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April 02, 2006
Hybrids: Bad for the environment?
Which car is kinder to Mother Earth?
The horrific Hummer H2, an ecological disaster on wheels?
Or the metrosexual, hip and oh-so-trendy Toyota Prius (unicorns and faeries not included)?
After all, the Hummer gets terrible mileage, which is bad for children -- My gawd, think of the children! -- and butterflies and dolphins, too.
The Prius gets good mileage, which has the added benefit of making Prius owners better people than those of us driving gas-guzzling SUVs. That's because the Prius -- and its hybrid siblings -- are more energy efficient than the Hummer.
Or is it?
The results of a new study conducted by CNW Marketing Research Inc. is sure to generate some arched eyebrows. The firm's report stems from their two-year effort to collect and analyze data on the "energy neessary to plan, build, sell, drive and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage." CNW then assigned their findings a new comparative metric - "dollars per lifetime mile" - or, said another way, total energy cost per mile driven.
The findings? America's most expensive vehicle in calendar 2005 was the Maybach (presumably a 62), tallying up at a staggering $11.58/mile. The thriftiest? Scion's boxy xB, just $.48 cents/mile.
But here's where it gets interesting: CNW's findings indicate that a hybrid consumes more energy overall than a comparable conventionally powered model. It judged showed that the Honda Accord Hybrid rang up an Energy Costs Per Mile of $3.29, while a gas-powered Accord was significantly cheaper at $2.18/mile. The study concludes that the average of all 2005 U.S. market vehicles was $2.28/mile.
The reasoning goes that hybrids use up more energy to manufacture, as well as consume more resources in terms of the assembly (and eventual disposal) of things like batteries and motors. By CNW's reckoning, the intrinsically lower complexity of, say, a Hummer H3 ($1.949/mile) actually results in lower total energy usage than any hybrid currently on the market, and even a standard Honda Civic ($2.42).
While the study's findings don't take issue with what vehicles are more financially economical to own (read: those with better mileage), it does pose some interesting questions about total energy usage in hybrids.
Obviously, in order to best judge the merit of CNW's findings, a clearer explanation of the study's criteria and processes is in order.
[Sources: CNW via Yahoo Business, QCNetwork.com]
I have no idea if the methodology is sound, but there are hidden costs associated with hybrid technology that, when factored into the manufacture of the vehicles, appear to make them less of a bargain -- as well as not quite so good for the environment.
The battery packs are expensive to replace and difficult to dispose of, containing toxic heavy metals and liquids. It seems reasonable that the total energy costs associated with manufacturing and disposing of these vehicles might be significantly higher than is the case with more mature technologies, i.e., standard internal combustion powertrains.
I'll be interested in seeing how this turns out after the collective power of the gearhead blogosphere finishes vetting the research.
Via Autoblog.
Posted by Mike Lief at April 2, 2006 01:04 AM
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Comments
Oh my God, this is Republican enviro-polluting propoganda of the highest order. I mainly get around by foot and on bike but this still just makes me so angry. At this point in my life I just couldn't afford one of these beautiful hybrid cards. I think the Prius is just flat out sporty.
How can you give credence to a so called "study" like this. The results are just laughable. Hybrid technology may not be the final answer but its certainly a great first step towards protecting our earth. Greenhouse gases are turning this planet into a literal "hot house."
Unless you want to see our coastlines under water, hurricanes ravaging the earth, drought, famine, and the general destruction of the planet, "Out On A Limb" should take more responsible steps towards screening its content.
I am a member of "Earth First!" and this is one of the right wing websites I have dedicated myself to monitoring. I do thank "Out On A Limb" for allowing its readers to hear my voice. "Out On A Limb"... I'm watching you.
Posted by: Sbarro at April 2, 2006 01:06 PM
Sbarro:
Seriously??? You refuse to deal in reality. When you don't like what the results are, a study becomes a "study."
Call me a cynic, but I suspect you cannot afford that thporty Priuth because you spent all of your money on pot! Don't worry, once you are out of college and actually earning a living, you will start leaning a little more to the right.
I can't speak for Out On a Limb, but I suspect he is not threatened by the fact that a liberal college student is "watching you." Now go clean your room before your mother follows through on her threat and grounds you!
Posted by: Thin Ice at April 2, 2006 09:38 PM