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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (768)	7/6/2005 1:17:01 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 24225

High gasoline prices fuel interest in gas-electric hybrid vehicles Cars are kind to the wallet, environment Kimberly Burger Capozzi Driving a gas-electric hybrid version of the Honda Accord sedan is kind of like driving a regular Honda Accord. The only clue that something different is going on is a tiny gauge that lights when the electric power comes on, and the spooky hush of the gasoline engine shutting off when the car stops at a stop sign. It restarts when you press on the gas pedal with no hesitation. But beneath the hood, there are big differences between conventionally powered vehicles and the hybrids offered by Honda, Toyota and a growing list of manufacturers. Most important is the combination of an electric motor and gasoline engine that significantly improves gas mileage while cutting pollution-causing emissions. High gas prices have brought even more attention to the fuel-saving benefit of the hybrids, with sales surging last year nationwide as well as in the Pittsburgh market. Maria Gooch of Glassport is the owner of a Toyota Prius sedan, the top-selling hybrid, and said she has been to the gas station only twice in two months while driving 1,000 miles. She also likes the futuristic look of the vehicle and the way the gasoline engine shuts down as she pulls into her driveway, eliminating fumes. "I have never been so excited with a car. This is the best thing I've ever done," said Ms. Gooch, manager of La Romana bar and restaurant in Glassport. With hybrids carrying a premium price (the base Honda Accord Hybrid fetches $29,990) over plain-Jane economy cars, most buyers aren't looking to save money at the pump, area dealers said. The clean-running hybrids have become the hippest way to be friendly to the environment. In 2004, the number of hybrids registered across the country grew by 81 percent over 2003, according to industry analysts R.L. Polk & Co. in Southfield, Mich. The number of registrations jumped by more than 960 percent since the vehicles were first available in 2000. In the Pittsburgh market, which includes southwestern Pennsylvania as well as three counties in Maryland and West Virginia, registrations last year grew by 94.6 percent over 2003. Catching On However, with only 395 total hybrids registered, the cars represent just a sliver of the total 180,058 new vehicles in the region. Still, with manufacturers rolling out a variety of hybrid vehicles in the coming years, it appears that this technology will be more common on U.S. highways. "People are now realizing this vehicle is here to stay," said Earl Seibert, a sales consultant at Day Toyota in Pleasant Hills, where buyers must wait eight weeks for the popular Prius. "It's not a fad. It's something that is going to be here (in the long run), and it's the immediate answer to getting away from the fossil fuels." Differing Details Hybrid vehicles differ in many details, but all incorporate an electric motor that assists or takes on some functions from the gasoline engine. Batteries store electric power that is generated through braking or cruising, so the vehicles do not need to be plugged in. In Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system the conventional gasoline engine does most of the driving and is augmented by the electric motor when starting and accelerating. The electric motor helps give the Accord higher horsepower and low-end torque over the regular Accord, said David Horner, Internet sales representative with Moon Honda in Moon Township. In a test drive it produced zippy acceleration when climbing hills, answering doubts about the power of hybrid drives. The 2005 Accord is the latest addition to Honda's growing list of hybrids. The Accord also can shut down half of the six cylinders in its V6 combustion engine for cruising at steady speeds, and incorporates several weight-saving design changes. It has a fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, according to federal agencies, compared to the 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg of a regular Accord with the same engine. Toyota and Ford, which uses Toyota's hybrid technology under license, call their systems "full hybrids." The Prius and hybrid SUVs put out by both automakers can operate on electricity alone at low speeds. The gasoline engine works with the electric motor at higher speeds and acceleration, and to recharge the battery when power gets low. The Prius is made lighter with a transmission system that replaces most mechanical gears with electric connections. An ongoing federal investigation into 33 reports of the Prius stalling serves as a reminder that these vehicles have a short history on which to judge reliability. But area dealers said they have heard of no problems with the cars they've sold. The Prius can go about 55 miles to the gallon and Toyota says it emits 90 percent fewer pollutants than conventional engines. The hybrid SUVs offer mileage comparable to their smaller counterparts. The hybrid Escape with front-wheel drive can run for 36 miles per gallon in the city, a fuel economy of 50 percent to 90 percent over the engine in a standard Escape, depending on driving habits, said Blair Bogdan, general sales manager at Biondi Parkway Ford in Forest Hills. KIM BURGER CAPOZZI is a freelance writer. bizjournals.com

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (768)	7/6/2005 1:58:53 AM
From: Bill on the Hill	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 24225

I had a horrible time with the depression that I experienced upon realizing the facts as I read and understood them. Going to the city and seeing the masses of traffic did nothing to settle my nerves. Eating at corporate restaurants with parking lots full of SUV's made me sick to my stomach. All from looking at what was staring me in the face Then I took a break to settle my nerves. And discovered that I could only do so much. And I cannot forget my humanity. I had to relax. Accepting the facts is hard but allows me to move on with my life. The last two days I have spent on the river fishing with my 26 year old son. We caught maybe 40 or 50 between us and stood side by side flycasting. He and I are in agreement as to the prospects of what we know or assume to know. And we found this wonderful time to fish and share. Not so important to the rest of the world but to me this time contained all the magic that Merlin could cast. And we experienced a moment where laughter was all we could say. Laughter so intense it was like crying. I refuse to go blindly or quietly into whatever darkness awaits. No stumbling or groaning or moaning for a second chance. We as a race of beings have too much potential to not face our truth or its consequences. So I buy solar panels and save seeds and live as I always have but prepare for the worst. And hope for the best. That has to be enough for me. It is all I can do. But together with focus we all can discuss and show what we know. But still it is up to each of us to decide whether or not we accept this as being a possibility. And accept the consequences if we are wrong.