Sorry, Will Ferrell has never made me laugh. I watch and watch waiting for something to amuse me and it never comes. Same goes with his former cheerleading partner Cheri Oteri (sp?).
Screwing your face up and talking and acting in an odd way doesn't always translate to actually being funny. In his case, it translates to being annoying.
If I see his face on the TV set my hand is quick to remove it with my remote control.
I recently read with interest your article entitled "Smug Emissions". The article's intent is to clear up some of the urban legends and misconceptions about hybrid vehicles. Unfortunately, it simply ends up propagating both old and new falsehoods about the technology. I just recently purchased a hybrid vehicle myself - a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. I did so only after doing a large amount of research, so allow me to share with you what I've learned.
First of all, I understand the the Prius is the favorite whipping boy for hybrid critics, but there are lots of other vehicles in the hybrid category that don't look any different from their standard gas-only versions except for a small badge on the vehicle that indicates it is a hybrid. This would apply to most hybrids like the Escape, the Honda Civics and Accords, etc. I'm not sure how that fits into your description of hybrid vehicles as emitting "massive amounts of smug".
Although you claim that "you can't escape the fact that the cost of a hybrid, both to the consumer and to the manufacturer, mitigates any advantage for most car buyers," I can indeed escape that fact. No pun intended. The current Escape Hybrid that I purchased has a sticker price of roughly $4200 more than a similarly equipped Escape gas-only version. However, I'll receive a full $3000 tax credit for purchasing the vehicle which makes the price difference a mere $1200. I expect to make up that small difference in price with fuel cost savings alone in just a couple of years.
In addition, a recent Intellichoice study indicates that all hybrid vehicles are a better long-term value than their gasoline-only counterparts when all costs of driving are factored in. For me personally, I had been interested in hybrid vehicles for some time, but didn't purchase until I felt confident that they were also a good value. I'm confidant in that now.
Next, I have to say that I am confused by the logic in the quote from Peter Kammler of the New Zealand Herald. Obviously, hybrid vehicles cost more to produce than a standard vehicle. Those costs are built into the price. What does that have to do with conserving energy or emissions? Do you have any evidence that hybrid vehicles require more energy to produce or is this just an assumption? In fact, my hybrid Escape features recycled material used for the seat fabric. Ford estimates that using this recycled material that would have otherwise ended up in landfill will save 600,000 gallons of water, 1.8 million pounds of CO2 equivalents, and 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
Regarding your argument that EPA mileage estimates are out of date, you are correct that the EPA is changing the way they rate fuel efficiency to reflect more real-world driving. But EPA estimates are falling on not just hybrid vehicles but standard vehicles as well. And you don't have to wait for them to come out with the new data. It's been out for awhile at www.fueleconomy.gov.
In addition, your claim that hybrid vehicles don't have any advantage in fuel efficiency on the highway is just plain wrong. According to the new, revised EPA estimates, a 2007 Civic will get 36 MPG on the highway while the hybrid gets 45 MPG. My Escape Hybrid will get 30MPG on the highway as opposed to the standard Escape's 26 MPG. So while the difference is not as dramatic as city driving, there is indeed a substantial benefit to hybrid vehicles even for highway driving.
I've obviously gotten long-winded here, so let me just say that your claims about nickel mining have been debunked:http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/10/05/oh-so-a-hummer-is-not-greener-a-prius/
and I can't see what the weight of the vehicle has to do with anything assuming the fuel efficiency is still greater, which it is. Seems like you are just throwing around any idea you find on the internet and seeing what sticks instead of actually researching what you write. That would apply to recommending diesel vehicles. New diesels are actually good cars, but only one manufacturer is making them this model year - Mercedes - because of clean-air standards. I'm guessing you did already know that since you highlighted a 2000 VW in your article. What's your smug factor on the Benz, I wonder?
And finally, do you really think that heating a garage to keep a car warm is a good way to save energy?" Caring about the environment isn't as simple as buying an expensive toy or knowing a few buzzwords." Nor is it as simple as repeating a number of inaccurate and downright false claims about vehicles that are actually more efficient and better for the environment than standard cars, no matter how much they rub you the wrong way.
Thanks for reading,
Scott
*** I appreciate Matt's effort to get us thinking about the merit of hybrid's. However, he glosses over the exact reason they were invented:for stop-and-go city driving. As for the price tag, if people can ustify the extra dollars for a luxury car or SUV, surely they can justify the added cash for hybrid. Vanity and altruism can be equallypowerful motivators, I think.
As for diesel fuel-powered vehicles, I think they are viable alternatives to hybrids, though aren't diesel emissions are more harmfulthan gas emissions, compared straight up? But since I completely and irrationally love Volkswagens, I'll overlook that.
You posed a good question. Especially if you look at The Reverend Al Sharpton's modus operandi is making something seem like it's the end of thecreation and that only an apology would stop it. Then The Reverend Al Sharpton refuses the apology anyways!
Joseph
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Don Imus should be fined or suspended or both but he still should be on the air. if there are people that are offended by him they should make their own choices,and switch stations. what is happening to freedom of speech?
re:Al Sharpton. why on earth do black people all over america embrace the biggest racist AL SHARPTON as their spokesman??
Paul
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Do you know who Al Sharpton is...do your research about him and you will answer your own question.
While you are researching Sharpton, research the NAACP as well, and it will further explain why either party is appropriate to go to for an apology.
Jessica
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It's Simple. We live in the land of opportunity and with that comes a fair share of opportunists. Al and Jesse have made this their calling,taking every opportunity to promote their own agendas. Ethnically speaking, they may qualify to represent a given group but character-wise it's a different story. Those are role models? God help us. I wouldn't want them as role models for my children if I was freaking purple. So Imus says something stupid on a public forum and it gets heard by a lot of people. It's in poor taste and he's an idiot for saying such things. To that, I agree. But along come the opportunists posing as leaders. It may be their intention to right a perceived wrong and for that I can admire them. But what they actually do is perpetuate a story that might otherwise have gone away much more quietly. It is now heard by an exponentially larger group of people getting diluted along the way by all the faux discussions and side bars of the rest of the media talking heads. Is the issue resolved? Not likely. Are people in general more sensitive to issues of race because of it? Again, not likely. Do these guys know that they'll get an abundance of press? Of course they do. Anyone in politics, even these guys, knows the powers of the media. That being said, do we want this story to merely go away? Maybe not. Hate is a serious matter and shouldn't be taken lightly. So what is the answer? That I don't know. I do know that having these boneheads as leaders of any given group makes as much sense as turning over your car keys to the drunk at the end of the bar.
Kevin
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Great Article! I totally agree! Just who elected Sharpie Sharp the Acceptor of Apologies? If anything, his involvement detracts from the issue at hand. Keep up the good work!
