Municipalities/Hybrids

[ccage]

With gas prices catching attention recently, many municipalities are investigating the purchase of alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles in order to save fuel. For example, Massachusetts is considering a bipartisan bill that would offer $10M in grant money to local governments to purchase hybrid or alt-fuel vehicles, with a requirement that half the state’s fleet must be alt-fuel-based by 2010. One thing is for sure - I highly doubt that a Prius will look as natural in MDOT orange as, say, a Ford Econoline. I’m also left wondering how many “Construction next 28 miles” signs one can fit into the hatch area of an Insight. I certainly don’t think that a Ford Escape Hybrid will do a good job of clearing a snow storm.

The other night I was driving past the new soccer stadium -- after their first game which I missed 'cause I was stupid and forgot to pick up tickets -- and noticed two Priuses (Prii? :)) in white with Frisco city logos on them parked in the median. I wonder if the state funded them or if they just picked 'em up on their own initiative?

C

[Treibenschnell]

The other night I was driving past the new soccer stadium -- after their first game which I missed 'cause I was stupid and forgot to pick up tickets -- and noticed two Priuses (Prii? :)) in white with Frisco city logos on them parked in the median. I wonder if the state funded them or if they just picked 'em up on their own initiative?

C

Frisco has a great pro-active initiative. I wouldn't be surpised if someone in our local government was actually thinking... ahead.

[POS Racing]

Tarrant County has a fleet of Civic Hybrids.

[altiain]

Frisco has a great pro-active initiative. I wouldn't be surpised if someone in our local government was actually thinking... ahead.

Depends on what your idea of looking ahead is. From a cost/benefit POV, a Civic Sedan or similar econocar still makes a lot more economic sense than a Prius, even at $2.50 a gallon for regular unleaded, unless the city plans on keeping those Priuses for over a quarter of a million miles.

[Titus]

Depends on what your idea of looking ahead is. From a cost/benefit POV, a Civic Sedan or similar econocar still makes a lot more economic sense than a Prius, even at $2.50 a gallon for regular unleaded, unless the city plans on keeping those Priuses for over a quarter of a million miles.

Yep... my Dad was looking at the Prius for a commuter car and really wanted to get one, but couldn't make the cost/benefit math work. He ended up with a Mazda3i.

[ccage]

Hybrids came up in a discussion I had the other day regarding "good" reasons to lease a car. A friend was bashing leasing, and I listed hybrids as something that I couldn't see buying at this point. (I'm not sure I'd own one at all, but if I did I'd lease instead of buy.)

What happens when those non-standard components wear out? I think no one really knows yet what the long-term value of these vehicles will be, and I suspect no one is yet certain what's going to happen to the batteries in some of 'em.

There was an interesting article in Autoblog -- I know, I seem to be the Autoblog cheerleader today -- talking about how even though a lot of people are saying that the big three are missing out by not overly committing to hybrid technology, Chrysler's recent "comeback" led by the Hemi seems to indicate that maybe "green" isn't the only thing the public's thinking about...

And, of course, GM's making the big bet on hydrogen power. Hmm...

C

[Treibenschnell]

...unless the city plans on keeping those Priuses for over a quarter of a million miles.

They'd better!

[srivendel]

Forget hybrids. I wish we'd get clean diesel fuel and all those amazing diesels they sell over in Europe.

S.

[ccage]

Forget hybrids. I wish we'd get clean diesel fuel and all those amazing diesels they sell over in Europe.

Your wish, etc.

Chrysler sees better-than-expected diesel sales
Posted Aug 8, 2005, 7:00 AM ET by Eric Bryant
Related entries: Car Buying, SUVs, Trends, Trucks/Pickups

Sales of the diesel-powered Jeep Liberty are off to a stronger start than anticipated by Chrysler, according to chief of product development Frank Klegon. It was expected to sell about 5,000 units in 2005, but already 6,000 have been sold. I’m not sure why it’s surprising that a torquey and fuel-efficient engine would be popular in a Jeep, but the world of marketing is a weird one indeed. Additionally, Chrysler also states that diesels will account for 200,000 of its Dodge Ram sales this year, or approximately 30% of their total sales - an impressive number, considering that the Cummins is only available in Heavy Duty models. Now, you’d think that Chrysler would finally take the plunge and offer a diesel option for one of its passenger cars, but Klegon refuses to say whether they’ll go in that direction.