Martin: I think we mentioned once before that as the oil runs out we both favour Hydrogen fuel cells for powering our cars. In the meantime, environmental awareness and escalating oil prices mean that everyone wants to do their bit to save a bit of fuel, CO2 or cash. The fashionable way to save fuel is to buy a Hybrid, such as the Prius or Insight. Recently, Jeremy Clarkson said that the Insight was one of the worst cars on sale. Larry David, wouldn’t be seen in anything other than a Prius. Hybrids seem to divide opinion like no other type of alternative propulsion. So, what is your opinion on Hybrids?
Thomas: Hybrids exist purely to extract money from middle class tree huggers. In that respect, they work very well indeed. However, if your aim is to reduce your impact on the environment, or event save a few quid on petrol, you’re barking up the wrong tree. For my money I’d go for something packing a turbo diesel or a mid size petrol engine that is a couple of years old. That way you’re saving the money on the depreciation, you’re getting a car that’s already been built rather than one that needs a load of raw materials and energy to go into its production, and if you work out the MPG figures you’re probably not far off a Prius unless your daily drive exactly matches the Toyota test track.
I think the reason Hybrids take such a slating in the motoring press is that the money normally spent on soundproofing and tuning the suspension is being spent on shipping Lithium from Canada to Japan, leaving only a small amount of loose change for the percieved quality!
Martin: I think we’re getting to the main problem with hybrid cars. As much as they are an amazing feat of engineering, attaining diesel like economy without having to resort to burning diesel and all the other pollution that comes with it, they don’t offer any overall savings. They end up being more expensive, heavier and worse to drive than their conventionally powered counterparts. For me, the best solution is still a small efficient petrol engine in a reasonably small car, such as VW’s TSI and Ford’s EcoBoost engines. The 1.4 TSI offers 120 bhp and 48mpg, for much less money, than a Prius whilst being kinder to the environment over it’s lifetime and without the particulates that come with diesel.
The tipping point in this choice might come with the plug in hybrid. Plug ins feature Li-Ion batteries and may be charged from the grid overnight. They have much longer electric ranges than exisitng hybrids, think 30 miles rather than 2 miles. That opens up the potential to drive to work without ever having to start the engine. I could do my weekly commute entirely on electric if I charged it up midweek. Then, at weekends if I want to go further afield the petrol engine kicks in seamlessly before the battery runs flat. The best bit about running on electric is that the responsibility for producing the CO2 has moved off my shoulders and onto the government or power company. Its up to them to build more Nuclear sites or fund fusion research.
For me plug in gets fairly close to replacing petrol, but it doesn’t solve the weight issues and packaging of the batteries. I think I would ultimately prefer it if the car companies spent their money on small scale trials of hydrogen, such as the Honda FCX and BMW Hydrogen 7 whilst delivering more economical, lighter, better thought out conventional cars. Does plug in do it for you?
Thomas: Nah, the plug in hybrid is another broken idea. It takes the idea of a rechargeable electric vehicle and the spoils it by weighing the car down with an internal combustion engine. Most of the driving done by most people most of the time is short range anyway. So in those cases an electric vehicle with a range of 100 miles would easily suffice day to day. What’s the point in lumping an engine around for the couple of times a year when you need go that extra bit of distance? Why not rent a car on those occasions? Or even better, why doesn’t someone listen to Dan and make the power plant modular. I’m not sure about using a trailer, but I don’t see why a generator can’t be temporarily slotted into the chassis somewhere, even if it has to hang off the back bumper!
We only have two viable long term solutions for when the oil runs out. Those are hydrogen powered vehicles, and battery powered electric vehicles charged from the grid. All this hybrid nonsense is a short term distraction
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