Hybrid cars overrated
Hybrid cars a crock of shit. Firstly, the mileage estimates are VASTLY over-rated. In recent tests the Civic hybrid returned 35mpg on average, roughly the same as the standard civic, but nearly $10k more expensive. Hybrid trucks and SUVs are obviously a joke pandering to yuppies, these vehicles get low 20s mpg at BEST. Then there is the environmental impact of building a hybrid car. Because of the huge amount of batteries, hybrid car production is worse for the environment than standard car production.
The main factors in fuel economy is total weight, engine efficiency, aerodynamics and rolling resistance. Only 20% of the power generated by the engine goes to moving the car forward. The rest is lost to internal engine friction, aerodynamic drag, drive-train loss, tire resistance etc. This leave a LOT of room for improvement. We have 80% to regain! Of course some energy must be lost to sound, heat, friction, but we can do better than 20%.
Small, light cars with small engines, skinny tires and small frontal areas beat hybrids and are cheaper and less environmentally damaging to build. But of course, the most environmentally friendly car to buy is a used one, because it has already been built. The best way to get high mpg is to not go anywhere. Or walk.
Americans love tokenism. Recycling for example. People get pissed off at my place because I dont recycle. Fuck them. American generates 60% of the worlds trash and pollution, how about working on that first? How about NOT buying the products that you recycle the packaging from? Hybrids are the next empty token gesture.
Gas should be $15 a gallon, with the tax going to provide free health care and free education. Then we'd start seeing smaller cars and a lot less traffic. I cant wait for it to happen.
The main factors in fuel economy is total weight, engine efficiency, aerodynamics and rolling resistance. Only 20% of the power generated by the engine goes to moving the car forward. The rest is lost to internal engine friction, aerodynamic drag, drive-train loss, tire resistance etc. This leave a LOT of room for improvement. We have 80% to regain! Of course some energy must be lost to sound, heat, friction, but we can do better than 20%.
Small, light cars with small engines, skinny tires and small frontal areas beat hybrids and are cheaper and less environmentally damaging to build. But of course, the most environmentally friendly car to buy is a used one, because it has already been built. The best way to get high mpg is to not go anywhere. Or walk.
Americans love tokenism. Recycling for example. People get pissed off at my place because I dont recycle. Fuck them. American generates 60% of the worlds trash and pollution, how about working on that first? How about NOT buying the products that you recycle the packaging from? Hybrids are the next empty token gesture.
Gas should be $15 a gallon, with the tax going to provide free health care and free education. Then we'd start seeing smaller cars and a lot less traffic. I cant wait for it to happen.