Are Tree Huggers Clinging To An Obsolete Tree By Choosing The Current Crop Of Hybrids?

To most of us, Toyota's snazzy Prius hybrid still seems like the cutting edge of cool, the latest and greatest technology in cars. But nine years after the Prius was introduced in the United States, some are calling it obsolete. "The hybrid is yesterday's technology," says San Francisco Mayor and recently announced California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom.

To be sure, Newsom has a political ax to grind—he's trying to lure electric-car makers to the Bay Area, which already is home to Tesla Motors, maker of a sexy electric roadster, and Better Place, another startup focused on greentech transportation. But Newsom has a point. A new generation of carmakers is shunning the traditional hybrid format in favor of pure electric powertrains (driven completely by batteries) or "plug-in hybrids."

Indeed, the auto industry is being disrupted by rapid waves of new technology, a phenomenon that feels normal for the folks in Silicon Valley but is perhaps unfamiliar for the folks in Detroit. "We are on the cusp of a period of technical innovation like the automobile industry has never seen," says Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, the largest U.S. auto retailer. "There will be more change in the next five to 10 years than there was in the last 100."

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Anthony - 5/4/2009 1:49:15 PM

+5 Boost

Seeing as there is virtually zero availability of electric cars for the masses, no, hybrid cars are not obsolete, yet.

HSCenterconsole - 5/4/2009 2:34:30 PM

+4 Boost

I was up in VT for the weekend. There is no better feeling than blowing by a slow moving Prius in a passing zone on a back country road.

DinamoR - 5/4/2009 3:37:46 PM

-3 Boost

what do you drive? i'm pretty sure a tesla roadster would smoke you. the day when electric cars will outperform the gasoline ones in racing is coming. electric engines have far more performance potential. just compare an electric train to a diesel one.

HSCenterconsole - 5/4/2009 4:01:55 PM

+3 Boost

DinamoR, I borrowed my parents' '05 Z4 3.0 for the weekend (my car is an '07 328xi coupe).

I wouldn't be suprised if the $100k+ Tesla had faster acceleration than the $50k Z4. For such an increase in price, it should have far better performance. HOWEVER, I would never be able to drive a Tesla roadster to VT since the trip from CT is about 225 miles. I would run out of juice before I even got close to my destination. This is a reason why electric cars, as they stand now, will never become mainstream. While the company claims a 220 mile range, most reviews with spirited driving have placed the range in the 150 mile mark.

From Edmunds:
"With a price tag starting at $98,950 and an EPA-rated range of 220 miles (more like 180 miles if you like to goose it every once in awhile and down around 150 if you regard speed limit signs as mere suggestions), the 2008 Tesla Roadster makes most sense as a second, third or fourth (or fifth) car for weekends and the occasional short commute."

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=124716

DinamoR - 5/4/2009 7:47:40 PM

-1 Boost

LOL "never" become mainstream? you sure about that homeboy? you sound like Bob Putz back in 2004: "hybrid cars will never suceed, Hummer is our future".

plug in/electric cars will be mainstream a decade from now. Watch.

HSCenterconsole - 5/5/2009 8:19:50 AM

+1 Boost

Dinamor, first I'm not a "homeboy."

Second, read my full comment:
"This is a reason why electric cars, as they stand now, will never become mainstream. "

As they stand now, with ranges limited to about 150 or less per charge, they are useless as an all around vehicle. As battery technology improves, perhaps this will change when they do have ranges of 400 miles or so. But until that day, their appeal is still extremely limited.

komododave - 5/5/2009 10:48:10 AM

+2 Boost

DynamoR: "what do you drive? i'm pretty sure a tesla roadster would smoke you. the day when electric cars will outperform the gasoline ones in racing is coming. electric engines have far more performance potential. just compare an electric train to a diesel one. "

Obviously you don't know how Diesel trains work. Wanna know where the inspiration for the Volt came from? Look at a Diesel locomotive. The Diesel engine is used to power a generator that charges batteries which run electric motors. The only "electric" trains in america are city light rails and overhead wire trains. The fastest current trains are Maglevs which are magnetically driven. There aren't any just diesel locomotives in heavy service. Maybe as shunt engines.

DinamoR - 5/4/2009 3:36:35 PM

+2 Boost

yeah screw those tree huggers. who cares about trees, clean air, clean water, or health? forget the fact that birth defects and every disease from asthma to cancer is on the rise sharply in the last 30 years. Lets have move led painted toys for our kids and more grocery getting hummers! Our kids will piss on our graves but at least we won't look like pussies.

DinamoR - 5/4/2009 3:39:06 PM

+2 Boost

hybrids like prius were only the first step. the next step in evolution is plug in hybrids followed by 100% electric cars.

crslmn - 5/6/2009 12:11:00 AM

+1 Boost

You know most electricity is produced by coal burning power plants.

crslmn - 5/4/2009 10:34:21 PM

+4 Boost

What's a high end Corolla

Auto_expert - 5/4/2009 9:06:49 PM

+2 Boost

I'm more concerned about the environmental impacts of the production and disposal of these batteries more than I am about the CO2 released from the burning of fossil fuels. CO2 is not a pollutant and is basically "tree food" (required for photosynthesis - provides us with oxygen).

By the way, did you know that Bolivia holds more than half of the world's lithium (a rare element) deposits? Hmm....this single country could be the new OPEC.

Did you also know that without the greenhouse effect the world would be a frigid and inhabitable place?

Increased emphasis hydrogen is a better way to quash our dependence on foreign oil.

crslmn - 5/6/2009 12:08:42 AM

+2 Boost

New car?(your picture)

crslmn - 5/6/2009 12:11:45 AM

+2 Boost

I hate to say it but you have a point.

Type707 - 5/5/2009 1:27:55 AM

+3 Boost

I got to question Toyotas Prius. Recently I seen Topgear test an BMW M3 vs. Toyotas popular Hybrid on fuel efficiency. It wasnt a race competition. Both vehicles were actually going the same speed on a x amount of miles. Guess who won? The BMW m3 of course!

komododave - 5/5/2009 10:50:22 AM

+2 Boost

Article also known as "Are Granola Crunchers Chewing on Old Nuts?"