Hybrids

[pacodiablo]

What do you think of hybrid technology in cars?

 

I go in the "I think it's a neat concept" category.  Saving the environment is a good thing to do, but hybrids seem like an overly costly way to go about doing it.  I for one would never pay $20,000 for a Civic.  Add to that service costs which must be higher than that of standard cars and trucks.  Hybrid engines are very complex and there are many more things to go wrong in them.  I also don't like the loss of power that comes along with hybrid engines.  So far all hybrids have been anemic, cramped and lazy econoboxes.  Once hybrid technology is simpler, more powerful and less expensive, I may consider, but right now I think improving traditional engines is the better way to go.  We have come pretty far with gas engines, but we still have a way to go.  I think efficient gassers that are inexpensive yet powerful are the way to go.  Just my humble opinion...

[elboberino]

Anyone in AZ will know that they tried this already.  The offered tax breaks to anyone who converted a Chevy fullsize vehicle into an alternative fuel vehicle.  People ended up taking advantage of this and ended up getting paid back for the incredibly expensive wheels and tires they put on the car, the huge entertatinment setups, and paint-jobs up the wazoo.  Luckily, not everyone got money back from the state so they had to pay for it all.  Serves them right.  It is an interesting thought though, and if it was affordable to do the conversion and if I had natural gas in my neighborhood in AZ, I might think about it.  Then, if my bar-b-que ever runs out of gas, I can just back the truck up and run a line off it's tank!  

[RyanbabZ71]

I will be in the truck market (looking at a new truck) when the new D.O.D. comes out.  Its supposed to come out 2004 (they didnt have it at the autoshow so it may be delayed??? Mervz any info on this?  I will wait a yr then probabaly get a new one

 

I think the GTO may come first   I could care less what MPG i get with it  

[CMNTMXR81]

I voted that they were the root of all evil!

 

They are a technology generally being perfected for emissions friendliness and MPG.  Both of which don't factor into my equation for POWER!

[Z71GUY]

Hybrid engines are NOT the answer to the next "fuel". Personally I feel its just an answer to all of those tree huggin liberal idiots out there.  Makes them "feel" good driving them.  The funny part I find is that those Civics get around 50-60 MPG right?  Well, go get yourself a nicer, roomier VW GOLF TDI (turbo diesel injection) and get 50 mpg on the highway.  I never understood all this hybrid crap when TDI engines can just about get those numbers with MUCH MUCH  better power and reliablity.

[CMNTMXR81]

Anyone in AZ will know that they tried this already.  The offered tax breaks to anyone who converted a Chevy fullsize vehicle into an alternative fuel vehicle.  People ended up taking advantage of this and ended up getting paid back for the incredibly expensive wheels and tires they put on the car, the huge entertatinment setups, and paint-jobs up the wazoo.  Luckily, not everyone got money back from the state so they had to pay for it all.  Serves them right.  It is an interesting thought though, and if it was affordable to do the conversion and if I had natural gas in my neighborhood in AZ, I might think about it.  Then, if my bar-b-que ever runs out of gas, I can just back the truck up and run a line off it's tank!  

You can get CNG nationwide now albeit not all states/municipalities offer those rebates.

 

These municipalities and States as well as GM are pushing strongly the sales of CNG trucks.  I need to put together a presentation for my friend in Powerpoint incorporating the CD-Rom GM sent out with all these municipal fleets that now run on CNG.  The Cavalier's CNG tank fill is a funny little door under the left rear taillight.  It looks goofy!

 

I bet most of you didn't know this but your new 4.3L V6, the Vortec 4800, 5300, and 6000 are already CNG capable from the factory even though you may not have bought the actual CNG package.  So at a later date, if you wanted to put the conversion kit on, you wouldn't need to set the motor up for it.

 

They've also got this cool concept (for an Hybrid car, it's cool anyway) called the skateboard on this CD-Rom.  What it is, is a nitrogen fuel cell powered frame (with electric motors at all 4 wheels) that resembles a skateboard.  From there you buy several different body styles for it that plop onto that skateboard frame.  Say today you feel like a sportscar.  In your garage, you drop the sportscar body on, download the algorithyms for chassis settings, power settings, etc, that pertains to a sports car and drive off.  The next day if you want an SUV, plop on the SUV body, download the software into it's PCM for SUV suspension and power settings and drive off.

 

It is pretty trick but years off as the technology to mass produce it isn't feasible.  The two real live running prototypes are about $4 million each.  

[LarryE]

I love them,  any way to get away from nasty crude oil gets my vote...

 

I'm a tree hugger by no means, can't stand those ppl but the technology behind it is amazing.

 

it would figure out to 10cents a gallon for hydrogen, something gas could never get to again.

 

Theres a professor in AZ that has been running a hydrogen motor in his car for 24 years, so there is ppl out there that could get them built in the near future,  the only problem right now is the battle between who's going to build what first....  the car with no filling station or the filling station with no cars,  thats a big battle in detroit.