yes, that is most of my issue with hybrids. because they still use a gasoline engine for the primary power source, it solves no problems. a "reduction" in emmisions and fuel consumption does not result in anything in reality. the current cars may or may not lead to a REAL answer. some technologies go nowhere after a while and lead to nothing. my opinion is a hybrid as we know it, is one of those cases. the civic GX seems to be more of a realistic starting point to the answer to the question people want answered.
although I also have the believe that the end of the environment and world as we know it will not be caused by our cars. I think the chances are greater of worldwide nuclear explosions(or some other catastrophic disaster) destroying our world before burning gasoline in automobiles will. so maybe I'm looney. :scratcheshead:
Aside from the environmental issues, the gasoline supply is limited. Current gas prices prove that pretty convincingly. Plus, most of the supply is in a very unstable region beset by constant wars for thousands of years. That's the kind of conflict that can lead to the use of nuclear weapons that you mentioned. In my opinion, any reduction in emissions and fuel consumption is a very good thing. It's not just the air we breathe and the environment we want to preserve. It's also a national security issue of oil supply that is more immediate, not to mention gas prices due to the growing demand.
I'm looking at those new, lower EPA estimates you mentioned. Sure, the hybrid numbers have gone down, but so have those for conventional models. Even with the new estimates, these are pretty serious improvements. I'd say they are quite a bit better, on the order of over 40% in fuel economy. For example, here are three essentially identical comparisons of hybrids to conventional models from three different manufacturers:
The 2007 Escape FWD auto 4-cyl is listed as 20/24, 21 combined. It uses an average of 16.3 barrels a year, has an air pollution score of 6/10 and emits 8.7 tons of greenouse gas a year. The 2007 Escape Hybrid FWD auto 4-cyl is listed as 31/29, 30 combined. It uses an average of 11.4 barrels of oil a year, has an air pollution score of 8/10 and it emits 6.1 tons of greenhouse gas a year.
The 2007 Civic Auto 4-cyl is listed as 25/36, 29 combined. It uses an average of 11.8 barrels/year, has an air pollution score of 6/10 and emits 6.3 tons of greenouse gas a year. The 2007 Civic Hybrid Auto 4-cyl is listed as 40/45, 42 combined. It uses an average of 8.2 barrels, has a score of 9/10 and emits 4.4 tons a year.
The 2007 Camry auto 4-cyl is listed as 21/30, 24 combined. It uses an average of 14.3 barrels/year, has an air pollution score of 6/10 and emits 7.7 tons/year. The 2007 Camry hybrid is listed as 33/34, 34 combined. It uses an average of 10.1 barrels/year, has an air pollution score of 8/10 and emits 5.4 ton/year.
Even with just the fad hybrids, the savings in fuel and emissions would be incredible if every model was a required to be a hybrid. The economies of scale would also make the price increase much smaller. This technology is here. Such a mandate would be a far greater step in our energy policy than anything every administration combined has done since the last gas crisis in the 70s. Even if it isn't the ultimate solution, it's a pretty good step we can take right now. Even 10% is nothing to scoff about, but I don't know why people scoff at 25% reductions in emissions or 40% reductions in fuel consumption. I presume these people are not scoffing at current gas prices.
It takes 20 years or something for the vehicle fleet to rollover in the USA. Sure, we can wait 10 years for the next best thing. Fuel cells, plug-ins, hydrogen, who knows. Once you wait for that, something even better will be on the horizon another 10 years later. That's the same reason nothing has been done since the last crisis. It's too easy for people to put off to the next generation for one reason or another. The fact is, we have a technology that can make serious reductions right now, and it wouldn't be cost prohibitive if it was mandated for widespread implementation. Even without such a mandate, it's good to see that companies like Toyota will be producing a lot more of them at a profit within a few years. I plan to be an owner of one by then, because I doubt anything better will be available.