Why can't the Dem Leadership set an example and start driving Hybrids instead of

[mod mom]

of gas guzzling huge FUVs and other large vehicles. They need to start ordering fleets of hybrids to replace current government vehicles. I pass the Ohio governors mansion while taking my kids to school (and before someone questions why I am driving my kids, please note we live 1.2 miles from school and we have a huge amount of snow/snowslush and I drive a Prius) and parked along the governors mansion are FUVs, Town cars and other large vehicles. I realize Strickland just took office, but I really think it is time to lead by example and help rid the links that drive us to war and ruin our planet. (and financially benefit bu$h cronies)

Edwin Black, author of Internal Combustion (and many other fine books) has made the suggestion that it will take purchasers of fleets to make a big difference. So come on Dem Leadership, step up to the plate and lead!

:rant:

[DrRang]

1. Whoooo Hooo! Tesla Motors is coming to Albuquerque

TM will build its first assembly plant for a totally electric hybrid sedan in Albuquerque. Gets the equivalent of 110 miles per gallon. These things seem to be potentially better than hybrids. Carry the possibility of using electricity generated by wind/solar, then you just plug it in at night, for a range of 250 miles. Bill Richardson went for this one big time, and he's pledged to buy at least 100 for the state fleet. At this point, they will sell for about $49,000. Too steep for us, but about the same as a lot of other upper end of general use cars. And supposedly they are total muscle cars, not putt-putts.

[mod mom]

3. My husband is on sustainability list servs and it is amazing the number of high

efficiency vehicles available outside the us. $49,000 is high but purchasing large quantities will help drive down the cost.

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. wtg Bill!

w00T!

:thumbsup:

[Rose Siding]

2. Pelosi: "I want a hybrid"

As House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi can appoint people to high-level commissions and direct millions of federal dollars to her district. But the lawmaker from San Francisco can't pick her own car. For security reasons, congressional leaders are required to ride in vans or sport-utility vehicles driven by Capitol Hill police. Pelosi, worried about environmental impact, is no longer content to ride in a gas-guzzling black Chevy Suburban. "I want a hybrid," she told TIME last week. A few Governors and mayors have already switched to hybrid cars for their official use. But so far, Pelosi says, security officials have yet to find her a sufficiently up-armored hybrid. U.S. Capitol Police declined to comment on the required specifications.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1142286,00.html?promoid=googlep

[youngdem]

4. Part of the concern would be security

I would not want Pelosi in a Prius hybrid. Too many wingnuts and sexist idiots that wish harm to any woman in charge, especially a proud, smart liberal like Pelosi. The larger SUV's are armored.

I would imagine an armored Prius would be impossible and/or pointless.

That said, she is responsible enough to still want one, but the Secret Service will never allow it.

[Bombtrack]

5. Bill Clinton got a custom made (armored) Mercury Mariner hybrid

I don't know how expensive that is. Might be out of question for most state budgets. But for federal leadership it might be a good move.

[youngdem]

7. Honest question - Does the armoring counter the gas savings?

I don't know.

I guess it would be a little better, at least.

Also, do they drive enough miles to really matter? I mean, don't VIP's travel VERY short distances by car from the helipad or airport, or from the WH to the Hill?

Are they going on three hour drives very often? Otherwise, this is probably much ado about nothing.

I guess it is a good symbolic move, but in reality the energy spent to manufacture new cars to replace the vehicles they already have that are undoubtedly in perfect shape will outstrip the savings realized by driving an armored Prius a few hundred miles a year.

[Bombtrack]

8. The Mercury Mariner Hybrid easily has twice the MPG of your normal high security SUV

without the armor on either and therefor it stands to reason the difference would be similar comparing the 2 vehicles with the armor.

It's not a choice between an unarmored regular engine and an armored hybrid. It's a choice between 2 armored trucks basically, so the hybrid is going to save gallons and money.

[youngdem]

12. I suppose you are right....

Every little bit helps.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Lincolns, Mercedes and some Cadillacs are armoured. nt

[aztc]

9. The hybrids that passed me were consuming more fuel.

From www.Drive55.org

This Real World Vehicle Efficiency Report documents a 264 mile round trip from Sacramento to Guerneville, California on August 11, 2006. The rented 2006 Toyota Corolla 4 door equipped with A/C and a 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engine with automatic transmission carries an estimated MPG of 30 in the city and 38 on the highway.


As usual, in town I carefully obeyed all speed limits and when I was on the highway I set the cruise control at 55 MPH and occasionally hit 60 for brief periods. I turned the A/C system off and rolled the windows down about halfway instead. Though it was a warm day I was not unduly uncomfortable - especially when I thought about the citizens of Bagdad living with just 4 hours a day of electricity, and how uncomfortable that must be. Soon I was in the Bay Area and it was a cool 70 degrees anyway! So, by not using the A/C I saved another 20% of fuel.

The car was very comfortable and had lots of room. I took the wheels off my bike and the whole thing fit nicely in the trunk with room to spare. When I refueled it took 6.56 gallons and the odometer indicated I had driven 264 miles, which works out to 40.24 miles per gallon, or 40 MPG in this $12k-$15k car available to buy right now.

The hybrids that passed me were consuming more fuel.

[KoKo]

11. Nancy Pelosi is being driven in a hybrid...she specially requested

one and when they didn't have one...they found one for her.

[mod mom]

13. YEAH! SPEAKER PELOSI!

[Tyler Durden]

14. How about "BRING BACK THE EV-1"?

Or the Electric RAV-4?
Or the TH!NK vehicle?

We HAD all electric cars, and other alternatives exist. Hybrids are a scam to keep us using at least SOME gasoline, or ARCHER/DANIELS/MIDLAND brand ethanol.

The electric tech is already there; why not just USE IT instead of playing stop-gap. AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN?????