Comments on: Toyota Prius to come with solar panels

By: AC COBRA

AC COBRA — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:45:02 +0000

Don’t Buy That New Prius! Test-Drive a Used Car Instead…
In 2006, an Oregon market research firm released an incendiary 500-page report. Its claim: A Humvee (13 miles per gallon city, 16 highway) uses less energy than a Prius (48 city, 45 highway). Scientists quickly debunked the study, but the Hummer lovers got one thing right. Pound for pound, making a Prius contributes more carbon to the atmosphere than making a Hummer, largely due to the environmental cost of the 30 pounds of nickel in the hybrid’s battery. Of course, the hybrid quickly erases that carbon deficit on the road, thanks to its fuel economy.

Still, the comparison suggests a more sensible question. If a new Prius were placed head-to-head with a used car, would the Prius win? Don’t bet on it. Making a Prius consumes 113 million BTUs, according to sustainability engineer Pablo Päster. A single gallon of gas contains about 113,000 Btus, so Toyota’s green wonder guzzles the equivalent of 1,000 gallons before it clocks its first mile. A used car, on the other hand, starts with a significant advantage: The first owner has already paid off its carbon debt. Buy a 1999 Ford focus, which gets a respectable 35 mpg, and the Prius will have to drive 100,000 miles to catch up.

Better yet, buy a three-cylinder, 49-horsepower 1994 Geo Metro XFi, one of the most fuel-efficient cars ever built. It gets the same average mileage as a 2008 Prius, so a new hybrid would never close the carbon gap. Sure, the XFi has no AC or airbags — but nobody said saving the planet would be comfortable, or even safe.

By: Glen

Glen — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:51:48 +0000

Burt I’m here to say Hybrids are NOT the way of the future. But they are a short term option. More than likely hydrogen is the way of the future and the quicker they can bring in the infrastructure and improve the technology.the better. Also diesel’s development has plenty of scope considering that motorsports have only just started using diesel powerplants and the best way advance technology is through motorsport.

By: burt

burt — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:49:54 +0000

like it or hate it there is no one out there that will say hybrid tecnology is not the way of the future! it is still fairly new and what some of you say about diesel well they have been around for years and that tecnology has peaked! hybrid has only just started, the new prius3 will not only be way more powerfull but will be even better on fuel which is currently rated at 4.4lt/100km

By: Glen

Glen — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:20:39 +0000

Dingo, there is no doubt you are grossly exaggerating about the “lack” of quality and refinement from locally built manufacturers. To say they amongst the worse is a major major overestimate. Especially compared to Daewoo, Citroen, early Fiats, Hyundai, Kia. Yes true Ford & Holden have had some unreliable cars in their time but you’ll find most of the problem models were imported models. Toyota’s have had the same problems, such as the Starletts and Echo’s with terrible interior quality.

By: GhisGT

GhisGT — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:03:05 +0000

Pruis? Yaaaaaaawn

Does it come with a free cardigan?

Hmmm, I feel like a good burnout. Might have to take the beast for a spin tonight. I love burnouts.

By: Richo

Richo — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:01:56 +0000

umm Luke GT, didn’t you just prove my point that some manufacturers make good and bad ones? You got a good camry, we got a dud one. Other people have got dud commodores, we got a good one.. am i going too fast for you?

I’m glad your happy with your “wide bodied” carmy, interestingly the magna of the time was just as roomy and comfortable inside despite it not being “wide bodied”, but the fact remained our one was completely hopeless and gutless. We upgraded from a 2.6ltr 88 magna auto to a 2.2ltr 94 camry auto and believe me when i say that with 5 people on board, boot full, aircon on (we lived in townsville) on the highway the magna would still overtake a truck! that bloody camry couldn’t overtake a VW beetle! it was a fine car to potter around in but actually try and load it up and go on a trip with your family.. well it was hopelessly underpowered! And that was compared to a bloody carby fed 2.6ltr astron II powered magna! widely regarded as the worst of the magna’s!

By: Carl

Carl — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:04:39 +0000

No Name, If the air con, system is working properly and with no leaks it NEVER needs topping up! If you are having this problem it’s because you have a minor leak. people don’t realise that the air conditioner should be used all year round even in winter, in conjunction with the heater not only will it keep the cabin more comfortable it will help demist on cold humid days also and more importantly the O rings that seal the hoses will not dry out and then leak in summer when the air is finally turned on.

If you still don’t like using the air con. in winter then you must run it at least 15 minutes every 2 weeks to lubricate the O rings and prevent leaks…..hope this was of some help mate!

Cheers

As for solar panels on a hybrid, i think it would make more sense to charge all the batteries therefore prolonging the time between when the engine kicks in. If i left a hybrid parked in the sun all day I’d prefer the batteries to charged when i got back to it rather than the air conditioner have been running all day and nothing to show for it!!!

By: James A

James A — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:36:00 +0000

The statement about laying solar panels out on the entire roof of your house could only power two hair dryers doesn’t sound right to me.
The average hair dryer is around 1200W.
A 1kW Solar system is only around 1.5m x 2m (best guess, stand to be corrected if someone knows.), if I covered the roof of my house, I could run a hell of a lot of hairdryers ……

By: No Name

No Name — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:49:46 +0000

I don’t believe it, what a complete farce. The environemtal damage done fabricating the panels more then out weighs the gains. Does anyone really want the aircon working whilst you’re not in the car, the additional wear on the compressor and use of the nasty gases in the aircon which need regular topping up cause even more environmental damage.
The Prius will now do more damage to the environment under its farcical ‘Green Flag’.

By: Luke GT

Luke GT — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:45:23 +0000

Richo : the Prius is arguable the single most identified hybrid vehicle that has challenged the hybrid envelope.
Compared to standard petrol and diesel powerplants, hybrid technology is still a relatively new concept that will benefit greatly from ongoing research and development particularly when mated to diesel or any other alternative powered motor-vehicle .

There is no doubting that Toyota (and Honda) have done a remarkable job with the development of hybrid motor vehicles and so much so, that … many of the worlds most recognised manufactuers are now following suit including BMW, Audi, Nissan, Ford, GM (incl. Holden) and Ford as some examples.

As for recycling, Toyota has invested heavily in a recycling regime (were possible) and encourages all of it’s global dealerships to return batteries to them which is apart of not only striving for more environmentally friendly motor vehicles but recycling process for aged and disused components.

As for reliabilty – agree, all models and manufactuers have problems but fact remains … some have more then others while others have more yet again.

Toyota (as with some other manuafactuers) have established a world-wide reputation as one of the best performers for vehicle quality, reliability, dependability and durability while companies like General Motors and Ford have a less then favourale record … infact, they have a history of ranking amoung the worst performers of all particularly in Australia.

Take the time and research any Cust.Satisfaction / Qual. Survey wether it be ‘aged’ or ‘recent’ and you will discover that Toyota has undoubtedly demonstrated the most consistant result of all wether it reflects the US, UK or Australian market and remains no different today.

You talk of reliability with the VS Commodore which is interesting because the Commoddore is infact amoung he most troublesome, unreliable and poorest quality vehicles that can be purchased in Australia and apatt from general knowledge of this, the bulk of Cust.Satisfaction / Quality Surveys have consistantly proven this year after year.

As for the Camry you refered to – interesting … becuase the widebody Camry (and subsequent models) rightly established a reputation for outstanding reliability/dependablity and my current ‘second car’ which happens to be a 1994 2.2 4 cyl CSI widebody that i purchased secondhand but near-new many years ago has been absolutely outstanding although and at 14 years of age and 245 000km, it is only now i am starting to spend ‘some’ money on the vehicle.

It is because of the reliability of my aged widebody Camry that reserved no hestitation for me to buy another Camry which is a 2003 4cyl manual Sportivo and bar some very minor issues, at 75 000km’s i have been equally satisfied.