get a very stylish push bike

joking aside i can see your point - the design consultants obviously had the day off when the prius was conceived. Part of the problem is that hybrids need to accomodate serious battery storage and an electric drive system alongside the petrol engine which needs a lot of space and thus compromises design away from sleek and stylish. It also tend to do away with convertibility because the space the roof would fold into is taken up by battery.

that said you could fit a hybrid system into a retro jag shell or something like that , they dont because i would suspect the target market for hybrids isnt that style conscious.

Check out a Honda Civic! The batteries are fitted into the rear seat backrest and take up no extra space. The electric motor is only 60mm wide and sits on the end of the crankshaft. Also, it's not just about Engine or Battery. Lift your foot off the gas pedal and the valves close, letting the engine 'freewheel'.
Here's a brief description..........

Keith.

The i-DSI engine uses three-stage i-VTEC valve control to achieve a combination of responsive driving and fuel economy. The valves are controlled by three hydraulic pathways, which couple/uncouple five rocker arm assemblies. During deceleration idle time, combustion in all four cylinders is stopped and each pot is sealed shut. This means the engine is not working as hard to pump fuel or air, so it's immediately more efficient. When the car comes to a halt, the engine stops. Take your foot off the brake — the engine starts, and away you go.

Also, while the car is slowing down the Civic Hybrid's electric motor recovers energy generated through braking and uses it to charge the on-board battery.

The technology used to shut the cylinders, VCM (which stands for Variable Cylinder Management), is also used to shut all four cylinders when only little torque is required — during low speed cruising, for example. In this mode power comes from the electric motor only, with the pistons running idle.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by hank

Check out a Honda Civic! The batteries are fitted into the rear seat backrest and take up no extra space. The electric motor is only 60mm wide and sits on the end of the crankshaft. Also, it's not just about Engine or Battery. Lift your foot off the gas pedal and the valves close, letting the engine 'freewheel'.

Yeahbut, what's its best 0-60 time?
;^)

Jim