Prius versus Hummer

[czechsonofagun]

Released last December, the study tabulated all data on the energy necessary to plan,build, sell, drive and dispose of a vehicle from drawing board to junkyard, including such items as plant-to-dealer fuel costs, distances driven, electricity usage per pound of material in each vehicle, and hundreds of other variables.

The Prius registered an energy-cost average of $3.25 per mile driven over its expected life span of 100,000 miles. Ironically, a Hummer, the brooding giant that has become the bête noir of the green movement, did much better, with an energy-cost average of $1.95 over its expected life span of 300,000 miles. And its crash protection makes it far safer than the tiny Prius.

Automotive Energy

 

[mjarrels]

I watched a TV special about this same thing. Seems the DFM (diesel fuel marine) was a big issue with the prius battery materials having to go all around the globe by ship.

mark

 

[Bird]

Of course they may be right . . ., and they may not be right. Their conclusion has to be based on certain "assumptions", such as a life of 100k for the Prius and 300k for the Hummer. How many of either will actually average that many miles? So their conclusions are only as good as their assumptions, and I tend to be skeptical.

 

[Jstpssng]

The Prius is new technology; they are really comparing apples and oranges.
I don't believe they are the long term answer, but the biggest benefit could be improved battery technology; not only for autos, but for those of you who live or own camps off the grid.

 

[Ifixcars]

I have several customers with 100k + on their Priuses, with no major problems, and no battery issues, as naysayers predicted. The engineering is really something else on these cars.

 

[rickmacheske]

I was standing still at a traffic light two months ago when an F350 going 50 mpg ran into the back of me. I'm glad I wasn't in a Prius. It totalled my Expedition but my 3 month old daughter and I are alive....

 

[Kendall69]

I purchased a gas saver for my wife once, the doors were so flimsy you literally could pinch them and bend the metal on the door. You know that little voice inside you that we almost always ignore, well this time I listened, and sold the "gas saver" for a huge loss. Next day I went out and bout that safe gas guzzler. Well you guessed it, my wife was driving home one night and got hit head on, by an illegal alien drunk driver, who ran away from the scene.
Not a scratch on the wife. Had she been in the "gas saver" I'd be pushing her around in a wheel chair o this day.
Nope not for me NEVER. I'll be the guy in the Hummer, F950, F2000, GMC something, Mac truck etc.
I'd rather put off going somewhere or cut down on some driving, but I will never be in a mini gas saver until the whole world is driving them anyway.
I talked to a Highway patrol officer, and he told me they buy their wives 70's and 80's gas guzzlers to drive in because they are built like tanks.
Since the accident I have paid close attention to news about accidents and always, the guy in the pick up or SUV is unhurt, while the other guy in the POS gas saver is dead.

 

[MossRoad]

There's something to be said for big cars. My sister buys used Buick Roadmasters and drives them 'till they drop. She's been hit a few times and fares very well, so far... knock on simulated wood veneer.

 

[hazmat]

First off who can afford to put gas into a Hummer for 300,000 miles? Second do the math- 300,000*$1.95 = 585,000 or more than 10X the cost of the Hummer in the first place?????????

$50K to buy the unit - this would include the cost of any energy to build it
$75K to fuel it for 300,000 miles (10 mpg at $2.50 per mile)
Presumably scrapyards get more money for the steel, rubber etc. that they recycle than their energy to do so costs, otherwise they would be out of business.

So it actually costs $125K, not $585K. comes out to $0.42 per mile

Prius $25,000 to buy + $18,750 to fuel for 300K Miles (40mpg) = $43750 = $0.15 per mile. You could argue that Toyota is selling at a loss, but even if you double the cost of the prius, you are still ahead of the H2.

Now, should I start a website and publish my report?

I looked at their 458 page "report" - this is NOT a scientific study. No references are cited. All the information could be fabricated for all I know. 1/2 the darn thing is questions and answers and an appendix full of popular media stories (probably all copywright violations).

Off soap box now...

Regarding the safety - the biggest factor in crash safety is how well the vehicle dissipates energy - size is generally a benefit, but if the structure is too strong (stiff) it won't dissipate the energy and you will still be injured. Unibody design is much, much, much better at disipating energy than body on frame. Now, if you are comparing 2 vehicles, both of similar contruction type, the bigger one is going to "win".

Also, not all crashes are one car hitting another, lots are car hitting fixed object, rolling over etc. The high CG of the Hummer makes it more prone to roll - thus the prius is the safer car in that situation.

 

[rickmacheske]

A prius being a safer vehicle? lol. Try to roll a hummer. The CG is low for a SUV. Hmmm....if I was in a Prius when the F350 hit my truck my daughter and I would be worm food. I'll stick to large vehicles.