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

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (769)	7/6/2005 1:28:20 AM
From: manalagi	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24225

The main issue with hybrid cars is: Are you environmentalist or are you buying to get better gas mileage? If you are Tom Hanks who can afford a new car every year or even every 3 years when the warranty runs out, and is concern with the environment, then yeah, just go ahead and buy that hybrid cars. But, on the other hand, the objective is just to save on gas and want to keep the car for a long long time, then, think again. Once the warranty expires, you are on your own. First, check with the dealer how much a replacement for an inverter cost, how about the tranny? how about the battery, how about the brain? As far as gas savings is concern, the cost to maintain will be much more.

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (769)	7/6/2005 10:46:45 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 24225

Automakers plan to expand focus on hybrid vehicles AP AND AFP , TOKYO AND KUALA LUMPUR Wednesday, Jul 06, 2005,Page 12 Japan's top carmaker Toyota Motor Corp will double its production of hybrid vehicles next year to meet high demand in North America, a newspaper report said yesterday. Toyota will boost its annual production of hybrid vehicles such as Prius, Harrier and Kluger to 500,000 units by increasing output in southern Japan's Fukuoka prefecture and other places, the Asahi Shimbun said. Production will also be hiked at its plant in Toyota City in central Japan, where the company is headquartered, it said. Hybrids offer better mileage and reduce pollution and global warming by switching between a gas engine and electric motor. More planned Besides the Prius, Toyota has introduced other hybrids and is planning more. Toyota has said it will begin its first overseas production of hybrid vehicles next year at its plants in the northeast Chinese city of Changchun and the US state of Kentucky. But a Toyota spokeswoman said the company had not mapped out any specific plans for next year. "Proton is actually working hard to produce hybrid cars, we have been working at least for five years, it has not been easy." Mahathir Mohamad, former Malaysian prime minister and current adviser to Proton "Toyota is making efforts towards the goal of selling 1 million hybrid vehicles worldwide [annually in the future], but we have not specifically decided to raise production to 500,000 units in 2006," she said. Separately, Honda Motor Co has developed an improved gas-and-electric engine for the new Civic compact set to go on sale in North America, Japan and Europe this fall, the Japanese automaker said yesterday. Honda's new system Honda said that a specific mileage estimate for the new hybrid system would not be provided until later this year, but said it is about 5 percent better than current Civic hybrid cars, which deliver about 51 miles per gallon (21.5km per liter) under US highway conditions. Company officials, briefing reporters at Honda's Tokyo headquarters, also said the new Civic will offer better fuel efficiency than rival Toyota's Prius. Honda already has developed hybrid versions of its Civic and Accord sedans and makes a hybrid called Insight. Ford Motor Co has said hybrid versions of its upcoming Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans will be on the road within three years, while General Motors Corp. is planning to introduce a hybrid Chevrolet Malibu in 2008. Proton's model Malaysia's national carmaker Proton is working on a hybrid car using an electric motor and hopes to roll it out in less than five years, Proton adviser and former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday. "Proton is actually working hard to produce hybrid cars, we have been working at least for five years, it has not been easy," he told a news conference. When asked when Proton was expected to unveil the hybrid for sale, he said: "We hope earlier than five years, God willing." In Singapore, hybrid vehicles combining petrol and electric motors to reduce fuel consumption and emissions have been introduced by some dealers but are not popular among motorists, partly because of their high prices taipeitimes.com

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (769)	7/6/2005 4:38:21 PM
From: Suma	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24225

I have a Prius and have 1200 miles on it. Filled up twice. However, I am in the mountains and the altitude..plus hills might have a little bit to do with it. Figure about 45 mpg.. Love the car... Feel more secure. If I had kept my 10 acres over in Ashe County... I would have begun putting in a windmill.... My home here has a well.... I have to use kerosene,propane and electric in the Winter. The utilities are only going up. Two years ago a contract for Propane was about $ 1.25 cents and this year it promises to be over $ 1.75... Kerosene is the worst... It's up over two dollars. When I put in the Monitor it was below a dollar nineteen cents.. You guys have the right idea. I love Bill on the Hill. People marked him. ML