Buy new or use the old car less?I have an older car that gets about 25 miles to the gallon. I'm thinking about getting a hybrid, but the old car still has a lot of miles left on it. I'm thinking that if I change my driving habits and reduce my miles driven by 30%, that's equivalent to switching to a higher MPG car, plus I didn't have to spend the energy to make a new car! What are your thoughts?
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Don't Buy the Hybrid
If you spen the money to buy the hybrid, you are spending more money for a smaller cab. This also means manteinence. Just wait till you see what the mechanic will start charging you...
if you are concered about overall energy use, a hbrid takes maney times more energy to manufacture than a traditional engine. Drive the car you want. I f you feel special in a hybrid thats fine...
But test drive the suburban first
Studies ???
Can you cite any credible studies that back up your assertions? Because what you claim is different than all of the other studies that I have seen--here's one that shows that while the building of the car creates slightly more CO2 emissions that and more are saved over the life of the car (incidentally these are averaged figures and the Suburban is bigger, uses more gas, etc.)
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/12/24/lifecycle-analysis-of-gas-hybrid...
Bob Ferris
Its not a formal study.
Ask anyone who has had engine trouble witha hybrid. Check out Their invoice.
You may be researching the assembly of the car. Look at the big picture. The batteries, the transportation. No one would dare challenge the efficency of a hybrid, or anthing al gore says for that matter....
except for me
LCAs
These are the big picture. They are LCAs or life cycle analyses. In other words they look at the whole life of machine.
Bob Ferris
ahem, the BIGGER picture, per say
Again, not only the energy used in the manufacturing plant, but in the battery plant, the windshield plant, the tire plant, etc. Along with the trucks and trains that move them all. CSX has a good commerical about this issue.
17% of CO2 occurs in auto manufacturing?
83% occurs during operation over the lifetime of the car. This was a remark made to me by an friend who works at Ford and is very interested in sustainability. NOw she may be biased, but it seems that more CO2 is emitted during operation over 10 years than during manufacture. And the ratio must be worse for less fuel efficient and bigger vehicles, like a Suburban or a Hummer.
Each of us can make a difference. Together we make THE difference!
In reply
Again, as I said to Mr. Ferris, I am talking about the bigger picture.
Stick with the current car
I would say stick with your current car and keep track of you mileage diligently. If it drops start looking for a replacement, and I would buy used (resuse)! You never know you might find a used hybrid.
Why not walk or cycle?
Where possible why not, instead of using the car, walk or cycle.
Too many people use a car just to go down the road, down the block, as it would be, to get the newspaper or such.
I find it much faster to jump on the bike, cycle there, and then back. No need to find a place to park and all that. Saves time and money.
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The evolution into China
Mr. Veshengro,
You, the president, not even Al Gore is about to tell me when I or my grandchildren will drive.
I would love to see a picture of you riding your bicycle in the rain.
This is a clear example of how we are evolving into a world where other people decide how to run our lives. Just look at china- one of the most polluted areas of the planet. But people are still riding bicycles. Please, justify that.
Cycling in the rain
In fact, I do... just for your information.
Green (Living) Review
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Part of Tatchipen Media, The Romani Publishing & Media Company