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The fall of the hybrid
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A Yank think-tank says hybrids are not eco-conscious. Incidentally, a US dollar translates to about forty six Indian rupees. Now figure it out!
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ECO, NO MISER So, is the Toyota Prius truly Earth-friendly?
The verdict is apparently out and hybrid petrol-electric vehicle supporters might now have to do their own research study. The results of an exhaustive two-year study conducted by CNW Marketing Research, Bandon, Oregon, USA, show that the overall energy picture for hybrid vehicles is not as favourable as before. The study indicates that when the total cost of the environment is calculated, including factors such as original production, followed by the recycling of batteries and electric motors, into a "dollars per lifetime mile" figure, hybrids lose out against conventionally powered vehicles which were earlier thought to consume more of the world's energy.
The company's survey, "Dust to Dust" studied several variables and developed an energy cost per mile driven figure in order to simplify statistics for the consumer. While the study's results are still fresh, the whole exercise has troubled the stand that hybrids are `energy-saving'. Topping the list of the most 'energy expensive" vehicle from 2005 is the Maybach at $11.58 per mile, followed by the VW Phaeton at $11.213 and Rolls-Royce Phantom at $10.660. While the thriftiest Scion xB is found at the bottom of the scale, it is still ahead of the Ford Escort at $0.568 and Jeep Wrangler at $0.604. And these are not hybrids.
While the industry's straight average of 312 conventional vehicles was $2.281, all the hybrids certainly cost more than this. For instance, compact family hybrids are supposed to cost more than full-size SUVs. A good example of this is the Toyota Prius ($3.249) and the Honda Civic hybrid ($3.238), which cost more than the Land Rover Discovery ($2.525) or the Lincoln Navigator ($2.617). In comparison, America's best-selling cars in the mid-size segment, the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima cost only $1.954 and $1.381 respectively. Hybrids end up with higher lifetime costs than their regular counterparts on account of the extra complexity, production and recycling costs. The hybrid Honda Accord has an energy cost per mile of $3.29 while the regular version's is $2.18.
Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research, Inc says that "If a consumer is concerned about fuel economy because of family budgets or depleting oil supplies, it is perfectly logical to consider buying high-fuel economy vehicles. But if the concern is broader - the environmental impact of energy usage, taking into account the energy needed to plan, build, sell, drive and dispose off a vehicle... from concept to scrap... some high-economy vehicles actually cost society more than conventional or even larger models over their lifetime."
Right, so it's all hunky-dory now - and if you drive around a fat V8-powered SUV that guzzles gas like a half-starved blue whale, you've inadvertently just joined the Green Brigade... at least, until the next research team submits its findings.
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