Prius Outdoes Hummer in Environmental Damage

[Charade]

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188

 

[RitaZ.]

 

[Soubrette]

Interesting article; thanks for posting it (pretty sure I wouldn't have just casually come across an editorial from Central Conn. State U. )

What's interesting is how the writer breaks down the environmental cost of not just the operation of the Prius but the environmental cost of the production process. If more politicians paid attention to details like this, we'd have a more sensible policy toward environmentalism.

Unfortunately, I'm not in a financial situation to buy a new car; but when I am, I'll be researching carefully. I'd like to make a choice that balances my economic reality with my ethical beliefs.

 

[Crankyshank]

That's very interesting. I wonder if there is a way to "greenify" production of the Prius.

Even more than the environmental factor brought up in the article, this tidbit disturbed me

One last fun fact for you: it takes five years to offset the premium price of a Prius. Meaning, you have to wait 60 months to save any money over a non-hybrid car because of lower gas expenses.

We're not exactly encouraging less dependence on oil if it takes 5 years to see any financial savings.

 

[RitaZ.]

We're not exactly encouraging less dependence on oil if it takes 5 years to see any financial savings.

Exactly!

 

[JMD]

I commented on this in another thread. The author is a bit misguided, but does bring up a valid arguement. Considering the production process and shorter life-span of hybrids, they don't seem to be much of a factor in improving our environment.

 

[Soubrette]

I commented on this in another thread. The author is a bit misguided, but does bring up a valid arguement. Considering the production process and shorter life-span of hybrids, they don't seem to be much of a factor in improving our environment.

Without trying to be confrontational, I'm interested in your characterization: "misguided." Misguided how?

 

[jgmklmhem]

I would really like to see a list of the price per mile figures for all cars available. I would love to know what my 2006 Honda Civic is as well as our minivan.

 

[DawnCt1]

Interesting article. DS#2 graduated from CCSU. They have an active engineering dept. Interestingly enough, I don't often see 0% financing offers from Toyota yet Prius is being offered with a 0%. Sales must be not what they anticipated. It takes 5 years of ownership to show fuel economy savings. By then, you have to change the batteries.

 

[JMD]

Without trying to be confrontational, I'm interested in your characterization: "misguided." Misguided how?

Maybe "misguided" is a poor choice of words. I thought the author should have mentioned that the environmental impact of nickel production would still exist with or without hybrid cars as there are other uses for nickel. I would also like to see some sources for his information.

Overall, I agree with what he is saying and think he is right. The environmental cost of manufacturing the cars and shorter life-span seem to negate any benefit from buying a hybrid.

 

[Soubrette]

Maybe "misguided" is a poor choice of words. I thought the author should have mentioned that the environmental impact of nickel production would still exist with or without hybrid cars as there are other uses for nickel. I would also like to see some sources for his information.

Yeah...sources would be nice. But we now live in an editorial news market, and sources are way overrated.

I do like that he draws attention to the environmental impact of nickel production...not something that gets a lot of press, but probably should.

 

[JMD]

Yeah...sources would be nice. But we now live in an editorial news market, and sources are way overrated. .

Generally, I just beleive everything I read( ) but considering this was written by a college kid for the school paper I would like to double check his numbers before I go out and buy a Hummer.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Still have to say that I love my Prius, We spend LOTS less in gas, and we do average about 55 MPG ( Not 60 and not 45 as quoted in the article)

The regenerative breaking and being able to stop in an instant are benefits that are amazing. That and when the car is creeping along, it's pretty interesting to see people's reaction because they can't hear the car.

 

[CheshireVal]

Generally, I just beleive everything I read( ) but considering this was written by a college kid for the school paper I would like to double check his numbers before I go out and buy a Hummer.

Also, one can't ignore the fact that this is an Editorial, and not a real news piece.

 

[Geoff_M]

Also, one can't ignore the fact that this is an Editorial, and not a real news piece.

However, that doesn't make it a work of fiction either.

 

[cardaway]

I thought the author should have mentioned that the environmental impact of nickel production would still exist with or without hybrid cars as there are other uses for nickel. I would also like to see some sources for his information.

Going into how they have to make nickel for this car is like going into how they have to make gas for the Hummer. There thousands of existing products that use that technology beyond hybrid cars.

There might be other valid point in there, but that isn't one of them.

 

[KristaTX]

We're not exactly encouraging less dependence on oil if it takes 5 years to see any financial savings.

That doesn't sound logical. Regardless of the price of the car or the environmental impact of the production of the car, the Prius is still using much less gasoline than most vehicles over the 5 years. So assuming most Prius buyers would have otherwise purchased a vehicle which gets many MPG less than the Prius, that Prius is decreasing the dependence on oil. Price of the vehicle is irrelevant if you are strictly looking at gallons of gasoline used by the vehicle's owner.

ETA: I reread what you said, and you may be right in that the current price is not encouraging people to buy the cars. But it's just like any technology - when it comes out it is expensive and there are issues that have to be figured out. But at least hybrids are an attempt at curtailing energy usage.

 

[Crankyshank]

That doesn't sound logical. Regardless of the price of the car or the environmental impact of the production of the car, the Prius is still using much less gasoline than most vehicles over the 5 years. So assuming most Prius buyers would have otherwise purchased a vehicle which gets many MPG less than the Prius, that Prius is decreasing the dependence on oil. Price of the vehicle is irrelevant if you are strictly looking at gallons of gasoline used by the vehicle's owner.

How is it not logical? The Prius prices itself out of the market for many consumers, myself included, who cannot wait 5 years to see any sort of financial return on a more expensive initial investment. Particularly in the case of a hybrid where you need to pay $$ for a battery. Hybrids are too expensive for a good percentage of the population that is concerned about gas consumption, but cannot afford the price tag. I bought a Taurus over a year ago specifically because it was the best and greenest option available to me at the time. It gets me 17-22 mpg. If the Prius were less expensive, I would have purchased it.

 

[jgmklmhem]

That doesn't sound logical. Regardless of the price of the car or the environmental impact of the production of the car, the Prius is still using much less gasoline than most vehicles over the 5 years. So assuming most Prius buyers would have otherwise purchased a vehicle which gets many MPG less than the Prius, that Prius is decreasing the dependence on oil. Price of the vehicle is irrelevant if you are strictly looking at gallons of gasoline used by the vehicle's owner.

I think the key word in her statement was "encourage". Yes over those 5 years you will use less gas, but most people look at it as how will this help me type of decision. If you don't start to break even until after 5 years by owning the Prius then other than it uses less gas why buy it. I bought a gas powered Honda Civic for much less than its hybrid cousin was going for. I still get about 40mpg on the freeway and over 30 in town but I didn't have to wait 5 years to see my savings because it was on the sticker price as well as using less gas than my Explorer. Waiting 5 years for a financial gain for some people just isn't worth it so they are not encouraged to by the hybrid.

 

[PghLybrt]

I want to see a Hummer owner that actually keeps their car for 300,000 miles.