Hybrid Cost Differential

MDC, thanks for taking up the torch, but you can't argue with a sick mind. And NoSUV is definitely sick. Many, many well-founded, intelligent and logical arguments in this forum have been made in opposition to NoSUV's crazy rants, without concession. But there is a cause to this rebellion.

You see, NoSUV (and many other, much smarter people) has invested their hard earned money and committed a lifestyle to this "new" hybrid technology. NoSUV fell for the marketing hype and now must defend that emotional/psudo-ecological purchase decision against reason and logic. NoSUV does not want to hear reason, nor fact, nor dissenting opinion that injects doubt into the wall of denial NoSUV has built up. And can you blame him?

NoSUV does not want to hear that hybrid manufacturers have mis-lead consumers to believe that hybrids are positive steps in addressing our nations fossil fuel/ecological/economical problems. NoSUV will not admit to the very complacency and egocentricity NoSUV has exhibited in this forum that prevents hybrids buyers from participating in finding real solutions. In fact: HYBRIDS BURN FOSSIL FUEL, and they use other toxic elements in their batteries. While NoSUV and all the other hybrid buyers are lead to believe that they are acting green, in fact, in the best case is they are doing nothing positive. The worst case is they are adding to a toxic eco-time bomb and delaying action toward real solutions while they fill the auto-manufacturer's coffers.

But NoSUV does not want to hear that hybrid drivers are mis-lead into thinking that the hybrid premium is an investment into eco-solutions, when instead it goes straight into the pockets of hybrid manufacturer shareholders and diverts money from REAL solutions. NOSUV will not admit to paying so much on a falicy.

NoSUV touts battery recliamation programs advertised on the Toyota website as fact, but instead denies the REAL fact that hybrids present a future with ecological unknowns, such as, who will actually be responsible for battery reclaimation? The sheer mass of the battery in each car - several hundred pounds each - presents unique problems that we have never had before. Sure the manufacturer's websites claim a high % of the elements are recyclable, but they want to sell cars, and Toyota will likely farm out the reclaimation to a third party. So who will be responsible in a few years when they start dying? Not NoSUV, but instead, it will be our children and grandchildren.

I don't blame you NoSUV. How can you back down now? You have committed too much into hybrids. The own you now! But we won't be fooled. We have looked at the man behind the curtain! We know its all the same old car, repackaged to look like a solution.

I'm doing what I can now by carpooling and reducing unecessary driving. I'm holding out for a REAL solution! Fossil fuel is not it. And, by the way NoSUV you don't know what it is either.

MDC - how about you guarantee that drivers will always stop at red lights? It's just as silly.

quote:

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Originally posted by MDC
[br]That's right raymond, the used batteries vanish into thin air when they end their service life!

Don't you know that by now?

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Wow, MDC - I thought you actually read and understood all of the previous facts brought up on this board concerning batteries - not just from Toyota, but from the battery industy as well.

I believe that you are better than that MDC.

quote:

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Originally posted by raymond
[br]Not to mention the other costs. Such as:

Opportunity cost: hybrid manufacturers mis-lead consumers to believe that they have taken positive steps in addressing our nations fossil fuel/ecological/economical problems, which leads to complacency and inactivity on the part of consumers in finding real solutions. Bottom line: hybrids still burn fossil fuel, and they use other toxic elements in their batteries for short term energy storage. While hybrid buyers are lead to believe that they are acting green, in fact best case, they are doing nothing positive, worst case, they are adding to a toxic eco-soup and delaying action toward real solutions.

Economic cost: eco-minded consumers are mis-lead into thinking that the hybrid premium is an investment into eco-solutions, when instead it goes straight into the pockets of hybrid manufacturer shareholders. And what about long-term maintanence costs to the consumer? Sure, the manufacturers paint a rosey picture now, while they are fighting for product adoption and grabbing market share, but what about in a few years when they start shorting out?

Ecological costs: while we know the eco-costs associated with present day fossil fuel technologies, hybrids present a future with a host of ecological unknowns, such as, what about the batteries and all the toxins contained within, not to mention the sheer mass of the battery in each car - several hundred pounds each. Sure the manufacturer's websites claim a high % of the elements are recyclable, but they want to sell cars, and Toyota will likely farm out the reclaimation to a third party. So who will be responsible in a few years when they start dying? Big ???s.

Hybrids are just another product to sell, not a solution. Hybrids are a band aid at best, and at worst, they are a distraction from the problems, a contribution to problems, and a demotivator to action towards solutions.

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raymond - just how many times do we have to tell you that the battery issue which you quote is NOT an issue? I know you tend to get stuck on falsehoods, but try to let go of this one so you don't seem so moronic.

Hybrid Lover,
Thanks for your post, but you haven't shared anything we all haven't known for a long time. Your words don't change the fact that the hybrid exemption killed hov. Respectfully submitted.