Hey, we've got some smart people here, so let me run something by you. I was thinking about the problems with gas prices and such... I can't believe I'd be the first person to think of this, so there must be something I'm missing. I think the solution would be to force the auto industry to move into producing hybrid cars.

Similar to how they passed laws on seatbelts, etc... They said that by XXXX year, all vehicles had to have seatbelts equipped. Could the same be done with hybrids? A certain percent of their power comes from gasoline and the rest is electric, right? I'm not sure what those percentages are, but let's say the goal is to get to making cars that run on 50% gas and 50% electricity. A law could be passed saying by XXXX year, all vehicles produced must run on 90% gas/10% electricity, and then slowly bring that gas number down until it reaches 50.

Hybrid cars ARE expensive, but hey, the technology has been around for years now. If the law mandates that hybrids are what have to be made, their prices will come down as more and more are built. Then you have people getting better milage and have to fill up less often, so the high gas prices don't really mean so much. On top of that, if they're filling up less often, that means less demand...which will bring the gas prices down, compounding the effect.

Am I onto something here? Or do you think I've missed a big, glaring problem? I know this is sorta just out of the blue, but I just wanted to see what y'all think.

There's one tiny thing that might get in the way, maybe you've heard of it? It's called the Constitution. Seatbelts were to save lives. Hybrid cars would save people money, yes, but it would be hard to force auto makers to make hybrids. Does anyone know if a particular company has the rights to hybrids? That might be a problem if that's the case.

I'll have to think it over a little more.

Do you really think that race car drivers really care about the price of fuel? My fiance has been paying $4.00 a gallon of 110 octane fuel. It wouldn't work, because people like older cars as well. I'm not going to be caring too much about how much gas my '73 Camaro is going to take, so long as it gets me where I'm going..

Hybrid cars are better for the environment; thus reducing the onslaught of cancer from monoxide poisoning, and saving lives of pedestrians who have to walk or bike down sidewalks built next to roads...

It's a good idea, but cars already run 10% on electricity. What do you think the battery's for? Without a battery, the car doesn't start. Without an alternator, the car doesn't start and the battery doesn't recharge. (The interesting thing though, is that you can disconnect the battery if the alternator's running, because the alternator is what actually powers the car after it's turned on.)

If I remember correctly...

Oh, and HYBRIDS ARE FOR HIPPY TREE-HUGGING LIBERALS

Yeah yeah, I agree about the liberals part, but good lord, if it could solve price problems (or at least alleviate them a bit), I'll cross party lines for that.

As for the Constitution, Michael, how does that figure into it? Nope, no company owns the rights to a hybrid car. It's just the generic name we give to a car whose milage is increased by electricity.

Though i only know of 2 car companys that have succesfully marketed a hybrid vechile... 1) Toyota, about 3-4 years ago and then more recently was Nissan, about 2-3 years ago. But your saying that EVERY car company has to make EVERY car hybrid... It just isnt gonna happen... The fact that everyone would have to buy these cars to benifit from saving fuel... But that means EVERYONE who ones a car would pay say 60000 AUD just for this new car... Now you save on fuel no doubt... but do you know how long it would take to actually make that money back... It wouldnt pay for itself within the near future... I dont see it being a useful or even a viable option. It would be expensive and the fact that (in america) say 500,000,000 people will not say yes to this... It just wont happen... In a dream world filled with fantasy and illusion - it would happen... But this is reality, car companys would have to do billions of dolars worth of modification and research. And car owners would have to spend 60000 AUD - 100000+ US in one big hit... Just to save say... 50 bucks a week in fuel... 100000/50 = 2000. 2000 weeks to make your money, to cut even. 35 years... 35 YEARS! No. This is just not going to happen... in 35 years your gonna be either dead or cars will be completely electronic... so youll have to fork anoith 100000 out again...

Thats my opinion... I dont think that is a viable and intelligent option...

Here is what your missing. Hybrid cars suck! they get shyte for gas milage.
They aren't efficient enough to break even!!!!
WHATS UP SON!?! MY 1994 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA LEAKING OIL AND ANTIFREEZE WITH 150,000 MILES GETS BETTER THAN YOUR PIECE OF SHYTE "Honda Civic" BOIIIII!!!!

Jake my point was that someone could say it's Unconstitutional.

Better gas mileage than the Hummer. *gasp*
Did I just say that?!

OMG, SUV stands for Stupid Useless Vehicle! (Especially when you freaks don't know how to DRIVE them) "OMG, I'm 3 miles away from the other car in the parking lot but I'm big and I'm gonna hit it so I better drive at 0.000001 miles per hour!!!"

Lowell is there even any consumer car that doesn't get better gas milage than a Hummer? Maybe that huge truck (forget what's it called anyone know which one I'm talking about?)

You mean the new Chevy Avalanche?

I think you're right. It gets about 1 mile per gallon.

It wasn't that one. It's lesser known and really expensive, some celebrities have one I think.

Edit: Actually I think it was this.

That doesn't count.

It's diesel.

Fair enough. I didn't think about it being diesel.

Consumer vehicals are desiel. My mom's volkswagen passat is diesel. She gets 34-40+(at times) mpg and its a full size car!
VIVA LA VOLKSWAGEN

When you's say gas, do you's mean petrol, or LPG?
LPG is about half the price of petrol.

BMW released a car running on desiel. Have no idea what its called. But all the upper market cars are bringing out a few models in desiel.

What about bio-desiel?


That chevy avalanche is about the same size as a toyota hilux

half? Nah more like 1/3...I saw LPG at 49 cents.. fuel is sittin round 140... soon 150...

Glad i dont own a car!

We are speaking of gasoline or as you crazy Aussies have said Petrol.

If you guys think diesiel cars are new you are morons.

There not new, its just that the 'upper class' cars are using them now.

Utes or trucks as yous call them, been on desiel for a long time here.

IW, i heard prices hit $1.50/L today in melb.
Its about $1.45/L in Shepp.

LPG is about 66c/L in Nathalia, but like, 50c/L everywhere else... whats the deal
There is only one servo in Nathalia selling LPG, so i guess they can raise it if they want.