First plug-in Priuses to hit fleets next year
By Nilay Patel 
posted August 31st 2008 5:44AM
posted August 31st 2008 5:44AM
[Via Autoblog Green]
posted August 31st 2008 5:44AM
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lets not forget about the batteries in these things, the nickel is mined in Canada. This type of mining is pretty nasty with sulfur and acid rain but never mind. it's then shipped into a enormous boat to Europe to be refined lot of co2 in the refinery. Once more into a boat to china where the nickel is made into a foam. finally onto another boat to japan where it's put into a battery and into the prius. I read some where that it does enough damage to the atmosphere as a land rover discovery. but atleast it gets good gas millage and looks ugly as sin.
What an astonishing heap of idiocy the comments thus far have proven to be. I suppose anyone in need of a laundry list of the ignorant prejudices and irrational fears possessed by consumers who fear this kind of change could look here.
1) The fact that there is nowhere to plug these cars in, other than your home, is irrelevant. The majority of commutes in the U.S. are short enough that the entire commute could be accomplished solely via the electrical power stored in the batteries of this car. The gasoline engine is, in a way, therefore only there for long trips. The savings on carbon emissions would therefore be significant.
2) It costs far less to run a car on electricity, and produces far less carbon emissions, even when 100% of the power used to charge the car comes from coal. Don't you like saving money? Even if you think global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the red states, you'd be a fool not to recognize that, 10 or 20 years from now when the cost of plug-in hybrids has fallen significantly, it simply won't make sense to stick with a gasoline engine (unless it's in some kind of futuristic, ultralight carbon fiber car or something).
3) Are hybrid drivers really all that smug, or is your assumption that they are an alien species based more on your ignorance / fear of those whose priorities are different from your own? Or is this simply a class issue? Yes, hybrids are expensive -- that's why there aren't more of them on the road. Early adopters tend to be high-income... so what? Just because cars themselves were once a luxury doesn't mean they didn't go on to become a virtual right for every American.
Sure, it doesn't do a lot of polluting per mile, but how many years will it last? How much pollution was done to produce it?
by the way, i SERIOUSLY want to tell you, electricity is NOT a fuel, it is an ENERGY CARRIER, along with hydrogen. "fuel" can be stock energy, including oil, coal, etc.
Electric versus combustion engine:
1.) electricity is a fuel that can become less expensive over time
2.) I can generate the electrical fuel at my home; I am not dependent on the power company, let alone "foreign oil"
3.) car batteries are recyclable
4.) particulate matter from combustion engines is nasty
5.) I would much rather have a centralized, well-regulated, well-maintained power company that is burning coal to generate electricity, than a bunch of mini-polluters on the streets
Most folks have multiple autos in their household, and will continue to have them. Get a small plug-in only electric for commuting and city errands, and an electric/combustion hybrid for longer trips across the country. Seems reasonable to me.
Step 1: Design funny looking electric car covered in birds and flowers.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit.
DAMN! Look at that hotness!!! Oh yeah, and it's tailgate party waiting to happen!!!!
I agree "now" that this car isn't very green. 50 percent of all electricity in the U.S. comes from Coal.
I wouldn't even fathom buying this, unless my house was completely, or very close to 100% solar powered.
I am more hyped about them putting Li-ON batteries in the gas guzzlers.
I do think it is ridiculous that many companies are touting how many cars they have getting 30+ miles to the gallon, or hybrid SUV's getting 16 miles to the gallon. Hell, my 77 Toyota Corolla got that.
Everyone in the US needs to pressure their Congress, Senators, Governors and the President to make tougher legislation. Let them know that being Green is a very decisive factor in how you are going to vote.
Only a man completely comfortable with his masculinity would drive a purple-ish car with flowers and doves slapped on the side.
I love it. I want one.
LOL@Izzy
> ...because Bushes answer of using grass
You really can't do anything for yourself? You have to do what somebody else says you should do?
It's the individual that uses petrol. It's not your president that pours petrol into your car and pollutes with it. Ridiculous.