Toyota backs Prius environmental claims

Posted Mon Jul 9 2007 12:38 PM by Alex Kaufmann

Toyota’s Prius hybrid has come under fire recently for not being as eco-friendly as its maker would have you believe but now, one of its key developers, Toyota’s US manager of its Advanced Technologies Group Bill Reinert, has come out defending the car. Last year, a study conducted by CNW Marketing-Research revealed that the energy cost per mile for the Prius was $3.25 over 100,000 miles. To put that into perspective, the behemoth Hummer H2’s energy cost was only $1.95 per mile over 300,000 miles.

According to Reinert, the methodology behind the findings was questionable and that the research firm hasn’t released any of its data to be independently scrutinized. The Toyota staffer also claims the findings have been refuted “by every top science group of the world,” reports GoAuto.

The Toyota Prius is not the only hybrid to be criticized for not being as green as its maker claims. Honda is being sued because an owner of its Civic Hybrid claims his car doesn’t come anywhere near meeting the advertised mileage claim of 49mpg in the city and 51mpg on the highway. Honda’s ad claimed the car could travel up to 650 miles on a single tank, which would mean drivers have to average 51mpg. The California man suing the carmaker, John True, claims he averaged just 32mpg after driving 6,000 miles.

Reader Comments

Mon Jul 9 2007 10:25 PM
Apex Alex says

LOL! if ever a person picked a WRONG and DECEITFUL screen name, it is Logic!

his post is almost as bad as the CNW article that claimed a hummer is greener than a prius! which even the original writer - a college kid, 'ace reporter' wannabe- has disclaimed.

Logic, why don't you finish HS or at least get a GED, go to college and learn some REAL logical thinking!
Mon Jul 9 2007 11:53 PM
Gus says

I fully agree, Hybrids are not all they are cracked up to be.
Not only do they not deliver the claimed mileage, they are much more complex, and when the batteries wind up not holding as much of a charge (as all batteries eventually do) then they will need to be replaced at who knows how much more money and environmental impact.
As far as cost to the customer, I have read in numerous places that for the extra money a Prius costs over a Corolla, it takes about 100,000 miles to recoup the costs. By then the added complexity will make for some interesting out-of-warranty repair costs, I'm sure.
Unless it's a plug-in, it makes no sense to me whatsoever, and even the plug-in better be cheaper right from the get go. I look forward to the evolution of this technology, but I'm not lining up at the dealer just yet...
Tue Jul 10 2007 3:17 AM
Al Gore says

Gosh, \"Logic,\" you must be right! Your succinct, yet eloquent argument really made me go back to the drawing boards. ***,\" that just crystalizes your awesome intellect!

Since you\'re not using your thorazine, could you share the left overs? Jr. didn\'t leave any of those around.

Big Al.
Tue Jul 10 2007 7:05 AM
admin says

Let's keep this clean. Logic, please no more swearing or we will have to remove your comments.

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