This is why I specifically talked about my V8 pickup truck, which I had never intended to use as a commuting vehicle.

I was already in the market, but not rushing, for a new car with which to make the trek to work. I was considering used vehicles, perhaps even something fun to drive. But that usu. means premium gas (recommended, anyway), and the longer I thought about it the higher the gas prices got. I reached the point where it just made sense to begin thinking hybrid. If you’re in the market right now, it’s hard not to at least consider something more economical on gas.

23 mpg is pretty respectable for a V6, by the way. GM does an excellent job on the fuel economy of larger engines — it’s one of their cornerstones.

– Scot

I agree the hybrids gets better gas mileage on the highway than my civic. The problem for me is its not enough better on the highway to justify the increased purchase price. If the price of the hybrid came down I would be first in line.

I like the Smart car. I just wish they would sell them in Canada with the diesel motor that is offered in Europe. Canada now sells low sulfur diesel so their shouldn’t be any problem.

I also completely agree there is not enough choice in the small car area. Where is the 100 mpg econobox? My civic gets 50 mpg gallon (imperial gallon), but then again so did my 1981 Toyota Tercel (well maybe not 50 mpg, but close).

The car manufacturers have improved technology in their gasoline engines, but instead of making cars that get better mileage they make bigger cars that get the same mileage.

There is also an interesting car manufactured in Quebec. The problem for me is it doesn’t go fast enough, not even for in town. Otherwise I like it.
http://www.zenncars.com/

Al

Well, yes, I was reading your article. But I particularly homed in on the hybrid solution because that’s seen as a “trendy” solution these days. More fuel efficient cars aren’t yet with us. Of course, that would be nice, but I don’t think there’s much more we can with current fuels.

Equally, I could accuse you of not reading my reply as my solution for better driving was not to cut your speed but to change the way you drive. I was talking about 39-49 mph and the speed limit on most roads in the UK is 70mph - which I believe is a lot greater than many in the US. Imagine the economy of driving at US speeds?

But, yes, I’ll admit if I was making a long distance drive across the US I wouldn’t use my particular car. But that’s just the particular make - there are plenty of high quality, reliable small cars which could make that kind of journey as well as anything you currently have. Of course, as you state, the problem is availability - lobbying car companies for this kind of thing whilst awaiting some future fuel solution is surely the only way to go for the time being. Except, changing driving habits

By the way, one thing you said that isn’t really true is that hybrids only do well around town. One of the somewhat surprising things about Consumer Reports’ gas-economy testing is that smaller hybrids also do better on the highway than around town. Check out those two bulleted Consumer Reports links in this blog posting.

There is something to be said for easing off on the gas pedal. A few months ago, I started accelerating more slowly and driving at the speed limit. I noticed an increase in gas mileage. If the faster drivers don’t like, well too bad. In my youth driving fast made me a rebel. Now at 39 driving slow makes me one.

I think it is great that people are starting to think about these issues.

By the way I changed to fluorescent light bulbs, got rid of two old appliances, and eased off on the air conditioning. I saved 30% on my electric bill.

Go Green.
Al

I get these types of comments routinely from my European readers whenever I do stories on this subject. In the U.S., there are NOT cars with higher gas mileage available on the market. At one time there were, but there aren’t now. I think we can expect to see them in future, although, I doubt we’re going to see conventional gas engine vehicles here with better-than-Prius gas mileage any time soon.

Your comments also imply you didn’t really read or fully take in what I wrote. I mentioned the Yaris and Fit before I talked about any hybrids. These diminutive gas only vehicles along with the Smart Car are the closest thing to the bevy of very small vehicles widely available in most European countries. Those cars just don’t sell well in the U.S.

I would also point out that points A and B in the UK and some other parts of Europe may be a lot closer together than they are in the U.S.

Simply driving better sounds really good, and I don’t disagree with the notion. But drive a mile over here. The people who drive slowly here endanger everyone around them as well as themselves. It’s not a person-by-person solution. It’s a social phenomenon we have to address in the U.S. We have huge cities in the U.S. that don’t have any mass transportation, or that have all but useless public transportation. The rising prices are probably the only kind of motivator that will work.

Hybrid vehicles also give you visual feedback that helps remind you to drive with more awareness of your momentum and better anticipation of the road conditions ahead.

I realize that the U.S. is the only large market in the world where hybrid vehicles are taking off. But they are working here and they’re going to become very, very prevalent in the U.S. if the price of oil doesn’t come down. To each market its own.

Finally, I agree with you that hybrid technology isn’t a long-term solution with today’s technology. Toyota, for example, had planned to use a much lighter electric motor for its third-gen hybrid system (originally scheduled for release next year in the U.S.). It also planned to use lighter lithium-ion batteries before it became clear that battery heat and safety issues wouldn’t be acceptable in the U.S. marketplace. If hybrid-electric vehicles have a long-term future, battery technology must have a breakthrough. Until that happens, HEV is merely a transitional solution on the way to whatever we’re eventually going to adopt.

I would caution you, though, not to view everything through your own prism either. The high taxes, relative small geographical area, and the topography of the UK have a strong effect on the conventional wisdom. Certain technologies may be better for your environment that don’t necessarily translate to what other parts of the world need. What’s clear is that there’s no obvious solution to the problem. We’re using partial workarounds and step technologies. If a revolutionary technology appears, it will likely transform all markets. We’re just not there yet.

My point is: Until we see that advent, I believe it’s very hard to generalize. That’s why you’ll notice a lot of references to “the U.S.” in my piece. Most of what I write translates pretty well to the world (I hope). I’m quite sure this one doesn’t.

I do welcome all points of view though, and I think U.S. readers will benefit from input from people who live in other parts of the world.

– Scot

There are hybrid cars, yes, but the weight of the batteries often compensates for any fuel efficiency gains you get. A Prius, yes, is hybrid but there are non-hybrid cars available which have a better fuel efficiency.

The easiest solution is to be realistic. What size do you really need? Do you need a big SUV? I have a family but a small car with a 1.2 litre engine in it works for me - everyone can fit in it and it goes from A to B. But that’s not unusual in the UK. You can then spend the extra money or lots of luxuries. But the best thing is that it’s fuel efficient. I can get 39-49 mpg out of it.

The other thing we can all do is simply to drive better. I can get the better fuel economy in my car by simply driving in a different style - reduce rapid acceleration and braking and you’ll see miles being added to your mpg. More details here… http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml