I would be willing to bet that that is so (especially in Los Angeles) but I mean does converting ever car into a hybrid really do much in terms of energy savings? I would be willing to bet that in a sort time the energy consumption of the world would soon reach pre-hybrid levels. <br>
<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2008/5/14 Rae Yip <<a href="mailto:rae.yip@gmail.com">rae.yip@gmail.com</a>>:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Don't forget regenerative braking; this is a big win for hybrid and<br>
electric vehicles because it saves wear and tear on the brake pads as<br>
well as improving mileage.<br>
<br>
So even if the Prius loses 1/3 of the energy it stores in the<br>
batteries, much of that energy would simply have been discarded in a<br>
regular car - 100% loss!<br>
<br>
Naturally, you don't something for nothing. As people have said,<br>
there's added weight. But I doubt the auto makers would add a<br>
component that wasn't a net gain, and the real world data bears it<br>
out.<br>
<br>
In stop-and-go traffic (is there any other sort in LA?), I'm fairly<br>
certain hybrid vehicles are more efficient, no matter how well you<br>
follow your car's fuel consumption map.<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
-Rae.<br>
</font></blockquote></div><br>