Re: John M. Haines’ Jan. 17 commentary, “Hybrid cars don’t really work�:
The title piqued my interest. However, I quickly became aware that the writer was either playing a practical joke on the readers or he doesn’t know what he is talking about.
I do not own a hybrid car, nor do I work for the automotive industry. However, I am an engineer. Almost nothing that Mr. Haines says is factual. The simple fact is, hybrid cars do work.
Readers should ignore the ramblings of Mr. Haines. It is simply a matter of fuel consumption. Sixty miles per gallon is far more efficient than my Saturn Ion, which gets roughly 26 miles per gallon. The consumer will spend less on gasoline than he will with a car getting lower gas mileage.
Yes, there are some correct statements in the article. Hybrid cars do contain a large mass of batteries, and the gasoline engines, by themselves, would seem underpowered. But that is where reality and truth ends in the article.
I thought I was reading an article of value. Instead, it is a waste of newsprint.
I had suspected that perhaps the author would probe to a really meaningful assessment, such as life cycle costs. Here, one could make a true comparison based on total costs, not just fuel.
For example, assume you compare two cars: a hybrid selling for $20,000 and getting 60 mpg versus a conventional sedan selling for $12,000 but only getting 25 mpg. Further assuming each vehicle would incur similar maintenance costs, one would have to own the hybrid for more than 11 years before the out-of-pocket expenses end up being lower than by owning the conventional sedan. If the car were only owned for four years, then the sedan option would be more than $5,000 cheaper.
The author refers to a first-year engineering student. Perhaps he should have consulted with an engineering graduate.
— Arthur Hill, Simi Valley
Leave a comment