Hybrid Maintanence

[Pericles]

Here's a few things about a person who CAN LIVE a 100% tree hugger environmentally friendly life.

Their home is built out of 100% sustainable materials because they don't want to use up precious natural non-sustainable resources. Because the materials are so expensive it costs several times more than a conventional same sized home. The furniture and and most of the other items in their home is custom made out of non polluting and sustainable materials. This means that the even the paint on their walls is not normal paint, but very expensive organic paint that does not emit any toxic fumes. Their bed mattresses contain no toxic artificial materials such as polyurethane, but are made of expensive organic sustainable materials. They are not connected to the electricity grid because that electricity comes from polluting sources - diesel generators, coal, even hydro electricity that destroys natural eco-systems. So they have their own solarpower/windpower electricity generation. Their cars are 100% electric also because hybrids emit pollution. And the list goes on and on and on....

As you can tell it is incredible expensive to be a 100% treehugger. Only a small number of people on the planet have the insane amounts of money necessary to do it.

OR you can move to a remote jungle area and live off the land like tribes have done for thousands of years. AKA, you are wrong.

And do take the time to look up hemp products, including building materials.

[jdnet]

"Their home is built out of 100% sustainable materials because they don't want to use up precious natural non-sustainable resources. Because the materials are so expensive it costs several times more than a conventional same sized home"

Many huts in villages are made using 100% natural and sustainable materials.

"The furniture and and most of the other items in their home is custom made out of non polluting and sustainable materials."

Partially built walls are used to sit on in the same huts, also people re-use old wooden planks to make benches and such.

"This means that the even the paint on their walls is not normal paint, but very expensive organic paint that does not emit any toxic fumes"

Many huts don't have paint on the wall so there is no expense and "toxic fumes."

" Their bed mattresses contain no toxic artificial materials such as polyurethane, but are made of expensive organic sustainable materials"

Ever heard of coconut coir matresses? in the old days, that's all we had here. They are still available and cheap.

"They are not connected to the electricity grid because that electricity comes from polluting sources - diesel generators, coal, even hydro electricity that destroys natural eco-systems."

I've actually seen some huts in villages with solar panels. I guess they must be handed out through some scheme. There are people in this country that are not connected to the power grid.

"Their cars are 100% electric also because hybrids emit pollution"

A lot of villagers use bicycles as their only means of transportation.

Moral of the story; you are full of S**t so STFU. ou probably sitting your fat a** down in an air conditioned room, sipping on a coke while using his computer to post pure B.S. on this forum.

Edited May 21, 2011 by jdnet

[Californikan]

What utter rot. Completely off topic. And a totally daft scenario, coz more money doesn't always mean better quality. You are pushing hybrids coz they are cheaper, not coz of any environmental concerns. End of story. Just stop lying and admit it.

Here you go again with the black or white thinking.

I was advocating hybrids years before the tax cuts because they have less emissions. But I see there's no getting through to you so I'll end it there.

[jdnet]

Here you go again with the black or white thinking.

I was advocating hybrids years before the tax cuts because they have less emissions. But I see there's no getting through to you so I'll end it there.

No you weren't. You joined this site after the tax cuts were announced. Stop BSing. Now go build yourself a hut.

[rover]

Hybrid Car Disadvantages You May Want to Consider

With all good things comes some disadvantages. So let’s see in Sri Lankan context what are the disadvantages of owning a hybrid vehicle.

1) Second hand value is effected – The traction battery last’s for about 8-10 years. Most of the used hybrids that are imported to SL are at least 2-3 years old. If a present owner decides to sell after using it say for 2 years then the potential next owner will be thinking twice before buying it as he may have to replace the battery during his time of ownership.

Also a person who does not know the true facts about the reliability of a hybrid will not want to buy it.

But these conditions will change with time as the spare batteries will be available at an affordable price in the future.

2) Batteries are heavy which adds to the over-all weight of the cars, which may be a disadvantage to some people.

The weight of the battery has also led to criticisms of the handling qualities of some hybrid cars.

3) Pollution from car factories - Yes, of course hybrids leave a carbon footprint from their manufacture - just as other vehicles do. In some ways the pollution is greater because of the extra components needed for a hybrid - the twin drive-trains, for example.

There have been studies which showed that the pollution and energy consumption from manufacture is greater than for conventional cars, as is the cost of disposal.

However the same studies showed that these costs were compensated for by decreased energy consumption during a lifetime of use.

Several consumer reports in other countries have backed this claim with evidence that hybrids do generally more than cover the cost of their premium price tags with fuel savings.

4) Hybrid cars are too quiet - That's not something you'd think would be a source of complaint in our noisy world - until you stop to consider the needs of visually-impaired people. There have been cases of people who have relied on their ears and have been nearly run over.

Some organisations have understandably been calling for a technical fix to make hybrids noisier. This is also a safety issue for parents, too. These added sound effects are now being incorporated in some cars.

5) Lack of service facilities – In a unlikely situation where an hybrid car brakes down somewhere in a remote place in SL then the services of a car carrier has to be sought to transport the car back to the agents. As hybrid cars become more common it would seem likely that more garages will be equipped to do maintenance and repair of hybrids.

6) Odd looks - Hybrids have been roundly condemned by many car enthusiasts for their styling (seen as ugly - one comment compared the new Prius to a doorstop!) and their handling (unresponsive, slow).

There are many people out there who will leap to the defence of the best hybrids. The Prius, for example has its enthusiasts. It delivers great mileage, especially in urban and suburban conditions, has effective traction control and ABS. It also delivers a pretty respectable acceleration when required. The regenerative brakes effectively recharge the battery - it loves hills. It can drive on just the battery power alone in suburban conditions and - its chief environmental virtue - it is a SULEV (i.e. a super ultra low emission vehicle). This is what it was designed for and many of its fans believe Toyota succeeded brilliantly. It won a prestigious award in 2004 for engine quality.

Edited May 21, 2011 by rover

[Californikan]

No you weren't. You joined this site after the tax cuts were announced. Stop BSing. Now go build yourself a hut.

Correct. Because most people aren't even aware what environmentally friendly means, and won't buy a product just because its environmentally friendly, and certainly won't pay more for it. The tax cuts are a 'back door' way to get environmentally friendly vehicles on the road.

[Californikan]

Hybrid Car Disadvantages You May Want to Consider

With all good things comes some disadvantages. So let’s see in Sri Lankan context what are the disadvantages of owning a hybrid vehicle.

1) Second hand value is effected – The traction battery last’s for about 8-10 years. Most of the used hybrids that are imported to SL are at least 2-3 years old. If a present owner decides to sell after using it say for 2 years then the potential next owner will be thinking twice before buying it as he may have to replace the battery during his time of ownership.

Also a person who does not know the true facts about the reliability of a hybrid will not want to buy it.

But these conditions will change with time as the spare batteries will be available at an affordable price in the future.

2) Batteries are heavy which adds to the over-all weight of the cars, which may be a disadvantage to some people.

The weight of the battery has also led to criticisms of the handling qualities of some hybrid cars.

3) Pollution from car factories - Yes, of course hybrids leave a carbon footprint from their manufacture - just as other vehicles do. In some ways the pollution is greater because of the extra components needed for a hybrid - the twin drive-trains, for example.

There have been studies which showed that the pollution and energy consumption from manufacture is greater than for conventional cars, as is the cost of disposal.

However the same studies showed that these costs were compensated for by decreased energy consumption during a lifetime of use.

Several consumer reports in other countries have backed this claim with evidence that hybrids do generally more than cover the cost of their premium price tags with fuel savings.

4) Hybrid cars are too quiet - That's not something you'd think would be a source of complaint in our noisy world - until you stop to consider the needs of visually-impaired people. There have been cases of people who have relied on their ears and have been nearly run over.

Some organisations have understandably been calling for a technical fix to make hybrids noisier. This is also a safety issue for parents, too. These added sound effects are now being incorporated in some cars.

5) Lack of service facilities – In a unlikely situation where an hybrid car brakes down somewhere in a remote place in SL then the services of a car carrier has to be sought to transport the car back to the agents. As hybrid cars become more common it would seem likely that more garages will be equipped to do maintenance and repair of hybrids.

6) Odd looks - Hybrids have been roundly condemned by many car enthusiasts for their styling (seen as ugly - one comment compared the new Prius to a doorstop!) and their handling (unresponsive, slow).

There are many people out there who will leap to the defence of the best hybrids. The Prius, for example has its enthusiasts. It delivers great mileage, especially in urban and suburban conditions, has effective traction control and ABS. It also delivers a pretty respectable acceleration when required. The regenerative brakes effectively recharge the battery - it loves hills. It can drive on just the battery power alone in suburban conditions and - its chief environmental virtue - it is a SULEV (i.e. a super ultra low emission vehicle). This is what it was designed for and many of its fans believe Toyota succeeded brilliantly. It won a prestigious award in 2004 for engine quality.

Great points rover.

I'll add that the current 3rd gen Prius is a PZEV - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (The 1st and 2nd gens were SULEV).

[heavyD]

3) Pollution from car factories - Yes, of course hybrids leave a carbon footprint from their manufacture - just as other vehicles do. In some ways the pollution is greater because of the extra components needed for a hybrid - the twin drive-trains, for example.

There have been studies which showed that the pollution and energy consumption from manufacture is greater than for conventional cars, as is the cost of disposal.

However the same studies showed that these costs were compensated for by decreased energy consumption during a lifetime of use.

Several consumer reports in other countries have backed this claim with evidence that hybrids do generally more than cover the cost of their premium price tags with fuel savings.

In other words, a hybrid pollutes as much as a normal car.

Hybrid fanboys, don't get all riled up. I'm just joking... honest.

[Pericles]

Correct. Because most people aren't even aware what environmentally friendly means, and won't buy a product just because its environmentally friendly, and certainly won't pay more for it. The tax cuts are a 'back door' way to get environmentally friendly vehicles on the road.

Balls. People in this country stayed away from hybrids due to lack of support and lack of infrastructure. It had nothing to do with environmental credentials.

[Californikan]

Balls. People in this country stayed away from hybrids due to lack of support and lack of infrastructure. It had nothing to do with environmental credentials.

When the hybrid tax cuts first came into effect, the hybrid support and infrastructure was not in place, yet thousands of people bought hybrids anyway.

Pretend there were no tax cuts: Due to the cost of the hybrid hardware, a hybrid is significantly more expensive than similar sized and engined vehicle. Because the typical yearly kms driven in SL is so low, most hybrid owners would not make up that extra hybrid cost through fuel savings. So that takes out fuel savings as a real world financial benefit of hybrids in SL (pretending there were no tax cuts).

The benefit that's left then is low emissions/environmental friendliness. Will most Sri Lankans pay 20% more for a vehicle because it's environmentally friendly? I don't think so.

[rover]

I saw in Hitad that Arabian motors has started servicing hybrids. Does anyone know about the experience of their technicians?

[Pericles]

When the hybrid tax cuts first came into effect, the hybrid support and infrastructure was not in place, yet thousands of people bought hybrids anyway.

Pretend there were no tax cuts: Due to the cost of the hybrid hardware, a hybrid is significantly more expensive than similar sized and engined vehicle. Because the typical yearly kms driven in SL is so low, most hybrid owners would not make up that extra hybrid cost through fuel savings. So that takes out fuel savings as a real world financial benefit of hybrids in SL (pretending there were no tax cuts).

The benefit that's left then is low emissions/environmental friendliness. Will most Sri Lankans pay 20% more for a vehicle because it's environmentally friendly? I don't think so.

Uh, you seem to have lost track of your argument and seem to be agreeing with what we said earlier. No one would buy for eco reasons when there is no support or infrastructure, but jumped in to buy coz of a major tax cut, willing to take that risk of no support or infrastructure thinking they could save a few bucks. As for implying that the govt is interested in introducing hybrids onto the roads for environmental purposes, most local living Sri Lankans know different. The joke of emission testing private vehicles while buses and lorries wander about belching vast quantities of smoke should tell you all you need to know about the govt's main aim. Find new methods to tap the pockets of the citizenry. Proved again by the no-notice tax increase. Just you wait till the govt decides that having a hybrid is some sorta privilege and finds some way to further tax hybrid owners.

[charitha19]

Uh, you seem to have lost track of your argument and seem to be agreeing with what we said earlier. No one would buy for eco reasons when there is no support or infrastructure, but jumped in to buy coz of a major tax cut, willing to take that risk of no support or infrastructure thinking they could save a few bucks. As for implying that the govt is interested in introducing hybrids onto the roads for environmental purposes, most local living Sri Lankans know different. The joke of emission testing private vehicles while buses and lorries wander about belching vast quantities of smoke should tell you all you need to know about the govt's main aim. Find new methods to tap the pockets of the citizenry. Proved again by the no-notice tax increase. Just you wait till the govt decides that having a hybrid is some sorta privilege and finds some way to further tax hybrid owners.

+1.. was thinking the same thing.. were u people born yesterday or what... the government doenst care u simple minded folks... and i am sure they are going to come up with some scheme to tax the hybrid owners.. they are waiting till the numbers are right... if they were truly enviromental friendlt people why didnt they bring down hybrin SUV"s.. insted of the gas guzzlers... people should come out of this fairy tale fantasies and face reality...

[rover]

Ok guys, Thought I post some useful hints for our Prius owners. Some I gathered from the owner’s manual and the rest is based from my experience. I know some of you guys already know most of these stuff, if so my apology for being a nuisance.

Hybrid driving

The gasoline engine is most efficient when running around 70% maximum. So if you can't press lightly enough on the pedal to accelerate using only electricity, go ahead and press a little harder than usual. That brisk (but not aggressive) increase in speed will save a small amount of gas, resulting in an overall efficiency gain.

Climbing Hills

The hybrid system has two electric motors. When you encounter a large hill, those motors are automatically taken advantage of. The gasoline engine will rev to its most efficient high-power RPM. That provides thrust directly to the tires, generates electricity for the motor, and recharges the battery-pack all at the same time. So to the surprise of many new owners, large hills don’t drain the system. You’ll still have plenty of reserve power available when you reach the top.

On the Highway

Just like with traditional vehicles, efficiency drops the faster you drive on the highway. 96 km/h is more efficient than 113 km/h. Speeding up to 121 km/h, you'll observe kmpl drop even more. It is beneficial to drive slower.

Without the Pack

The large electric motor doesn't actually need electricity from the battery-pack. The gasoline engine generates electricity while you drive for immediate use. So quite frequently, you’ll see on the multi-display that the motor is being fed directly from the engine and the battery-pack isn't being used. Sometimes, while both the engine and motor are providing thrust, the engine will also recharge the battery-pack at the same time.

Stealth Driving

Engine Off

While the gasoline engine is off and you’re driving using just battery power, the mode you’re in is called "stealth" (since the vehicle motion is totally silent).

Invoking "stealth" is easy once the engine has warmed up (and you aren't running the A/C too heavily). While driving, just find a street section without any inclines then lift your foot from the accelerator-pedal. The engine will shut off within a few moments. Once it does, lightly place your foot back on the accelerator-pedal to continue driving with only electricity. Another way to invoke stealth is to just stop completely, that will make the engine shut off.

Up to 68km/h

The 50 kW electric motor is designed to propel the Prius up to 68 km/h. It takes a steady foot though. Slower speeds, like 56 km/h and 48 km/h, are easier. Beyond that maximum speed or in conditions when additional power is needed, the electric motor works in combination with the gasoline engine. Though, you will discover above 68 km/h that there are times when the engine will spin (pistons in motion) without any fuel being consumed; it is a normal function of the Planetary-CVT.

Acceleration

Accelerating in "stealth" can be very slow. Also using the gasoline engine is both quicker and more efficient, so don't be afraid to consume a little bit of gas. Remember that even if you use the battery and get "+100 kmpl", the engine must run later to recharge it. So short-term gains may actually result in an overall loss.

I have seen that most Prius owners have been criticized for slow driving causing undesirable traffic conditions. Driving too slow to gain kmpl figures is absolutely not necessary in a city like Colombo, as our traffic conditions are ideal for getting automatically hypermiled in a Prius.

"B" Mode

On/Off Anytime

You can engage or disengage engine-braking at anytime while driving.

Engine-Braking

Avoid using this mode unless absolutely necessary, since it will cause kmpl to drop. There is no charging benefit over regular (foot pedal) braking either.

"B" mode works like an exhaust brake on a large truck (except, it's totally silent). The engine is used to slow down the vehicle, allowing you to reduce reliance on the regular brakes. So for steep declines, like driving down a mountain, it's a great way to avoid overheating caused by friction from the brake drums & shoes.

I have used this mode few times while driving down steep hills and I found that the traction is increased considerably and have more control of the car.

87 Octane Gas

Prius was designed to run with 87 Octane gasoline (85 in high altitudes). Some owners in other countries have experimented with higher octanes, but found there wasn't any kmpl improvement. Also, bear in mind that higher octane gasoline may trigger an emission sensor alert. So just save money and continue using the less expensive 90 octane gas (since 87 Octane is not available in SL). Once I saw a Prius refueling 95 Octane gasoline. A typical example for a new Prius owner.

[VVTi]

THat's a lot of work to save a few liters of gas...

[Supra_Natural]

THat's a lot of work to save a few liters of gas...

I was just thinking the same thing.

[AbeysinghE]

I don't know whats wrong with some people who owns Prius, I'm also owning a Prius but I don't damn care about zero emissions environmental friendly so n so. There may be a different reason for different people to buy a Prius, whats all these fuss about.If your requirements met by your car, just damn shut up and use your car, Just don't spend time to promote it or convince people who are not at all interested to it.I see Californikan and Rover is just wasting their time + others important time as well.

Edited June 21, 2011 by AbeysinghE

[rover]

I don't know whats wrong with some people who owns Prius, I'm also owning a Prius but I don't damn care about zero emissions environmental friendly so n so. There may be a different reason for different people to buy a Prius, whats all these fuss about.If your requirements met by your car, just damn shut up and use your car, Just don't spend time to promote it or convince people who are not at all interested to it.I see Californikan and Rover is just wasting their time + others important time as well.

Chill it mate! I'm doing this only when I have some free time. I'm not wasting my time. If You think I'm wasting your time just stop clicking "hybrid maintenance". That's the only thread which YOU THINK is wasting YOUR time.So act now. Save your important time. Thanks for your time.

Edited June 21, 2011 by rover

[AbeysinghE]

Chill it mate! I'm doing this only when I have some free time. I'm not wasting my time. If You think I'm wasting your time just stop clicking "hybrid maintenance". That's the only thread which YOU THINK is wasting YOUR time.So act now. Save your important time. Thanks for your time.

Didn't mean to throw stones at you.May be the way I said it bit harsh,sorry about that mate..just wanted to end this topic that has become a thread with unnecessary arguments

[rover]

Didn't mean to throw stones at you.May be the way I said it bit harsh,sorry about that mate..just wanted to end this topic that has become a thread with unnecessary arguments

No problamo.

Edited June 21, 2011 by rover

[jdnet]

since 87 Octane is not available in SL

That statement alone, proves just how much these google-toyota hybrid boys know......

[Pericles]

Personally, I'd say good job to rover and get on with my life.

That statement alone, proves just how much these google-toyota hybrid boys know......

I don't think car owners are allowed to drive up to those 3-wheeler only fuel pumps

[jdnet]

Personally, I'd say good job to rover and get on with my life.

True but I'm shocked at these new hybrid drivers who pump 90 octane (RON) petrol instead of the U.S. website recommended 87 octane (PON) petrol. Think of all the lost KMPLs.

[rover]

90 Octane (RON)= 87 Octane (PON)

95 Octane (RON)= 91 Octane (PON)

[terrabytetango]

It's threads like this that make me thankful for driving a 17 year old vehicle (our family having owned it for 13 of those years) with which the biggest issue I've had to date were the gremlins in the a/c.