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Has anyone checked into a hybrid van?
No, but I would rather have dodge sprinter anyway. I think hybrid is still to new. Also you have unhook something every oil change. So a customer told me. So she has to take it in the dealer every oil change.
what I’ve seen is what money you save in gas does not make up for the extra money added to the sticker price.
What I read was about cars but I would think they would have some of the same problems. Insurance is higher because the cost of repair is higher and so forth. What they showed was that over five years you wouldn’t make up the cost of the extra money for purchase.
My father-in-law works for haliburton and was talking with me about hybrids and had a good point. He said that they may help evironmentally and economically but they still use electricity when you charge the car up for your next trip or what not. With a higher demand in electricity you still get the high demand of oil to produce the energy. So, in other words, stick with your gas guzzler.
Mike Nowlin
Mike,
I think your Father in Law is confused about the difference between Hybrids and Electric cars. He is correct if we are talking about Electric cars but not Hybrids. A Hybrid doesn’t require you to plug it in from and outside source. A hybrid has both a Gas engine and an electric engine (battery powered), at low speeds the electric engine is on then when needed or higher speeds the Gas engine kicks in and then recharges the batteries. The idea is that the electric gets the car moving and in heavy traffic at slow speeds or idling the electric engine is on. I believe this is the way most of the hybrids work at least the ones I checked online about. I also just heard that new batteries were just approved for Cars so the mileage will get even better.
GaryI heard on the radio yesterday that Dodge/Mercedes is testing a new “plug-in” hybrid Sprinter in Los Angeles. The advantage to a plug in is that you can “top-off” the battery overnight. Some folks have converted their standard hybrids into plug-ins, and are able to double their mileage.
We have one (standard) Sprinter now. It gets 22mpg (50% better than our 2003 AstroVan!). We’ll be adding a second Sprinter next month, and then as soon as the hybrids become available, at least one more.
This idea is good on many fronts – firstly, you save $$$ on gas – secondly, better for the enviroment. Finally, what a great way to say to your customers that you are a good corporate citizen!
One more point about the plug in hybrids (not only Sprinters, but cars as well).
The idea is that you plug them in at night – when the demand for electricty is low. That is when electric rates are at their lowest, so the cost for “topping off” is much less than the cost of gas!
Mr. Lowenthal,
Thanks for the info. So, these Sprinters you talk about are pretty good vehicles huh? What do they run you (cost) new or used?
Mike
mucho $$$$
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