We got that price (US$21,116) in early March, at a dealership about an hour from Seattle (Bremerton, WA). Prices closer to Seattle were about $2000 higher (or more).

When we went back in May to pick ours up, they were charging significantly more (over $24K according to the sticker). I imagine prices closer to the city are higher. Luckily they honored the price they quoted us when we put down our deposit!

 

IIRC, assuming you're not a crazy altitudes, most modern cars w/ computer-controlled injection, timing, etc get better FE at altitude simply through lowered air resistance- like more HRs hit at the Rockie's or long-jumping in Mexico City. Also, less total Oxygen in the cylinder requires less fuel for stoichiometric burn, so less fuel gets used per cycle. Power, however, does suffer greatly.

I recall a few threads here about FE at altitude vs sea level, but can't find them right now.

 

You are right. I guess I should just be happy that people are using Jesus to justify their hybrid purchase instead of bombing Iraq. BTW, what's your Ph.D in? Mine is in chemistry.

 

Ph.D. is in Business, but don't hold that against me. Underneath my professional trappings I've still got a soul!

I just wish we could all see the true cost of our gasoline by factoring in the cost of going to war to preserve our oil supplies. Then I believe we would have a true revolution in our transportation philosophy.

Aneil

 

I've said all along we should send the bill to ExxonMobil. See if that eats into their profits.

 

As discussed in this thread: https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...pump.7119.html the gas companies (i.e. ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips) do not have a big profit margin. They make approximately 7 - 9% depending on the company. Not many of us would continue what we do if that is all that we made. The more we buy, the more they make as in any business but that is just what they are...a business and they do need to make some money so that they can continue to exist and expand their resources so that we may continue to drive.

I am not disagreeing that their execs make a ton of money but if you figure it percentage wise, they make less than most other large industries.

Sincerely,
Jessica

 

Actually many businesses operate on a 1% profit margin. Examples include Pharmaceurical wholesalers ( not manufacturers), Hospitals, insurance companies....7-9% margins is a lot of money.

 

Per http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...-27-xom_x.htm:

Industry margins
Net profit margins of other sectors and industries, the average over the last 12 months:
Capital goods 7.2%
Services 8.2%
Restaurants 8.3%
Basic materials 8.7%
Conglomerates 9.6%
Energy 13.2%
Technology 15.0%
Software 21.6%

 

Interesting. But like I said, a lot of businesses operate at 1% profit margins. In addition, when the price of oil goes up, its pure profit and increases the margings dramatically. Letes look at this in detail;

1. Oil companies were drilling 2 years ago at assumptions of 20 dollars per barrel or so. ( example--not too far off). The price was 45-47 bucks a barrel. Overall margin was indeed 8-9%. Shareholders are protected as required by law (a modification in the bill of rights in the late 1800s believe it or not--its true). When the price shoots up to 70 dollars a barrel, the margin now goes up quite a bit, as expenses are fixed. Now the profit margins are more like 30%, and then we have the result we saw, with exxon mobil for example posting the highest profits of any corporation ever in a single year or close to it.

Whatever ones views are on this- this is how the thing works and why the oil companies made so much money. Their drilling expenses are set to be conservative to protect against market downturns, but the profits zoom if the price per barrel goes up; the countries of oil origin though wind up making the real money.

Thats why owning a Hybrid is a good thing. One of the reasons anyway.

PS- The energy sector includes many companies much less profitable than "big Oil"-- the big oil margins are easily twice the average of 13.2%--or moving towrds the 30% I have mentioned.