Slate answers CNW Marketing and Daily Mail
#1
Slate answers CNW Marketing and Daily Mail
http://www.slate.com/id/2186786/
This is an excellent summary refuting the CNW Marketing nonsense and well worth keeping as a handy reference. Although, gas at over $3/gal. speaks another argument even more grinding than any other.
Bob Wilson
Tank vs. Hybrid Is it possible that a Hummer's better for the environment than a Prius is?
By Brendan I. Koerner
Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 7:39 AM ET
. . .
Like those old chestnuts about poisoned ATM deposit envelopes and the dangers of flashing your headlights, the bizarre anti-Prius meme cited by your colleague refuses to die. It keeps making the e-mail rounds every few months, with multiple versions landing in the Lantern's inbox. There's a minuscule grain of truth to the allegation, since the Prius' nickel-metal hydride battery is a more complicated beast than your typical EverStart. But the rest of the case against the best-selling hybrid? Malarkey.
. . .
By Brendan I. Koerner
Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 7:39 AM ET
. . .
Like those old chestnuts about poisoned ATM deposit envelopes and the dangers of flashing your headlights, the bizarre anti-Prius meme cited by your colleague refuses to die. It keeps making the e-mail rounds every few months, with multiple versions landing in the Lantern's inbox. There's a minuscule grain of truth to the allegation, since the Prius' nickel-metal hydride battery is a more complicated beast than your typical EverStart. But the rest of the case against the best-selling hybrid? Malarkey.
. . .
Bob Wilson
Last edited by bwilson4web; 03-19-2008 at 12:25 PM.
#2
Re: Slate answers CNW Marketing and Daily Mail
Refreshing, thanks for the post.
I did sent them a short email pointing out that the HSD R&D costs had a somewhat larger amortization base with 50-60 thousand TCHs a year and another 18-20 HiHys, not to mention things to come with the rising fuel prices.
I did sent them a short email pointing out that the HSD R&D costs had a somewhat larger amortization base with 50-60 thousand TCHs a year and another 18-20 HiHys, not to mention things to come with the rising fuel prices.
#4
Re: Slate answers CNW Marketing and Daily Mail
Finally, someplace I can point to when people start talking about this.
I know that a lot of others have 'debunked this myth,' but having it on slate makes it more believable for people than if I point them to something called 'hybrid cars xxx'. People automatically assume that sort of site would be biased.
I know that a lot of others have 'debunked this myth,' but having it on slate makes it more believable for people than if I point them to something called 'hybrid cars xxx'. People automatically assume that sort of site would be biased.
#5
Re: Slate answers CNW Marketing and Daily Mail
I think it would be interesting for someone to repeat the CNW analysis with realistic numbers for development and manufacturing costs, fleet size, vehicle lifetime, and end-of-life costs. The last one might of course be a negative number.
DAS
DAS
#6
Re: Slate answers CNW Marketing and Daily Mail
Hi folks,
Apparently, the Slate article touched a nerve as "CNW Marketing" has posted two, different replies at the CNW web site. The quality of these replies matches the earlier "Dust to Dust" report including the habit of cherry picking facts and ignore others from the same sources (aka., EPA for both Prius and their favorite Corolla.) But there are some curious new quotes:
The diesel comments are curious because a pair of European "researchers" have made similar claims. Yet the most exciting hybrid is a Golf TDI hybrid using the dual-clutch transmission. But I suspect something else is causing CNW to become a little more defensive.
Every day, more drivers refuel and face the facts and data at the pump. No degree of sophistry and semantics works as well as gas and diesel prices:
Bob Wilson
Apparently, the Slate article touched a nerve as "CNW Marketing" has posted two, different replies at the CNW web site. The quality of these replies matches the earlier "Dust to Dust" report including the habit of cherry picking facts and ignore others from the same sources (aka., EPA for both Prius and their favorite Corolla.) But there are some curious new quotes:
- "Prius tires last approximately one quarter of the miles of those on a Toyota Corolla."
- "In this case, the Prius is a complex vehicle that is inferior to a Jetta Diesel, for example, in any measurement of life-cycle energy efficiency."
- ". . . Hybrids may be a good profit center for automakers, . . ., but they continue to be less energy efficient over their lifetime than the industry average or some significantly larger vehicles. And diesels make both hybrid and gas powered vehicles look positively wasteful."
The diesel comments are curious because a pair of European "researchers" have made similar claims. Yet the most exciting hybrid is a Golf TDI hybrid using the dual-clutch transmission. But I suspect something else is causing CNW to become a little more defensive.
Every day, more drivers refuel and face the facts and data at the pump. No degree of sophistry and semantics works as well as gas and diesel prices:
- $3.28 - USA gas prices 3/17/08
- $3.98 - USA diesel prices 3/17/08
Bob Wilson
#7
Re: Slate answers CNW Marketing and Daily Mail
Very cool find. Basically just states what we know as a complete bogus report.
Besides anybody who takes a scientific report from a marketing company in a serious light should have their head examined.
Besides anybody who takes a scientific report from a marketing company in a serious light should have their head examined.
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