UK motoring costs too much: survey
Honda bids to raise enviro-cred with hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid: on sale 1 April
New research revealed at the launch of Honda’s Civic Hybrid car shows that British drivers are ignorant when it comes to understanding greener motoring.
The research, carried out by TNS on behalf of Honda UK, questioned 1,200 British drivers on their attitudes towards the environment and their understanding of alternative fuel vehicles.
More than half (51 per cent) of British motorists were not even aware of hybrid cars. Of the drivers who said they knew of hybrids, more than 40 per cent didn't know that it was a car that uses both petrol and electric power. Incorrect responses ranged from the intelligent guess ("a car that uses a combination of fuels") to the bizarre ("two cars welded together" or "a car made by more than one manufacturer").
The research also asked people to name a type of alternative fuel vehicle and a huge 82 per cent failed to mention the petrol-electric hybrid car. Hybrids are as easy to use and refuel as a standard petrol car, said Honda, but people were more likely to quote LPG (far more complex for a day-to-day motorist) or fully electric cars (impractical because of the frequent need to stop and recharge).
People were even less aware of the potential cost savings of owning a hybrid car. Only 35 per cent of those surveyed correctly associated hybrids with lower fuel costs. Very few knew that hybrids entitled the owner to reduced company car tax (four per cent), lower road fund tax (two per cent) and the 100 per cent discount from the London congestion charge (two per cent).
The research shows British drivers are more likely to be motivated by money rather than by environmental responsibility. When the 73 per cent who said they were unlikely to buy a hybrid were asked what would make them consider one, the top factor (43 per cent) was "if I was sure running costs would be lower" followed by "if petrol became too expensive" (34 per cent). This substantiates the number one reason for rejecting a hybrid: "too expensive" (34 per cent).
Similarly, of the 18 per cent who would consider a hybrid car, the top motivating factor was lower fuel costs (54 per cent) rather than environmental benefits (39 per cent).
When asked who should be responsible for encouraging better take up of greener vehicles, 70 per cent suggested the Government or car manufacturers (35 per cent each).
Less than a fifth (17 per cent) of drivers saw it as their own responsibility to lessen the environmental impact of their vehicles.
However, Honda didn't ask questions about the effect of today's battery-based hybrid technology on residuals. These are likely to be affected by the very expensive cost of replacing worn-out batteries, although the relatively small number of hybrids on the road and the recentness of their emergence makes this calculation difficult.
The clear message from the survey is that UK motorists believe that motoring is too expensive.
The cost of the technology is currently too high, which is reflected in the price of the vehicles (most are made at a loss), it doesn't make economic sense for the private buyer to purchase.
Now a diesel hybrid may offer significant benefits, such as over 100mpg, much much cleaner due to the smaller engine. Adjusting the regulations for say Euro 7, such that for diesel hybrids, the engine without the effect of electric support it has to meet emissions standards. Improving so called enviromental impact. Such that you could have a 'performance' car and be hybrid and/or diesel.
annodomini2 said:
The real problem is that there is little benefit, if none, of a petrol hybrid over a diesel car in terms of economy and probably not performance.
The cost of the technology is currently too high, which is reflected in the price of the vehicles (most are made at a loss), it doesn't make economic sense for the private buyer to purchase.
Now a diesel hybrid may offer significant benefits, such as over 100mpg, much much cleaner due to the smaller engine. Adjusting the regulations for say Euro 7, such that for diesel hybrids, the engine without the effect of electric support it has to meet emissions standards. Improving so called enviromental impact. Such that you could have a 'performance' car and be hybrid and/or diesel.
Except that petrol engine emmissions are much cleaner, smaller particulates etc.
While people still fly all over the world in jumbo jets then it makes no difference anyway whether we drive around in cars powered by cow farts or whatever.
www.a123systems.com/html/news/articles/051102_news.html
Hybrids tend to have the advantage in town, where they run on there battery more of the time. On the open road, they tend to rely on the petrol engine, so fuel economy suffers.
Added to this, there have been concerns raised regarding safety after crashes, where high voltage cables may be run around the vehicle in places that they are not for conventional vehicles. It is felt that this may expose emergency services to danger whe aiding a trapped driver.
They also have the support of Ken Livingstone, so in my book you shouldn't touch one.
I would imagine that very few people actually look at the MPG of a car before they buy it, I would imagine that insurance costs are more of a concern.
And despite the daily bullying by the media regarding artificial climate change I've yet to meet anyone that actually believes in it.
amare32 said:
ALL HONDA CARS LOOK SHIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
(repeated enough to make it necessary to scroll left to right to read the post, which is ferkin irritating
Looking at what else has been on the market, I would say in general the Honda designers have been doing well - OK so the Jazz and such other stuff doesn't quite fit into the bill, but then disabled vehicles never have had the greatest styling.
amare32 said:
ALL HONDA CARS LOOK SHIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
Someone who is silly enough to hold Ctrl+V a billion times has no life, so how could he/she know anything about looks.
Hondas aren't the most attractive cars but they are very ahead of the times with technology and do last forever (apart from the a/c, sometimes).
qube_TA said:
And despite the daily bullying by the media regarding artificial climate change I've yet to meet anyone that actually believes in it.
To not believe that climate is changing quicker due to excessive carbon dioxide production is a form of denial, which is easy to justify as that means "we" have to do nothing at all...
Conversely,to believe that climate change in the most part is contributed to by any one form of CO2 emissions, is also madness. Cars are the obvious target due to how quickly we can replace them and the relatively low cost. Planes, manufacturing plants, powerstations etc are a bit trickier to make "greener".
What we will always struggle with, is the governments of the world appeasing Industry in this area. Would be nice if capitalism also had a social conscience rather than the frequent empty gestures we all see
BTW: CO2 is also exhaust gas from every animal on Earth, so perhaps they need to discuss population control aswell!
blunder13 said:
ALL HONDA CARS LOOK SHIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
Someone who is silly enough to hold Ctrl+V a billion times has no life, so how could he/she know anything about looks.
Hondas aren't the most attractive cars but they are very ahead of the times with technology and do last forever (apart from the a/c, sometimes).
Yeah I have no tastes: I used to have an S2 Elise, E46 M3 and will soon be getting into the new RS4.
When next year rolls round, I guess it'll be a toughie to choose between a 996 GT2 or a Honda Hybrid...
Look people need to chill, I was just expressing my opinion on how crap Honda styling have become (IMO). The NSX-R is the type of cars Honda should be developing, not have the whole range resembling an MPV garage. They have tried to be inventive but I feel the new Civic is looking dated already.
Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff