Comments on: Hybrid Concerns: How green? http://greenandcleanmom.org/hybrid-concerns-how-green/ Green living and parenting with organic tips, green parenting, eco-friendly reviews to inspire and motivate. Tue, 22 May 2012 07:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Reginald http://greenandcleanmom.org/hybrid-concerns-how-green/comment-page-1/#comment-9648 Reginald Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:15:24 +0000 http://www.greenandcleanmom.org/?p=904#comment-9648 Environmentalists need to also take into account the coal that needs to be burned to produce the electricity that the hybrid runs on... Environmentalists need to also take into account the coal that needs to be burned to produce the electricity that the hybrid runs on…

]]> By: New Hybrid Vehicles http://greenandcleanmom.org/hybrid-concerns-how-green/comment-page-1/#comment-8394 New Hybrid Vehicles Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:02:52 +0000 http://www.greenandcleanmom.org/?p=904#comment-8394 Sorry, if i offend you, as i don't agree with you completely. May be you are right in some one that Hybrid Cars are more for city drives, but you can't say it is no green. I am driving a hybrid car and i am satisfied with its performance and actually it has no harmful emission. I believe hybrid cars are part of go green lifestyle. Sorry, if i offend you, as i don't agree with you completely. May be you are right in some one that Hybrid Cars are more for city drives, but you can't say it is no green. I am driving a hybrid car and i am satisfied with its performance and actually it has no harmful emission. I believe hybrid cars are part of go green lifestyle.

]]> By: Shannon http://greenandcleanmom.org/hybrid-concerns-how-green/comment-page-1/#comment-4808 Shannon Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:35:06 +0000 http://www.greenandcleanmom.org/?p=904#comment-4808 I've driven our Ford Escape Hybrid since early March 2006. Love it and would have a very hard time going back to a 100% gasoline (or diesel)-powered vehicle. I've had absolutely no maintenance issues, save tire patches due to excessive construction where I live and one recall that affected the drive shaft (not a hybrid component). First responders are always having to be trained on new technology that ends up in vehicles. Higher powered engines, bigger fuel tanks, sun/moonroofs, side curtain airbags (which may or may not deploy in an accident). Lots of "stuff" that they need to look out for. Hybrids have been on the roads 10 years now and the fact that we haven't heard of a catastrophe is, as they say, no news is good news. Just like gasoline and diesel vehicles have auto fuel shutoffs, hybrids have that and auto kill features to disengage/disarm the hybrid battery in certain collisions/wrecks. I don't blame folks for being wary of something new, but they're (hybrids) not as new as folks think. Japan's had hybrids since (if I recall correctly) 1997, and they've been available in the USA since 1999 or so. PS: Many hybrid owners change their own oil, etc. after the vehicle's out of warranty. The batteries are recycled/reclaimed at the end of their useful life (and the mfgr warranty covers them for a minimum of 8 years, 100k miles; 10 years, 150k miles in CA and a few select areas). And that's just the warranty. There are hybrid taxi's with over 300k miles on them. We bought a domestic (Ford) hybrid so we got the full tax credit of $2,600 (single year). Late adopters of foreign make hybrids got reduced or no tax credit due to the tiered tax credit based on sales of each mfgr's hybrids (after 60,000 sold the tax credit reduced greatly.) At some point, I read that gasoline engines (I don't know about diesels) produce the most pollution when they're at idle, which is when a hybrid electric vehicle's internal combustion engine is OFF and the vehicle is running on stored power and an electric generator (powered by the hybrid battery). For all the reasons folks have every right to want to avoid hybrids, there are those of us who are thrilled to be owning and driving ours. My hybrid will be 3 years old in March. When it comes time to replace our F-150 pickup? It'll either be replaced with a hybrid electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, and my Escape Hybrid will take on the role the F-150 has served. (hauling camping gear, bicycles, etc.) On the rare occasions we need extra carrying capacity, we'll rent a diesel van/truck. My husband also bicycle commutes 2 or 3 times a week (23 miles total!) and leaves the F-150 at home when I need the Escape Hybrid, so we too believe there's no single answer to lowering fuel costs, reducing emissions, etc. It takes multiple effects among multiple people, and it takes cities becoming more aware of the mass transit needs of their populations, for example. My Ford Escape Hybrid will be 3 years old in March and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. There's something that tickles me to drive a small SUV that gets even better fuel economy that my economical Toyota Corolla (which the Escape Hybrid replaced) did. Can we do better (higher fuel economy, less emissions in ALL vehicles regardless of powertrain?) You bet. Hybrids are just on facet, one step, in that direction. I'm happy to be part of the "early" adopter crowd as well, and "beta test" them for others without the means and/or desire to do so. :-) I’ve driven our Ford Escape Hybrid since early March 2006. Love it and would have a very hard time going back to a 100% gasoline (or diesel)-powered vehicle. I’ve had absolutely no maintenance issues, save tire patches due to excessive construction where I live and one recall that affected the drive shaft (not a hybrid component).

First responders are always having to be trained on new technology that ends up in vehicles. Higher powered engines, bigger fuel tanks, sun/moonroofs, side curtain airbags (which may or may not deploy in an accident). Lots of “stuff” that they need to look out for. Hybrids have been on the roads 10 years now and the fact that we haven’t heard of a catastrophe is, as they say, no news is good news. Just like gasoline and diesel vehicles have auto fuel shutoffs, hybrids have that and auto kill features to disengage/disarm the hybrid battery in certain collisions/wrecks. I don’t blame folks for being wary of something new, but they’re (hybrids) not as new as folks think. Japan’s had hybrids since (if I recall correctly) 1997, and they’ve been available in the USA since 1999 or so.

PS: Many hybrid owners change their own oil, etc. after the vehicle’s out of warranty.

The batteries are recycled/reclaimed at the end of their useful life (and the mfgr warranty covers them for a minimum of 8 years, 100k miles; 10 years, 150k miles in CA and a few select areas). And that’s just the warranty. There are hybrid taxi’s with over 300k miles on them.

We bought a domestic (Ford) hybrid so we got the full tax credit of $2,600 (single year). Late adopters of foreign make hybrids got reduced or no tax credit due to the tiered tax credit based on sales of each mfgr’s hybrids (after 60,000 sold the tax credit reduced greatly.)

At some point, I read that gasoline engines (I don’t know about diesels) produce the most pollution when they’re at idle, which is when a hybrid electric vehicle’s internal combustion engine is OFF and the vehicle is running on stored power and an electric generator (powered by the hybrid battery).

For all the reasons folks have every right to want to avoid hybrids, there are those of us who are thrilled to be owning and driving ours. My hybrid will be 3 years old in March. When it comes time to replace our F-150 pickup? It’ll either be replaced with a hybrid electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, and my Escape Hybrid will take on the role the F-150 has served. (hauling camping gear, bicycles, etc.) On the rare occasions we need extra carrying capacity, we’ll rent a diesel van/truck. My husband also bicycle commutes 2 or 3 times a week (23 miles total!) and leaves the F-150 at home when I need the Escape Hybrid, so we too believe there’s no single answer to lowering fuel costs, reducing emissions, etc. It takes multiple effects among multiple people, and it takes cities becoming more aware of the mass transit needs of their populations, for example.

My Ford Escape Hybrid will be 3 years old in March and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. There’s something that tickles me to drive a small SUV that gets even better fuel economy that my economical Toyota Corolla (which the Escape Hybrid replaced) did.

Can we do better (higher fuel economy, less emissions in ALL vehicles regardless of powertrain?) You bet. Hybrids are just on facet, one step, in that direction. I’m happy to be part of the “early” adopter crowd as well, and “beta test” them for others without the means and/or desire to do so. :-)

]]> By: Diane MacEachern http://greenandcleanmom.org/hybrid-concerns-how-green/comment-page-1/#comment-4486 Diane MacEachern Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:50:16 +0000 http://www.greenandcleanmom.org/?p=904#comment-4486 I'm a HUGE hybrid fan. My experience is: * With the state and federal tax credits I got, the car was easily as affordable as other mid-size cars I was considering. Some people complain about the expense of a hybrid then buy a cheaper car but load it up with fance sound systems, a sun roof, leather seats, etc. It makes more sense to me to buy the hybrid. * it has saved me money on gas * I appreciate the opportunity to use a car that minimizes the amount of air pollution it generates * I'm proud to be part of the "early adopter" crowd: by buying a hybrid (even if it's not eco-perfect), I'm motivating the auto companies to continue to develop and manufacture fuel efficient vehicles. I’m a HUGE hybrid fan. My experience is:

* With the state and federal tax credits I got, the car was easily as affordable as other mid-size cars I was considering. Some people complain about the expense of a hybrid then buy a cheaper car but load it up with fance sound systems, a sun roof, leather seats, etc. It makes more sense to me to buy the hybrid.

* it has saved me money on gas

* I appreciate the opportunity to use a car that minimizes the amount of air pollution it generates

* I’m proud to be part of the “early adopter” crowd: by buying a hybrid (even if it’s not eco-perfect), I’m motivating the auto companies to continue to develop and manufacture fuel efficient vehicles.

]]> By: Jill http://greenandcleanmom.org/hybrid-concerns-how-green/comment-page-1/#comment-4434 Jill Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:09:44 +0000 http://www.greenandcleanmom.org/?p=904#comment-4434 I hear what everyone is saying and I don't disagree. My husband owns his own business and he drives hundreds of miles a day almost everyday. He can't walk or take public transportation or carpool. He can't change these facts. He has the ford escape hybrid and it is saving us money at the pump. It may not be the best solution there is, but at least he is doing something. Everyone is always saying how they are thinking about buying something, or looking into a better car, but how many put their money where their mouth is? I would love the perfect car to come out with no debate. I would love for there to be a perfect solution, but until then, we do what we can. Jills last blog post..<a href="http://connorsjourneywithautism.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-can-have-yogurt.html" rel="nofollow">I can have yogurt?!!</a> I hear what everyone is saying and I don’t disagree. My husband owns his own business and he drives hundreds of miles a day almost everyday. He can’t walk or take public transportation or carpool. He can’t change these facts. He has the ford escape hybrid and it is saving us money at the pump. It may not be the best solution there is, but at least he is doing something. Everyone is always saying how they are thinking about buying something, or looking into a better car, but how many put their money where their mouth is? I would love the perfect car to come out with no debate. I would love for there to be a perfect solution, but until then, we do what we can.

Jills last blog post..I can have yogurt?!!

]]> By: Allison http://greenandcleanmom.org/hybrid-concerns-how-green/comment-page-1/#comment-4418 Allison Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:30:12 +0000 http://www.greenandcleanmom.org/?p=904#comment-4418 My husband has all those same concerns. He's a computer nerd and he knows a lot of "nerds" that deal with the most recent technology and I hear through the grapvine that the hybrids are not all that great for the environment, like the battery. I don't know the details, I just know my tech somewhat savvy husband is still against them. We were debating on buying a vehicle that can switch from 8 cylinders to 4 cylinders depending on driving conditions. That sounds cool. Allisons last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ItsTheLittleThinks/~3/408422640/green-saves-green-byob.html" rel="nofollow">Green Saves Green-BYOB</a> My husband has all those same concerns. He’s a computer nerd and he knows a lot of “nerds” that deal with the most recent technology and I hear through the grapvine that the hybrids are not all that great for the environment, like the battery. I don’t know the details, I just know my tech somewhat savvy husband is still against them. We were debating on buying a vehicle that can switch from 8 cylinders to 4 cylinders depending on driving conditions. That sounds cool.

Allisons last blog post..Green Saves Green-BYOB

]]> By: Carla http://greenandcleanmom.org/hybrid-concerns-how-green/comment-page-1/#comment-4412 Carla Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:15:44 +0000 http://www.greenandcleanmom.org/?p=904#comment-4412 I guess I feel my own shame sometimes since I don’t drive a hybrid. In fact the mid sized sedans we drive have over 300 HP. I can justify it somewhat because we don’t drive much: my commute across town is 10-15 minutes each way (but over an hour on public transit). My partner works entirely from home. When we move farther north, we will get rid of one of the cars. ”The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really? The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really? The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really?” Not only they can cause a car to blow, up but the paramedic can get electrocuted if they are not trained properly. The risk increases if they have to use the Jaws of Life. http://www.defrance.org/artman/publish/article_1426.shtml I guess I feel my own shame sometimes since I don’t drive a hybrid. In fact the mid sized sedans we drive have over 300 HP. I can justify it somewhat because we don’t drive much: my commute across town is 10-15 minutes each way (but over an hour on public transit). My partner works entirely from home. When we move farther north, we will get rid of one of the cars.

”The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really? The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really? The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really?”

Not only they can cause a car to blow, up but the paramedic can get electrocuted if they are not trained properly. The risk increases if they have to use the Jaws of Life.
http://www.defrance.org/artman/publish/article_1426.shtml

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