Have You Been Had by Prius?

Gas prices, carbon offset credits, the religion of global warming, the “Hey, look what I’m doing for the environment and society” feel good factor, these are just a few of the reasons why the Toyota Prius has become the carriage of choice of many of the so called “environmentally conscious.” But just how green is the Prius?

Through a study by CNW Marketing called “Dust to Dust,” the total combined energy is taken from all the electrical, fuel, transportation, materials (metal, plastic, etc) and hundreds of other factors over the expected lifetime of a vehicle. The Prius costs an average of $3.25 per mile driven over a lifetime of 100,000 miles - the expected lifespan of the Hybrid.

The Hummer, on the other hand, costs a more fiscal $1.95 per mile to put on the road over an expected lifetime of 300,000 miles. That means the Hummer will last three times longer than a Prius and use less combined energy doing it.

Not to mention, Prius purchasers also get a state handout in the form of a tax credit, not that the producers of the Hummer have not fed long and deep at that trough of plenty, replenished, of course, by the state’s constant delving into yours and my pockets.

I think I’ll hang onto my ol’ 1982 Jeep Laredo and Magnum.

Here’s the link to CNW’s ‘Dust to Dust’ Automotive Energy Report, and also the link to The Recorder’s opinion piece on the subject titled Prius Outdoes Hummer in Environmental Damage.

Via my brother the Wizard.

Posted by on 06/15 at 06:11 AM

  1. I am so with you on the Navy, questioning authority, cigars, and fly fishing. Gotta quibble with quoting that CCSU article tho. That publication’s other claim to fame is this one:

    The two students responsible for a
    controversial opinion piece on rape
    at Central Connecticut State University
    publicly apologized Monday for their
    actions.

    It came as part of a Town Hall meeting
    on the issue. They both said they’re
    sorry and wish the piece was never
    published in the school’s paper, The
    Recorder.

    John Petroski wrote the controversial
    opinion piece, “Rape Only Hurts If
    You Fight It.”

    Among other things, it claims some
    people—like overweight and less
    attractive women—can benefit
    from rape.

    The writer of the Prius piece has retracted most of the story, and one of his two sources has retracted the whole thing (about nickel mining). The rest of the article is based on a “CNW Marketing” report that has been dragged over the coals by everyone that knows anything about engineering or science. I think the best rebuttal is by a MacArthur “genius award” winner at the Pacific Institute, easy to Google.

    Anyway, wish I was arguing with you about this cooking that fish over a fire with a few beers.

    Cheers,
    Jon

    Posted by  on  07/02  at  09:30 PM

  2. Jon,

    Thanks for the note.  I’ve posted on your point here.

    I’d probably enjoying arguing this also, over a few beers and a fire, but without cooking the fish.  I, for the most part, practice catch and release.

    Posted by John Venlet  on  07/03  at  07:10 AM

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