Hybrids

[Tim]

These have caught my attention alot more recently. With the release of the i8 and other hybrids (porsche, lexus, etc) the market for these is picking up. I'm starting to really consider one for my next car (probably 6-12 months time).

With the recent backlash against diesel as well it may be a good time to start to buy one. Shame the GS450H will still only do 30mpg, if that was 40 I would probably go and buy one.

Any other nice hybrids I may have missed?

[Hardcore]

Is it the mpg of a Hybrid you're attracted to or the cheaper Tax?

[jt999]

I quite like the Lexus something 200, not sporty but nice looking

[Tim]

Is it the mpg of a Hybrid you're attracted to or the cheaper Tax?

If a petrol can do 40mpg but still produce over 200bhp I'm there. I miss the whole petrol driving, high revving, lovely sound etc. Petrol is just nicer to drive, however anything decent seems to max at 30mpg. A hybrid seems to offer the best of both worlds.

I quite like the Lexus something 200, not sporty but nice looking

Lexus do seem to be ahead of the game, just a shame their sporty hybrids don't offer great fuel economy.

[Hardcore]

Would a gas conversion not be a good shout as well?

BMW 330i would be a fun car and on the gas still cheap to run even if the mpg is poor

[Taurus]

I reckon hybrids are over-rated. Their fuel economy is not brilliant and many of them have very expensive battery maintenance schedules. Some don't, but if you're serious look into the service schedule carefully. I was talking to a chap last night with a Honda and he had a very nasty surprise at its 3 year service. Basically it's now the most expensive car per mile he's ever run. Cheap tax doesn't go far to offset major service bills.

[Tim]

Would a gas conversion not be a good shout as well?

BMW 330i would be a fun car and on the gas still cheap to run even if the mpg is poor

I've seriously considered this, there was a WRX gas converted that was up for sale last year. If I'd sold my fiesta in time I would've probably bought it. But doing the convertion would probably only be worth doing on a car I aim to keep for 3 years+

I reckon hybrids are over-rated. Their fuel economy is not brilliant and many of them have very expensive battery maintenance schedules. Some don't, but if you're serious look into the service schedule carefully. I was talking to a chap last night with a Honda and he had a very nasty surprise at its 3 year service. Basically it's now the most expensive car per mile he's ever run. Cheap tax doesn't go far to offset major service bills.

Is this just the first wave of hybrids or is this an inherent problem?

[Coleman]

Until battery technology improves, this isn't going to change within the next 10 years. There are different batteries being tested, but none are up to the level of the NiMH and Li-Ion yet. Once there, they'll have greater range, quicker charging, more reliability and easier to maintain.

These hybrids have been built to achieve the average emission levels for the manufacturers. we'd still be looking at big engined, N/A machines if that weren't the case.

[Tim]

So our only hope is hydrogen then

[Coleman]

I wouldn't think so. Hydrogen is created through electrolysis. Might as well use that to charge a battery. You'd need a whole new infrastructure to fuel the vehicles as well. And the platinum used in the cells isn't the easiest to get hold of, with the mining process using a lot of dangerous chemicals.

Battery probably the way forward, it just needs the technology to catch up with current demands/expectations.

[Taurus]

The problem isn't with old hybrids, a mate had one of the first Prius, horrible looking thing but he got it cheap from a family member who stopped driving. It ran 10 years on the original batteries and then they failed. Replacements were out of the question so it got scrapped. 10 years on the same set of batteries is OK, but most petrol engined cars these days will last longer than 10 years.

The problems are more with the newer ones where the manufacturers are specifying expensive battery maintenance after 3 years.

Either way, the environmental effect of a car is mostly during its construction and then at the end of its life when it is broken up. So making electric cars doesn't solve that problem. They pollute much more during construction, they still need energy which is largely produced by burning fossil fuels and they are harder to recycle. The pollution from fuel just comes out of the power station chimney than the exhaust.

Since most petrol engined cars produced today will run for 20 years quite easily they do less harm to the environment over the whole lifespan of the vehicle.

[Coleman]

That fact is what a lot of people miss, and what isn't made known. I don't know why they don't replace the roof skin with solar panels on these electric cars? Am i missing something obvious with this statement? Although they won't produce massive amounts of electricity for us in the UK on a cloudy day. Having something is better than nothing.

[Tim]

Tax money given to big businesses, the ones who target the renewable energy market. Who may or may not have friends in government.
People incentivised to buy from big businesses, car manufacturers, car dealers. (Scrappage scheme, low tax on diesel, now tax diesel to go into London, euro 4 band next euro 5 bans). Tax money back to the government.

The fact more co2, waste and pollution is produced by the constant scrapping and buying new is immaterial...it was never about co2

[Rob]

HowStuffWorks "Pollution Caused By Building a Hybrid Car"

[tomush]

Only hybrid I'd buy is the P1.