Rebates for hybrids ineffective?
Rebates wouldn't bring more into the Prius?According to a new study, people that buy hybrid vehicles would buy them whether tax credits are available or not. Moreover, if hybrids were not available, these people would be buying other fuel efficient products. Therefore, according to an author of the study, those buying hybrids are having a negligible effect on the environment and fuel efficiency.
I say, poppycock.
So, for urban commuters 50 mpg in a Toyota Prius is irrelevant compared to 30 mpg in a Smart car? Apparently, the idling that fills the daily commutes of millions of Southern Californians, for instance, isn't a problem? If a 20 mpg difference is "not great" then I guess a 30 mpg mid-size car offers no benefits compared to a 10 mpg SUV?
Nonsense.
While I don't disagree that hybrid rebates have had little effect on the conquest of new hybrid consumers, hybrid rebates would convert more hybrid consumers if gas prices were higher. Of course, demand for hybrids would then quickly outpace supply. So, there is a bit of a catch 22 in hybrid rebates that cannot be denied in the short term.
Nonetheless, in my opinion, what this study demonstrates is what is already known. Interest in efficiency for the majority of Americans is dictated by energy prices. Bring on higher energy prices and tax credits and I'd bet many auto consumers would be converted into hybrid vehicles.
Labels: hybrid tax credits, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:42 AM
14 Comments:
Smart is actually stupid. I wonder, who wants to buy such a poppycock? Better biking to work. Probably, even safer.
I just used it because it is the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid in city traffic according to the EPA.
This post has been removed by the author.
This study must have been funded by GM....
High energy cost "and" incentives will have more impact on hybrid sales than high energy prices alone.
As far buying other high mileage vehicles..... For me that statement is incorrect. I found that my old car was getting mileage closer to the "city" rating, not the "highway rating. That is why I bought a hybrid. Because of the high "city" mileage.
and if you look at city mileage, there really is no comparison between most hybrids and there conventional counterparts.
Dahc,
In my experience, it is only if you travel long distances and don't use AC much. Otherwise, you also get something around 30 mpg. Meantime, even a GMs minivan with 6 people, AC aboard gets 20 mpg on a congested highway-city cycle.
you mean hybrids and city mileage, LB?
that certainly has not been my experience. in my LA driving my hybrid fuel economy has been outstanding and far above what conventional counterparts would achieve.
my godmother, whom drives in similar conditions as me, traded in her camry for a camry hybrid - i've never driven both vehicles - and she's told me there's a huge difference in fuel economy and the money she spends on gas.
if you drive a mix of city/hwy i'd say expect about a 20 percent improvement in fuel economy. however, if you drive mostly in city traffic, the gains can be significantly better, even doubled, in my experience.
Likewise, Cars.com did a study on this and found the 2nd gen Prius averaged 55 mpg in urban congestion. (http://www.hybridcarblog.com/2008/05/prius-escape-hybrid-rule-city-fuel.html)
I think most folks are not aware that the actual mileage they are getting is much closer to the city rating than the highway rating, even for those who have a fair amount of highway driving in their daily commute. All they know is that they can go 300 miles on a tank of gas...
That's what makes all of these auto ads bragging about 30 mpg highway such a joke. Most 30 mpg highway vehicles have a city rating of around 22 mpg.
That is why hybrids make such a big difference.
"That's what makes all of these auto ads bragging about 30 mpg highway such a joke."
I couldn't agree more with that statement.
Well, LA is a big city. You are probably driving 40 miles a day or so. Otherwise, it does not make much sense. What is more important is that on the highway (despite many don't believe that) hybrids are also much more efficient.
PS: AC is a real killer. You just don't use it much.
ok what exactly IS a "Poppycock" ?
Is it a wild British fowl ? or a deadly addictive seed from the Middle East ? or a wild flower from the far western Antarian Quadrant ?
LB- I don't drive 40 miles a day, but all the breaking and slow driving, etc. keep my battery well charged and therefore able to provide a lot of supplementary power.
Still, I don't disagree that hybrids can do extremely well in some highway conditions. i've driven through the Rockies several times in a hybrid and have experienced fantastic fuel economy.
Nonetheless, my best fuel economy is always in my local commutes of 10 miles or less, but 10 tough miles.
'poppycock' is empty talk or nonsense according to Webster's Dictionary.
I've done the 40-mile LA commute.
One thing is for sure. You don't spend the whole 40 miles at 65 on cruise control, which is what you have to do to get the EPA highway mileage rating.
Even in LA, with a 40-mile commute, your mileage is closer to the city rating than the highway rating....
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