quote:
Originally posted by Kgear
Actually hybrid systems are designed to last the life of the car so they shouldn't need replacing.
Toyota has a “peace of mind” warranty that guarantees roadside assistance and a 10 year/100k warranty on the hybrid system so you shoudl be good to go for at least that long. BTW, the hybrid systems themselves are about $4,000.
Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red
Ahh, Ken...
Batteries are the last major hurdle holding this technology back--and they have been for some time. They are expensive to buy, considerably more expensive to manufacture, and suffer from longevity problems. Wall Street is considering downgrading GM, Ford and Chrysler bond ratings again because of the "employee discount" they are all now offering, what the heck would happen if Wall Street figured out that it costs Ford $60,000 to manufacture a $30,000 Escape Hybrid? Battery technology simply isn't there yet--Toyota may be ahead of the others, Toshiba leapfrogging them, but 100,000 mile warranty isn't good enough. My suspicion and talk with the engineers around here indicates they'll be replacing many of these under warranty. Toyota gets a lot of good press and they make good cars, but they are not perfect. They too, have recalls, but our media here puts the Toyota (and Honda as well) recalls way in the back of the paper--when "Big 3" recalls get the front page.
Take a look here:
http://www.hybridcars.com/discussion/discussthread.php?thread_id=254&replies=4As I mentioned, thank goodness for the early adopters, but at the present time, even with the subsidies present (it costs considerably more to make a hybrid drivetrain then what they sell it for, even with the premium price)the technology is insufficienty developed for the mass market. They can't make batteries fast enough, there aren't that many manufacturers for them, and the life simply isn't there, warranties notwithstanding. If it was, EVERY vehicle line would have one and we'd all be buying them. They don't, and we're not. It is a green badge of honor.
As long as you know that going into it, all is OK. But if you expect to save money, that's a mistake. If any of us were really green, we wouldn't drive the 113! My guess is that one 113 makes the pollution of 10-20 modern cars...on expensive PREMIUM fuel, no less!
Further, if you read some of the second and third page articles on hybrids (you know, those that don't grab the headlines) you'll realize that the mileage claims really aren't there either. One manufacturer is offering driving lessons with the hybrids so that you can maximize the fuel efficiency (read that: approach the mileage claims!). Ironically,
those same driving lessons would have a great effect on a normal car! (Don't do hard acceleration, prepare to brake by letting your foot off the gas, etc.) Of additional interest is that some of the features of hybrids that add to the fuel efficiency, such as special low resistance tires, regenerative braking, aerodynamic shapes, etc. would benefit all vehicles.
I find it interesting to note the opinions of various engineers I know around here--high level men and women who work for Daimler Chrysler, Ford, Bosch, GM--their independent opinions seems to be that new technology diesels
should be the wave of the [immediate] future. It's a small, unrelated subset of engineers, but they are not on the hybrid bandwagon though they are working with it (nor of the hydrogen one either)and really feel that newer diesel technologies, when combined with fuel modifications will be a more robust solution to our internal combustion engine dilemma.
Personally, I hope the politicians get together and fund a "Manhattan Project" of energy independence and come up with something completely different then fossil fuel--but I also hope I win the lottery as well!
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
