Hybrid Concerns: How green?

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How green is a hybrid? Is it the greenest choice or the most economical choice?  I know someone who is probably the least environmentally friendly person there is and they have a hybrid. It was to save money not help the environment. Here are a few of my hybrid concerns and reasons for not choosing a hybrid.

1.  When I went to test drive the Buick Enclave I asked some questions about hybrids and my local dealership cannot even get them because the technicians have to be trained due to the high voltage. The sales lady explained to me,  the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really?  I live in a small town and I see a lot of hybrids but are the paramedics trained and is there a concern? What about the fire and rescue or good Samaritans? Smart, professional, capable people but are they trained? I sure hope so because it is a legitimate concern.

2.  On paper a hybrid looks like it is green because of fuel emissions and testing. According to ABC News, the reality is very different. My husbands clean diesel truck could be greener then a hybrid! Now, that will piss someone off but reality and paper are two different stories when it comes to carbon emissions.  A hybrid makes sense if you live in a city but I don’t live in a city and I don’t do city driving. Therefore, for my family I do not find a hybrid to be the green Eco-friendly answer. Eco driving and making other green and earth friendly choices and supporting a green auto maker might be a better choice.

3.  Then there is the issue of the hybrid dollar sign. It’s expensive to buy a hybrid so I would pay more to get a hybrid but save less at the pump. How long would it take for me to actually see this savings? According to U.S. News, seven years before the higher cost offsets the price you pay at the pump.  No thank you, I’ll just drive less, car pool when I can, plan my trips, employ Eco-friendly driving methods and walk when possible. I could be like Paul McCartney and be cool and say I’m Eco-friendly and have my Lexus Hybrid delivered from Japan. What resources were used for that?  See why I’m not all about this hybrid buzz?

4.  My husband is a mechanic and if I can’t have him fix my vehicle, then I pay more green. That isn’t doing me any good and he isn’t fixing hybrids right now. Maybe someday but not now. Again, the green in my pocket is a factor.

These are my reasons. Do you think a hybrid makes you more Eco-savvy? Click Here to take survey helping me learn more about why you would drive a hybrid.


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By Green & Clean Mom - October 2nd, 2008 - Comments:
Filed Under: Green Health, Green Shopping, Sponsored Posts, Uncategorized

5 Responses to “Hybrid Concerns: How green?”

  1. 1 Carla Says:
    October 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am

    I guess I feel my own shame sometimes since I don’t drive a hybrid. In fact the mid sized sedans we drive have over 300 HP. I can justify it somewhat because we don’t drive much: my commute across town is 10-15 minutes each way (but over an hour on public transit). My partner works entirely from home. When we move farther north, we will get rid of one of the cars.

    ”The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really? The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really? The sales lady explained to me, the voltage is so high that even paramedics have to be specially trained or they can cause a car to blow up. Really?”

    Not only they can cause a car to blow, up but the paramedic can get electrocuted if they are not trained properly. The risk increases if they have to use the Jaws of Life.
    http://www.defrance.org/artman/publish/article_1426.shtml

  2. 2 Allison Says:
    October 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    My husband has all those same concerns. He’s a computer nerd and he knows a lot of “nerds” that deal with the most recent technology and I hear through the grapvine that the hybrids are not all that great for the environment, like the battery. I don’t know the details, I just know my tech somewhat savvy husband is still against them. We were debating on buying a vehicle that can switch from 8 cylinders to 4 cylinders depending on driving conditions. That sounds cool.

    Allisons last blog post..Green Saves Green-BYOB

  3. 3 Jill Says:
    October 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    I hear what everyone is saying and I don’t disagree. My husband owns his own business and he drives hundreds of miles a day almost everyday. He can’t walk or take public transportation or carpool. He can’t change these facts. He has the ford escape hybrid and it is saving us money at the pump. It may not be the best solution there is, but at least he is doing something. Everyone is always saying how they are thinking about buying something, or looking into a better car, but how many put their money where their mouth is? I would love the perfect car to come out with no debate. I would love for there to be a perfect solution, but until then, we do what we can.

    Jills last blog post..I can have yogurt?!!

  4. 4 Diane MacEachern Says:
    October 5th, 2008 at 7:50 am

    I’m a HUGE hybrid fan. My experience is:

    * With the state and federal tax credits I got, the car was easily as affordable as other mid-size cars I was considering. Some people complain about the expense of a hybrid then buy a cheaper car but load it up with fance sound systems, a sun roof, leather seats, etc. It makes more sense to me to buy the hybrid.

    * it has saved me money on gas

    * I appreciate the opportunity to use a car that minimizes the amount of air pollution it generates

    * I’m proud to be part of the “early adopter” crowd: by buying a hybrid (even if it’s not eco-perfect), I’m motivating the auto companies to continue to develop and manufacture fuel efficient vehicles.

  5. 5 Shannon Says:
    October 29th, 2008 at 4:35 am

    I’ve driven our Ford Escape Hybrid since early March 2006. Love it and would have a very hard time going back to a 100% gasoline (or diesel)-powered vehicle. I’ve had absolutely no maintenance issues, save tire patches due to excessive construction where I live and one recall that affected the drive shaft (not a hybrid component).

    First responders are always having to be trained on new technology that ends up in vehicles. Higher powered engines, bigger fuel tanks, sun/moonroofs, side curtain airbags (which may or may not deploy in an accident). Lots of “stuff” that they need to look out for. Hybrids have been on the roads 10 years now and the fact that we haven’t heard of a catastrophe is, as they say, no news is good news. Just like gasoline and diesel vehicles have auto fuel shutoffs, hybrids have that and auto kill features to disengage/disarm the hybrid battery in certain collisions/wrecks. I don’t blame folks for being wary of something new, but they’re (hybrids) not as new as folks think. Japan’s had hybrids since (if I recall correctly) 1997, and they’ve been available in the USA since 1999 or so.

    PS: Many hybrid owners change their own oil, etc. after the vehicle’s out of warranty.

    The batteries are recycled/reclaimed at the end of their useful life (and the mfgr warranty covers them for a minimum of 8 years, 100k miles; 10 years, 150k miles in CA and a few select areas). And that’s just the warranty. There are hybrid taxi’s with over 300k miles on them.

    We bought a domestic (Ford) hybrid so we got the full tax credit of $2,600 (single year). Late adopters of foreign make hybrids got reduced or no tax credit due to the tiered tax credit based on sales of each mfgr’s hybrids (after 60,000 sold the tax credit reduced greatly.)

    At some point, I read that gasoline engines (I don’t know about diesels) produce the most pollution when they’re at idle, which is when a hybrid electric vehicle’s internal combustion engine is OFF and the vehicle is running on stored power and an electric generator (powered by the hybrid battery).

    For all the reasons folks have every right to want to avoid hybrids, there are those of us who are thrilled to be owning and driving ours. My hybrid will be 3 years old in March. When it comes time to replace our F-150 pickup? It’ll either be replaced with a hybrid electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, and my Escape Hybrid will take on the role the F-150 has served. (hauling camping gear, bicycles, etc.) On the rare occasions we need extra carrying capacity, we’ll rent a diesel van/truck. My husband also bicycle commutes 2 or 3 times a week (23 miles total!) and leaves the F-150 at home when I need the Escape Hybrid, so we too believe there’s no single answer to lowering fuel costs, reducing emissions, etc. It takes multiple effects among multiple people, and it takes cities becoming more aware of the mass transit needs of their populations, for example.

    My Ford Escape Hybrid will be 3 years old in March and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. There’s something that tickles me to drive a small SUV that gets even better fuel economy that my economical Toyota Corolla (which the Escape Hybrid replaced) did.

    Can we do better (higher fuel economy, less emissions in ALL vehicles regardless of powertrain?) You bet. Hybrids are just on facet, one step, in that direction. I’m happy to be part of the “early” adopter crowd as well, and “beta test” them for others without the means and/or desire to do so. :-)

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