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Why are you comparing a Volvo wagon to a Honda Insight?
Here is a realistic comparison:
2013 Chevy Tahoe base (mpg15c/21h) cost started at $41k and the 2013 Tahoe hybrid (mpg 20c/23h) cost around $54k. Even if you add $9k of options to the base Tahoe you would need at least 10 years to make up the difference by better gas mileage. This is why nobody bought the GM hybrids and GM cancelled them a year ago.
I believe toyota canceled the highlander hybrid as well. Not positive.
Why are you comparing a Volvo wagon to a Honda Insight?
Here is a realistic comparison:
2013 Chevy Tahoe base (mpg15c/21h) cost started at $41k and the 2013 Tahoe hybrid (mpg 20c/23h) cost around $54k. Even if you add $9k of options to the base Tahoe you would need at least 10 years to make up the difference by better gas mileage. This is why nobody bought the GM hybrids and GM cancelled them a year ago.
I'm comparing a Volvo wagon to a Honda Insight because there is no hybrid wagon available in America. The Insight is very close into functionality to the wagon though.
What about the Ford Escape? There is no hybrid version this generation but the C-Max is basically the same vehicle. The C-Max and Escape both have a base MSRP of $24k
You can't have a hybrid for a truck because with the extra weight you can't stuff a big electric heavy duty motor along with a gas engine into the same engine bay. This won't be cheap nor efficient. Either all electric or gas for heavy cars. Just look at Tesla, the engine rear portion of the car is stuffed with batteries. If they had to make a big heavy SUV, they would need to stuff double the amount of batteries to drag a 5000k vehicle around.
Do you know what a conventional Tahoe gets in the city? About 15mpg if you're lucky. 50% more miles per gallon is a massive improvement.
People who think hybrids aren't worthwhile are the ones who see the EPA sticker and assume they'll get highway mpg "because I drive on the highway to work", not understanding that creeping along in traffic is not "highway driving".
Location: San Ramon, Seattle, Anchorage, Reykjavik
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vision33r
You can't have a hybrid for a truck because with the extra weight you can't stuff a big electric heavy duty motor along with a gas engine into the same engine bay. This won't be cheap nor efficient. Either all electric or gas for heavy cars. Just look at Tesla, the engine rear portion of the car is stuffed with batteries. If they had to make a big heavy SUV, they would need to stuff double the amount of batteries to drag a 5000k vehicle around.
Hydrogen is the future for big vehicles.
What about all the full hybrid coach and metro buses? Doesn't get much bigger than that and they all seem to be going with a combination of hybrid and cng.
Do you know what a conventional Tahoe gets in the city? About 15mpg if you're lucky. 50% more miles per gallon is a massive improvement.
People who think hybrids aren't worthwhile are the ones who see the EPA sticker and assume they'll get highway mpg "because I drive on the highway to work", not understanding that creeping along in traffic is not "highway driving".
That highway sticker comment was eye opening. I have never really thought about that. Might as well count that as city mileage.
Do you know what a conventional Tahoe gets in the city? About 15mpg if you're lucky. 50% more miles per gallon is a massive improvement.
People who think hybrids aren't worthwhile are the ones who see the EPA sticker and assume they'll get highway mpg "because I drive on the highway to work", not understanding that creeping along in traffic is not "highway driving".
You're missing the point again. How much more is the tahoe hybrid up front, again, It will take you 5 to 7 years to break even. I think 99% of people are quite capable of understanding the distinction between city and highway driving. I just re-read your comment about the mileage, I miss read that part.
I think more people would buy Hybrids if manufacturers made them easier to repair once the battery went out. If you had a easy access panel and 5-6 bolts to remove to get the battery out, vs having to take the trunk and back seat apart, it would cut down on costs as well. Also replacing batteries by cells rather than a entire battery for a random bad connection, would make hybrids worth it.
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