I wouldn't call them a hybrid, My understanding of a hybrid is that it uses battery power part of the time and gasoline part of the time. Locomotives are always on diesel power spinning a generator, with basically, electric traction motors for the transmission. Remember the old steam engines that would spin the wheels on the tracks. With the loads being pulled nowdays you can't do that, so Wallah! traction motors with probably Variable Speed Drive. A lot of your big work boats use the same principle nowdays. I don't understand where people think that yeah, you go ahead and support big oil. I'll use my alternative fuel. My electric car. Where do they think electricity comes from, magic beans. Most of the power plants being built today are burning Natural Gas, This is hurting the consumer even more because your electric bill and heating bill both go up.

 

Most of the power plants around here (KY ) use coal.

 

I didn't mean this as a personal attack on Britt or anyone else. It sounds as if in his case he could have purchased any smaller vehicle and it would have made financial sense for him. My point was that people speak of hybrids as if they are the only choice in vehicles and everyone needs to buy one today. I think this article does a good job of pointing out some of their faults. It's no different than people waiting in line and killing people for the new X-Box 360. Good marketing.

 

"well I feel sorry for your pocket book."
Well, You should. Did you honestly think your 56 mpg/ Hybrid answer to all end would not have further ramifications? The move to create a mileage tax is driven around the gallons of fuel not being burned and associated taxes not being paid at the pump. Thanks for your concern.

 

I hope people realize that the article in the first post is only made to look like it was written by Toyota when in fact it came off the opinion page of the Wall Street Journal.
My only opinion on hybrids is each to his own, but they won't work for me.

 

bio-diesel and synthetic fluids, who needs crude oil?

 

No offense taken. It works for my family and I like the idea and technology.

So your saying that I shouldn’t have bought one? Just to save you money in the long run? We shouldn’t be looking for alternative fuels? Yeah, whatever ....
Well then, you better not try biodiesel. You would be cutting off you nose to spite your face.

Look, the government is going to get their money one way or another. In the mean time, I am going to save a lot of money at the pump. When I need another truck I will buy another Cummins.

Until then, enjoy the price your paying at the pump. Oh, I mean

Take care,

Britt

 

Just wonder what they could do with a diesel electric hybrid! 90mpg city 75mpg highway? (If they could just find a way to store the electricity in something other then a bigassed battery there is a lot of energy out there that could be recovered by dynamic braking etc.) Everyone should buy what they need. I just don't think a prius will pull my 34 ft 5th wheel. Even if it could be hitched up I'm sure it would only get 5mpg and there would be a lot of horn blowin. Besides I thought we were here to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges and forget the rest. All these showdowns will be over when they build, as my cousin calls it "The Universal Handheld Infinite Current Source." Note: Product Still in development!!! (but we'll keep you all up to date.)

 

I was replying to your cynical concern about my wallet. You started that.
I have no plans to try bio-diesel, it would not be feasible.
I dont want to confuse you with any facts, but we are paying the same at the pump.
It seems like someone with a different opinion than yours ( or before you changed it) is likely to see your sarcasm. I wont bother wasteing bandwith with a rolleyes--

 

I don't remember saying anything specific about your wallet but since it apparently doesn’t take much for you to get worked up let me apologize for anything that I posted that must have offended you.

Now, as I said before… I loved my truck. I hated to get rid of it but it was very impractical after I sold everything that I used to tow i.e. Travel Trailer, Jet Skis, ATVs, Utility trailer, Hybrids out of ditches, etc etc. I had no use for it any more other then it looking good and me looking good in it ,which I did by the way. Come to think of it, I look good in most anything but I guess that is irrelevant.

Now as far as us paying the same at the pump, I will have to disagree. Unless you can buy diesel at $1.75 per gallon and you are able to fill your truck up for less then $10, then I personally don’t think we are paying the same at the pump. I could be wrong though. I have been in the past, but not very often.

And for wasting bandwidth…..

Sorry, couldn’t stop myself.

I hope you can take this post with a since of humor. Which is exactly as it was intended. If not, then you might as well skip over all of my post because I don’t think you will like me very much.

Britt

 

britt, your a meanie!

 

And what the heck does a hybrid have to do with alternative fuels?? Im all for alternative fuels(ethanol/biodiesel); and if they would offer it around here more, i would be willing to pay a few cents more to run it. I wont be the one complaining when the motors/electronics system in the hybrids craps out after warranty, and negates all the fuel savings quite a bit. If you are happy with your hybrid, then im happy for you, but all i know is that if i were to buy a small car for economy, it would be a diesel Jetta that gets 55mpg without having to worry about all the good stuff that will crap out on a hybrid . Its just not for me, and i wouldnt buy one. I just dont feel that a hybrid has ANY advantages on a diesel if you compare evenly with the same capabilities(car vs car, truck vs truck). Like i said; if you are happy with your car, then dont let me pull you down. Ill be happy driving my truck even if i am paying a little more for fuel.

Eric

 

Apparently

Britt

 

I really think it all comes down to what works for the vehicle owner and what that owner likes. For me, a car of any kind wouldn't work, so it's all a moot point.

One thing about the hybrids I DON'T like is the implications involved with tearing one apart that's been involved in an accident. Some of the manufacturers won't even offer any kind of education to the fire/rescue community in terms of how and where to cut or pry in order to extricate a trapped victim in one of their cars. Cutting thru a power cable carrying many hundreds of volts could prove fatal to the rescuer that's just trying to do his/her job. We had the same problem with airbags when they first came out, so I imagine with time, the manufacturers will address the problem.

Just my 2 cents.

chaikwa.

 

chaikwa, youre right. yeah u could get a hybrid and all their glory but the thing is i love the sound, smell, and ***** of a turbo diesel. my dad drove a truck when i was a kid and i fell in love w/ it all. he is now a crane operator and his crane has an 8.3 ctd. brought it home the other night too, i was in heaven. plus im still young and if i were to drive a hybrid it may attract the wrong girls. "oh thats a cute car!"