Hybrids Are Cool

Killroy · 3 Weeks Ago

Today I was walking through a parking lot and I see one of these huge Chevy's

I begin hatin' because I that's what I do to SUVs. Then I notice "HYBRID" is plastered all over the side of the bloated truck. I hate even more. I think to myself "You really think you are saving the planet by driving that hybrid beast."

Then I walk by and I hear the big engine start up, but it does not crank over a couple turns a regular car, then fire up. It lights up instantly with its powerful electric motor. Of, course, all hybrids do this, but most have little puny engines that are not much louder than a mouse. My Honda Insight only has a 1 liter.

I sill dislike the waist of SUVs, but when I'm bike commuting, its nice to here a hybrids electric motor wine down to a stop at a light and know that the engine is not blowing smoke in my face while waiting for a green light.

ThePinkBarron · 3 Weeks Ago

wilonpill · 3 Weeks Ago

I hope the fact that I drive a Wrangler that gets sub 15MPG's annoys the bejusus out of you

Killroy · 3 Weeks Ago

Big heavy cars suck fuel, hybrid or not, and these vehicles are more dangerous to cyclist, but its kinda nice NOT being gassed at a stoplight. That's all

Killroy · 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilonpill

I hope the fact that I drive a Wrangler that gets sub 15MPG's annoys the bejusus out of you

You did not pay $50,000 to be a hypocrite.

9GUY9 · 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killroy

Big heavy cars suck fuel, hybrid or not, and these vehicles are more dangerous to cyclist, but its kinda nice NOT being gassed at a stoplight. That's all

they are also very capable of hauling people and cargo.

Jayem · 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9GUY9

they are also very capable of hauling people and cargo.

They are still hugely un-necessary and overweight. I'd be impressed with one that weighs 2000lbs less and has a hitch so you can tow a trailer when you need to haul "cargo". The aerodynamics of a brick are still going to be poor for efficiency, especially at higher speeds.

ThePinkBarron · 3 Weeks Ago

I will stick to my Jeep Grand Cherokee, enough room for 4 bikes and gear, and a place for me to sleep at night out in the woods. 16 mpg for a mobile camp? consider it done. Oh when I am not driving the jeep I am driving a 1988 Camaro with a edelbrock 350, 10 mpg, but jesus it will take me 10 miles 2 times faster so that means I am really getting 20mpg right?

LowLow · 3 Weeks Ago

That Chevy hybrid still only get like 20mpg. Not particularly great gas mileage, especially considering the amount of CO2 that's likely produced in making the battery.

louisssss · 3 Weeks Ago

shitty design of a truck, doesn't actually get good gas mileage.

SUVs / Hybrid cars are different, when you combine them like in the OP, they become confused, hence a shitty car.

i like my accord =)

9GUY9 · 3 Weeks Ago

the hybrid tahoe gets 33% better in town fuel economy than the non hybrid version. Thats a huge increase.

solara · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePinkBarron

Oh when I am not driving the jeep I am driving a 1988 Camaro with a edelbrock 350, 10 mpg, but jesus it will take me 10 miles 2 times faster so that means I am really getting 20mpg right?

Time to go back to school.

ThePinkBarron · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by solara

Time to go back to school.

haha.

canuckjgc · 2 Weeks Ago

How can a large 4X4 truck be considered unnecessary in a MTB forum? I've been to countless trails that required a 4X4 truck to get to (low clearance AWD would not cut it).

Hybrids even better.

Killroy · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuckjgc

How can a large 4X4 truck be considered unnecessary in a MTB forum?

Your suppose to ride your bike. Not take your bike for a ride.

Yet, the people who drive to the trail heads are usually the easyist to pass once they are on the trail. I usually hold somthing back that I was brewing so that they can chock on my exhaust when I pass them.

GrampBredo · 2 Weeks Ago

Hybrid's aren't really better for the environment. The production of the batteries is a terribly inefficient and un-green process. It's really a car for a poser eco-nut. You can pretend all you want, but that thing is still a pig and still terrible for the environment.

If you need capacity, buy a van of some sort.
Many of the SUV's on the road today are an inflation of someone's ego, or insurance that the other driver will be hurt more seriously in a crash. Very few are actually used for their intended purpose.

Killroy · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrampBredo

Hybrid's aren't really better for the environment. The production of the batteries is a terribly inefficient and un-green process. It's really a car for a poser eco-nut. You can pretend all you want, but that thing is still a pig and still terrible for the environment.

If you need capacity, buy a van of some sort.

I agree with the conservative approach of driving a conventional used van rather than disposing of a whole car and buying a brand new one. (the reverse of Cash for Clunkers Program)

Yet, writing off all hybrids as worse for the environment because of their batteries is misinformation from the internet. (Hummer vs Prius Debunk/Fact Check). Anytime you buy something that cost $50,000 there is going to be a huge energy and material impact, regardless of technology. The common hybrid battery is NiMh, which is a WAY better material, energy and power density than the Lead Acid starter battery YOUR car. Yet, just like your hazardous material Lead Acid starter battery, the non- hazardous NiMh and the future’s Lithium-Ion batteries are recyclable.

The Hybrid Tahoe is still pig and dangerous to the people that are really doing good by riding their bikes, but it uses and imports 189 less gallons of oil from the big sand box, and spews 2.5 tons less greenhouse gasses on average than it conventional brother. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm

lanpope · 2 Weeks Ago

Killroy -

Hope you don't own a dog:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/280866

Lies, d@mn lies and statistics....

I love this junk.

LP

GrampBredo · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killroy

Yet, writing off all hybrids as worse for the environment because of their batteries is misinformation from the internet. (Hummer vs Prius Debunk/Fact Check). Anytime you buy something that cost $50,000 there is going to be a huge energy and material impact, regardless of technology. The common hybrid battery is NiMh, which is a WAY better material, energy and power density than the Lead Acid starter battery YOUR car. Yet, just like your hazardous material Lead Acid starter battery, the non- hazardous NiMh and the future’s Lithium-Ion batteries are recyclable.

Interesting... did not know that. Good article.

canuckjgc · 2 Weeks Ago

If you want to limit yourself to trails within riding distance, have at it. Sounds way too boring for me (and 99.9% of MTB riders out there I'm sure).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killroy

Your suppose to ride your bike. Not take your bike for a ride.

Yet, the people who drive to the trail heads are usually the easyist to pass once they are on the trail. I usually hold somthing back that I was brewing so that they can chock on my exhaust when I pass them.

louisssss · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killroy

Your suppose to ride your bike. Not take your bike for a ride.

i take it that you don't have a car? lol

so if you had to travel 50-60+miles to get to a mtb park, you'd bike there right?

msrothwe · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killroy

Your suppose to ride your bike. Not take your bike for a ride.

Yet, the people who drive to the trail heads are usually the easyist to pass once they are on the trail. I usually hold somthing back that I was brewing so that they can chock on my exhaust when I pass them.

This irks me. When I finally found a job last winter, I realized that i was faced with the fact that I could either have a 45 mile commute to work and a 30 minute bike ride to the trails, or a 5 minute commute and a 45 minute drive to the trails...guess which one I chose. I get to ride my mountain bike less, but in the end, its better for the environment I guess.

Not everyone has flexible jobs, and not everyone can live right next to a mountain bike trail. Even if I DID live a 30 minute bike ride from the trail, If I've got 2 hours to ride, I rather spend them on the trail than riding my mountain bike on the road for an hour and be left with only an hour on the trails.

As for the original topic, have you maybe thought that perhaps some people have more than two kids? Perhaps they carry things on a regular basis?

Everyone is not you, sorry. You cannot apply your lifestyle to everyone.

GrampBredo · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by msrothwe

As for the original topic, have you maybe thought that perhaps some people have more than two kids? Perhaps they carry things on a regular basis?

Everyone is not you, sorry. You cannot apply your lifestyle to everyone.

IMO SUV's are almost never necessary. Modern SUV's (at least most of them, including the one pictured) are almost useless off road. They're too big and bloated to work off road without major modification. This leaves them with carrying capacity- they've got it, but so do vans and a few other cars- which economically and environmentally make alot more sense.