GAS PAIN$ PUMP UP SALES OF HYBRIDS, BEAT UP SUVS

New York Post ^ | 5/27/04 | PAUL THARP

[kattracks]

May 27, 2004 -- Automakers can't turn out popular penny-pinching hybrid cars fast enough to fill motorist demand. With gasoline prices doubling in the past year, driver demand for the 55-miles-per-gallon gasoline-and-battery-powered vehicles from Toyota and Honda has also more than doubled.

Sales of the $23,000 Toyota Prius, for example, soared 152.8 percent in the 12 months since gas prices started their troubling ascent in April 2003.

"Manufacturers are selling every hybrid they can build — they're hot," said auto analyst David Lucas of AutoData Corp., the industry's authoritative source for automotive sales.

"As our energy costs continue to rise, it's logical that people are going to be much more interested in the economy from these vehicles."

Although sales of large, gas-guzzling SUVs are dropping sharply, sales of hybrid cars are so small in comparison that it could take years for the little misers to catch up with their huge rivals.

[goldstategop]

Its not going to mean the Death Of The SUV. As long as gas prices don't rise too steeply, people will take the increase in stride. For what its worth, its still under $20 to fill my VW New Beetle when the tank's half-empty.

[arm958]

Good old supply and demand at work.

[Clemenza]

Nothing pisses me off more than some suburban ditz bashing Bush on the environment while getting into her SUV.

[SpyGuy]

What they fail to mention is that the automakers are selling these hybrid vehicles at a loss (i.e., they are using profits from the sales of their other vehicles--like pricey SUVs--to cover the costs of the hybrids). The only reason they are making these vehicles is to comply with emission regulations and as a PR device for "green" consumers.

[tiamat]

If there was an American made hybrid I'd buy it in a second.... I don't like giving the ME any more of my money than I absolutly have to!

[Caipirabob]

As long as this is consumer driven and not being imposed, I'm all for it. More sales will mean more interest in the industry to research and improve the technology. The industry will respond to demand and dollars, as it should.

If the rats hold GW responsible for the gas prices, anyone think he'll also be responsible for the change of "public conciousness" and a new interest in fuel saving technology?

BWAAA HA HA HAAAA...

[Fresh Wind]

Toyota Prius (as tested by Motor Trend):

0-60 12.40 seconds
1/4 Mile: 18.88 seconds
Skidpad: 0.73 G
Horsepower: 76
Torque: 82 lb/ft
Battery: 21 KW
Weight: 2890 lbs

No wonder they get good mileage. They are s-l-o-o-o-o-w!

[taildragger]

A technical solution is ready to go, other than Hybrids.

The major Auto Manufacturers need to embrace it.

It is called Air Assisted Direct Injection.

13 to 19% better fuel economy not to mention lower emissions.

It is a highly patented and protected technology and is a "Disruptive Technology", i.e. once implemented you can't go back which is probably why the manufacturers are unwilling to embrace it. They get the fuel droplet's size down to 8 microns, the nearest competing system is 50 microns. They are the benchmark for Direct Injection Period.

Go to: http://www.orbeng.com/orbital/home/home.htm

The future us here, we just need manufacturers with vision and courage to embrace it. I think this is a heck of a lot cheaper helper to low fuel mileage and more cost effective than Hybrids.

This Direct Injection system is already available in Aprilia Scooters, Mercury Optimax Outboards, Tohatsu Outboards, and Skidoo PWC just to name a few who have adopted and are producing engines with this system.

[motzman]

A nearly 3000 lb car with only 76 horses is downright dangerous!

[Constitution Day]

Thank you.

If someone built a hybrid car with the comfort, quality and speed of my current one, I'd buy it.
Till then, no thanks.

CD

[PogySailor]

The problem with hybrids is that right now they are only good for short trips, low speed, stop and go city driving. A co-worker bought a Civic hybrid thinking he would save a lot of gas. Now he's finding out that his previous car, a regular Civic HX, actually used less gas with the type of driving he does. 80% highway, 20% city streets.

[jrhepfer]

I read this great post yesterday:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1142152/posts

I think it is becoming more apparent that replacing petroleum as a fuel source may not be an option now. Perhaps instead we need to invest in learning to make petroleum as opposed to drilling for it.

The article above suggests creating petroleum by harvesting algae. Here is another post

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/913138/posts

that discusses breaking down many forms of petroleum and carbon-based garbage and processing it back into light crude.

The fuel may not be the problem, how we are getting it may be?

Regards to all,

Jim

[Bulwark]

0-60 12.40 seconds
1/4 Mile: 18.88 seconds
Skidpad: 0.73 G
Horsepower: 76
Torque: 82 lb/ft
Battery: 21 KW
Weight: 2890 lbs

That's nice, but slightly misleading. That's not for a 2004 Prius, which I see hits 60 in the ~10 second range... seen it as low as 9.5 in Road&Track. And while it has 76hp and 82 lb feet of torque, you list only the gas engine. The electric engine contributes another 67hp and 295 lb feet of torque, in addition to the gas engine. So they're quite torquey.

[Fresh Wind]

My numbers ARE for a 2004 Prius, unless my source (Yahoo) misquoted the Motor Trend numbers.

[Bulwark]

It most certainly is a misquote, since the 2004 prius has a 50kw engine, not a 23 kw engine.

[The South Texan]

I wish I was in the market for an SUV (buying one in 2005). There are some fantastic deals out there right now.

[RightWhale]

driver demand for the 55-miles-per-gallon gasoline-and-battery-powered vehicles from Toyota and Honda

Demand all you want, you won't get more than 40 in most cases, and even that is due to the tiny engine rather than the hybrid scam. But go ahead, drive a mobile speed bump if it makes you feel better.