Why
would Toyota waste its time on "nonsensical"
automotive engineering?
And if one engine is better than two, why does using two make
the
Honda
Accord Hybrid faster, more powerful, and more efficient than
a similar, conventional Accord?
Still, Mr. McCormick does offer hybrids one caveat, kind of.
"The only condition in which a gasoline-electric hybrid
will return better mileage than one of today's most advanced
gasoline engines, let alone a diesel, is in city driving, when
regenerative braking plays a significant role."
O.K., to start, "today's most advanced gasoline
engines" aren't found in today's cars and they cost
significantly more money. Additionally, the standard gasoline
engine in a hybrid could be replaced by an advanced gasoline
engine and achieve 25 percent more efficiency than the advanced
gasoline engine by itself.
The same is true for diesel. Already, Ford, GM and
ChryslerDaimler have diesel-electric hybrid vehicle concept cars
because of this fact. As a side note, the same is true of
hydrogen powered engines. Hydrogen-electric hybrids are just as
plausible as gasoline, or diesel-electric hybrids.
Of course one must ask whether the cost is worth the price, and
which, if any, combinations work best. Right now, in the U.S.,
gasoline-electric hybrids make the most sense.
Today's full hybrids, such as the Toyota
Prius or Ford
Escape hybrid, in city driving, achieve significantly better
mileage than today's conventional cars or diesels, with far less
pollution, but it's hard to put a price or value on reduced
pollution.
Because of price, some analysts have pushed for new diesels as a
way to achieve the same efficiency as with hybrids. Even
McCormick states, "With a normal diet of city and highway
driving, a hybrid will actually consume more fuel than a diesel
powertrain".
First, passenger diesels are not even legal in the Northeast or
in California, so until the law is changed, why does this issue
even come up? Diesels are not even an option for a huge percent
of American drivers, legally.
Second, a hybrid diesel could still be 25 percent more efficient
than just a diesel. More important, hybrid technology is new,
and getting better all the time.
So, concludes McCormick, "As for hybrids, they will likely
continue to carve out an expanding niche in the U.S. market.
While I find their evident shortcomings annoying, I can
understand the sub-conscious appeal of driving a vehicle
perceived to be environmentally-friendly. This became clear
while I was driving a Chevy Silverado hybrid recently.
Even though the truck costs $2,500 more than the standard
version and still managed only 14 miles per gallon overall in my
hands, somehow I felt more righteous than all those non-hybrid
full-size pickup drivers on the road.
It's hard to put a price on that."
To me, there is a little tongue-in-cheek in that statement. More
important, the Silverado is a mild hybrid. It is not in the same
league as a Prius or Escape hybrid. Mild hybrids are not nearly
as fuel efficient as full hybrids, nor nearly as environmentally
friendly.
But, hey, what is 25 percent better fuel efficiency anyway? Of
course, according to experts, if Americans nationwide reduced
their fuel consumption by that much, America could end foreign
oil-dependency.
If that were the case, there might have been a few less American
deaths in the Middle East these last few years.
Of course, it's hard to put a price on that.
More hybrid
cars.
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