I really going for this because I hate these things with a passion, possably more than clarkson.
This article was published on the internet by the Central Connecticut State University.
The Toyota Prius has become the flagship car for those in our society so environmentally conscious that they are willing to spend a premium to show the world how much they care. Unfortunately for them, their ultimate ‘green car’ is the source of some of the worst pollution in North America; it takes more combined energy per Prius to produce than a Hummer.
Agree with the basic sentiment of the piece, but its origin is slightly different to that quoted, as far as I can gather........
Lifted from the Recorder Online
March 28, 2007
Prius Still Not Sitting Pretty
By Chris Demorro
Staff Writer
There has been quite a bit of debate regarding an opinion piece of mine entitled, “Prius Outdoes Hummer in Environmental Damage.” To be honest, I couldn’t be happier with the result. I managed to get people talking about a serious issue, which I believe does not get nearly enough attention.
I am of course talking about the future of automotive energy consumption. Over the past two weeks, I have seen my name splashed across hundreds of forums, read on live radio and even discussed within earshot of myself.
Along those lines, in the interest of fair and balanced journalism, it should be noted that the CNW Marketing research “Dust to Dust,” which I cited in my article, is dubious at best. Much of the debate has centered on the lifetime mileage of the Prius versus the Hummer. The average expected lifespan for a Prius, according to the report, was 100,000 miles when, in reality, the Prius is offered in several states with a warranty up to 150,000 miles alone.
There was also a great deal of debate regarding just which Hummer was used in the CNW report. It was the original Hummer, not the H2 or H3, which may clear up the 300,000 mile lifespan expected from a Hummer. However, there are enough holes as large as this throughout the CNW report to question its objectivity.
That being said, there is still fairly substantial evidence that hybrids are not nearly as efficient; nor are they as environmentally sound as one may think. There are many cleaner, faster and sleeker alternatives out there waiting to be picked up. Cars such as the Tesla Roadster, for sale now at teslamotors. com, which is an entirely electric car that can journey up to 250 miles on a single battery charge, as well as sprinting from 0-60mph in a blistering four seconds. And to top it all off, it is available for about $30,000 if you opt to wait, rather then pay an additional $20,000 to receive the next one available. The Tesla is just one of the many options available right now and will hopefully garner more attention in the future.
Unfortunately many of these options go largely unnoticed simply because they don’t come from a major auto manufacturer. This is a large part of why I wrote the article in the first place: I believe hybrids are not going to solve our imminent energy crisis, and focusing on a platform that still requires petrol in any amount is ultimately a band-aid for what could become a mortal wound. But this is what many manufacturers are offering to us; half-assed solutions to a real problem that will affect everyone the world over. But if people are kept in the dark regarding alternatives to oil and hybrids, then by the time real alternatives are available, we may have dug ourselves an oil-lined grave.
Debate, discussion and research are the key to preventing this, and, as a journalism student, I know that I have a long way to go before considering myself an objective, balanced and eloquent journalist. That is why I am attending college, and why I have never projected myself as anything but a student. But I also feel as though I have provoked a lot of thinking outside the traditional schools of thought, and that is what I ultimately aim for.
So these are my beliefs. I wrote them down for a college newspaper and submitted them to my editor for publication. Somewhere along the line, someone picked up what I wrote and handed it to Rush Limbaugh who broadcasted it across the country. I am not an environmental nut job, nor am I a corporate-sponsored puppet. I am just a college student, trying to make a name for myself – not as a biased, irresponsible and dishonest reporter, but as a fair and balanced journalist who is trying to provoke thought and debate. I still have a great deal to learn in school, but they say experience is the best teacher, and after these two weeks, I have subscribed to that belief as well.