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The Math Behind the Hybrid Hype
markmcb writes "OmniNerd has posted a thorough mathematical analysis of purchasing a hybrid vehicle that dispels much of the hype associated with this modern buzz word. The author considers all of the major factors to show just how much money a hybrid vehicle will or won't save you. In the end, it seems the only real winner after a hybrid purchase is the environment."
Fortunately in Europe we also have a system of public transport which most environment minded people (like myself) prefer to use rather than pretend we are doing our bit through the purchase of a new car.
Okay, I'll try to explain again more clearly, why I find this statement offensive.
I'm considering buying a hybrid right now. Why? Because I live in Carrborro, NC. USA. There isn't any serious public transport, though we are working on it. I'm not pretending buying a hybrid would save more energy than a rail system. But it helps. When I've lived in American cities with such systems, I've always used them. But your statement isn't realistic, and I have to get to work somehow.
I was called a fool in a reaction to my reply, but I think your comment is condesending.
>> the only real winner after a hybrid purchase is the environment.
> That is to say, everyone and everything on the planet.
In the end, I think the only real winner will be the auto makers, and only for a short time.
Think about it; in 5-7 years, all of these hybrids are going to need new batteries; VERY VERY expensive batteries. That means the used car market will soon be saturated with hybrids with old batteries that won't take a charge. That means that in a few years, people on low budgets will be driving cheap used hybrids (cheap because they'll depreciate VERY quickly) with dead batteries, winding their 50hp gas engines up to 6000RPM just to get around. That means that in the end, we're using just as much fuel as we did before, only now, we have craploads of old, dead batteries to dispose of. THAT means, the environmental impact is at least as bad, or even WORSE than what we had originally.
But God demonstrates his love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us - (Romans 5:8)
There's also geopolitics to consider as well as general progress towards more effective technology. It's not just about the monthly gas bill. Our current energy economy comes with some very nasty side effects.
I'd just like to see the Arabs reduced to the irrelevant nomads they were 100 years ago.
A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
My only comment to this is that environmentalists frequently fail to account for the economic impact of their recommendations. Which do you think is worse: the death of 50% of the population due to lack of economic resources or the death of 50% of the population due to destruction of the environment?But pricing will take care of this. And this is very basic economics. It involves the laws of supply and demand. As the supply of the resource decreases, it's cost will increase past the cost of the next best alternative. At which point, everyone will stop using that resource. In other words, we will never (ever) run out of oil. It will, at some point before we run out, become to expensive to use. So no one will use it. No government regulation required.
Key to financial independence: Spend less than you earn. Save and invest the difference. Do it for a long time.
Yeah, because it never rains or anything. You're like those cyclist fanatics who come onto every thread like this telling people to go on the bike.
Here's a bit of information: I've just come back from work on the bike. Five miles, over the hills. Pitch black, absolutely pissing it down. I was soaked through to the skin, even through waterproof clothes everything I was wearing was wet, I may as well have swam home. Luckily I could take everything off and change, imagine if I was going to work?
I'll probably get a cold now. If you can afford a car, get one. Fuck the environment, it's not worth living in misery to stop the earth getting a millionth of a degree warmer.