Friday, June 15, 2007

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 John Venlet on 06/15 at 06:11 AM
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