Disqus - Latest Comments for Mike

Re: What a Difference 10MPH Makes

Mike — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:11:56 -0000

Those are some very impressive numbers for your fuel economy. Without even trying any of the other 'hypermiling' techniques out there, you managed to increase your fuel economy by 10 mpg. Nice job.

I think most people know that if you just slow down a little bit, you get better fuel efficiency. But if everyone else is traveling at 70-75, it's hard to feel comfortable driving 65 (or less).

Re: Toyota struggling to meet small car and hybrid demand

Mike — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:28:44 -0000

It should get better once the new battery plants come on line next year. Until then, you may want to hold off on buying a Prius since the dealers can add thousands to the MSRP right now.

It seems no one expected the rapid changes in gas prices. $4 has definitely been a tipping point for demand of hybrids.

Re: Is it more efficient?

Mike — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:20:18 -0000

He might also look into lower insurance rates for hybrid drivers. Also, some states are offering rebates or other tax incentives to those who buy a hybrid car. Then there's solo access to HOV lanes or free parking. It all depends on which state you're in, but the time to break even on the extra money varies widely on how much you take advantage of these types of incentives.

It also depends on what the 'other' car is in your scenario, i.e. the price of the other car and its fuel economy.

Re: Is it more efficient?

Mike — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:06:39 -0000

I've seen studies saying it can take as little as 2 to 3 years to make up the cost difference. Again, it depends on which hybrid car you're buying and which car is your alternative.

As for 'hidden costs,' I'm not sure I follow you.

Re: Is it more efficient?

Mike — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:08:26 -0000

I would suggest looking at what Toyota has done since their incentives ran out. They are still selling 3 out of every 4 hybrids in the US, despite losing their tax credits. Hybrid Car Sales, June.

Re: The Stimulus Bill Tax Credit Guide: Great Green Stuff Obama Will Help You Buy

Mike — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:33:03 -0000

I was about to say the same thing as daugenet. Hybrid cars did not get a new tax credit, but the old one still applies for the companies that haven't gone over the limit. Toyota and Honda Hybrids are not eligible any more.

Ford is about to begin the phase out period (in case you wanted to use it buying the Ford Fusion Hybrid.. Do it now, because in March you won't be able to get the full credit!), while GM, Nissan and others have plenty of time left on the clock.

Plug-in Hybrids got the nod this time.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#s3

Re: U.S. Hybrid Car Sales in March... Not Good At All

Mike — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:42:20 -0000

Also, the waiting lists become very important when you compare to last year. Last year in March, sales dropped in the overall market by 12%, but hybrid car sales increased. It wasn't until May that the economy caught up to hybrid car sales.

Which means Toyota et al were finally catching up on their waiting lists even as the marketplace began to tank. That kept hybrid sales going strong even as the rest of the marketplace dropped. Which means you're comparing this years numbers to a (sort of) false high from last year.

Re: Plug In America's Electric & Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Tracker

Mike — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:34:29 -0000

I'm not sure how useful the list is. When 80% of the cars and trucks are concept vehicles with little or no likelihood of ever going into production, it makes the list less than useful for most people.

Admittedly, it's nice for those of us with a high degree of interest to see the total list, but a truncated list (or at least the ability to truncate the list) to those models available now, or at least the ability to cut down to demo and production vehicles, would be very useful.

Re: Chevy Volt Rated at 230 MPG in City Driving

Mike — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:09:31 -0000

It's such a meaningless number. I know if I drive a conventional car that the mpg from the EPA should give me a good idea of the ranges and the amount of fuel I will need to buy.

230 mpg city tells me nothing about the E-REV.

The EPA needs to set up a new standard for plug-ins. Tell us how many miles we can do in all electric. Then tell me what my mpg is going to look like after that. Then I have a good way of telling what I need to know.

If my commute is short, I'll know I can drive on all electric all the time. If my commute is long, or I need to take overnight trips where I won't be likely to plug in, I'll know what to expect.

Re: 230 MPG? Stop the Madness! Here's How the EPA Should Rate Range-Extended Electric Cars

Mike — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:59:11 -0000

Actually, you need three numbers (if you use the first two). The third number is how far you go on all electric power with an E-REV. The numbers I've seen so far for the plug-in Prius, for instance, is about 10 miles. If you're commute is under 40 miles a day, but greater than 10, you may want to opt for the Volt.

The 230 mpg is ridiculous. Let's face it. If you put 1 gallon of gas into the Volt, you won't travel 240 miles. You might make it to 80. Does that mean the EPA should rate it for 80 mpg?

Re: Google Co-Op Search for Hybrid Cars

Mike — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:31:11 -0000

I'm still relatively new at looking around for hybrid information, having only started looking about a year ago. But I'm surprised to hear autoblog being referred to as hybrid bashers. Didn't they just start autobloggreen?

Am I not being critical enough in looking at their stories?

Thanks for referring to the search. I've had some excellent suggestions already, and am now including treehugger.com, cleanmpg.com, hybridcars.about.com, and hybridcars.com.

Re: Hybrid Taxis in New York City Get Challenged on Safety Concerns

Mike — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:44:17 -0000

What I find interesting is how they question how long the hybrids will last on NYC streets. There's been several test fleets running (SF, NYC, Canada) and the hybrid vehicles being used have done very well.

Given that, the other conclusions made by the engineer become suspect in my eyes.

Re: What Comes After the Volt? Which GM Models Will Use the Volt's Drivetrain?

Mike — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:42:07 -0000

I'm not sure they've thought too much about where to use the E-Flex next. They need to see if it's going to fly, first.

In the meantime, their next plug-in hybrid will come in the Vue. It seems to be their test-bed for all things hybrid. The Vue has had a mild version, will get the full hybrid treatment (two-mode) and will, sometime in the next year or so, come with a plug.

Re: Worst Sales Performance of Any Car: Toyota Prius

Mike — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:42:59 -0000

As others have already pointed out, this was a bad example for so many reasons. If you want to argue that GM and Toyota are the same underneath, fine. But bringing this month's Prius sales into the argument was a bad idea.

http://hybridreview.blogspot.com/2008/12/prius-is-worst-performing-car-in-sales.html

Re: Worst Sales Performance of Any Car: Toyota Prius

Mike — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:34:38 -0000

Thanks for the link, I'm glad you thought I made some good points.

Re: The Stimulus Bill Tax Credit Guide: Great Green Stuff Obama Will Help You Buy

Mike — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:33:03 -0000

Plug-in Hybrids got the nod this time.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#s3

Re: U.S. Hybrid Car Sales in March... Not Good At All

Mike — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:42:20 -0000

Re: Plug In America's Electric & Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Tracker

Mike — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:34:29 -0000

Re: Chevy Volt Rated at 230 MPG in City Driving

Mike — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:09:31 -0000

It's such a meaningless number. I know if I drive a conventional car that the mpg from the EPA should give me a good idea of the ranges and the amount of fuel I will need to buy.

230 mpg city tells me nothing about the E-REV.

If my commute is short, I'll know I can drive on all electric all the time. If my commute is long, or I need to take overnight trips where I won't be likely to plug in, I'll know what to expect.

Re: 230 MPG? Stop the Madness! Here's How the EPA Should Rate Range-Extended Electric Cars

Mike — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:59:11 -0000

The 230 mpg is ridiculous. Let's face it. If you put 1 gallon of gas into the Volt, you won't travel 240 miles. You might make it to 80. Does that mean the EPA should rate it for 80 mpg?

Re: Report: Hybrid sales fell 48.4 percent in Sept.

Mike — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:44:39 -0000

Comparing month-to-month sales for cars is ridiculous. Seasonal difference dominate the figures. Comparing sales to last September shows basically a wash, and that's despite the several models going through the changeover to new model years.