[Lorenzo]

While no decisions have been made yet for a possible hybrid model of the HRV after the petrol model makes its debut late winter we should get some fumes for a hybrid.

The Honda Vezel similar to the American HRV comes equipped with a 1.5-liter direct-injection Earth Dreams engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and 22-kilowatt electric motor. No real figures yet in terms of power but just keep an ear out from Japanese market.

If and when it happens, would you go for the hybrid model?

 

[TrueNorth]

I think that when it comes to hybrids, it totally depends on the price. I'm all for having a more efficient vehicle, but if they charge for it more than the amount of savings in fuel costs you are going to get in the end, I don't think that it is worth it.

I guess the other part of this is how fuel efficient the hybrid model ends up being as well. There just isn't really enough info out on it to say for sure.

 

[vtec]

Hybrid is a must, but could it be possible they they make a diesel version available in other countries?

 

[Red]

Well according to the bird Honda is going to wait for the gasoline model to establish itself before ramping up Hybrid production. The HRV Hybrid would have to be built in Mexico however as there would be too much of an exchange rate loss to import them from Japan...

 

[vtec]

Good move on their part, petrol engines STILL have a long way to go and a good amount of room for "growth" still so much to extract from them.

 

[cfrp]

considering almost all hondas come in hybrid trim i wouldnt be surprised

 

[Harry_Wild]

Hybrid is a must, but could it be possible they they make a diesel version available in other countries?

Hybrid models other then the Prius do not sell well in the $20K-$60K range. Above that price; there is again some demand but still gas only is still 97% of sales.

 

[vtec]

good to know. i though hybrid sales were good. where did you get that info?

 

[Harry_Wild]

good to know. i though hybrid sales were good. where did you get that info?

The insert link pushbutton does not seem to work, so here is the link below:

http://www.hybridcars.com/march-2014-dashboard/


Hybrids sold in the U.S. (March 2014): 43,790
Hybrid Take-Rate: 2.86%

It from Hybrid Cars!

 

[Red]

The insert link pushbutton does not seem to work, so here is the link below:

http://www.hybridcars.com/march-2014-dashboard/


Hybrids sold in the U.S. (March 2014): 43,790
Hybrid Take-Rate: 2.86%

It from Hybrid Cars!

the insert link button will turn text into hotlinks, otherwise just posting the link will work.

hybrids suffer because of the added premium that never gets paid back, people are smarter than that despite their best efforts. I'd like to see the take rate for the MKZ as its the only hibby sold at par with the gasser.

and now consider this from Japan:

Honda has reported that over 86% of initial orders for the Vezel were for hybrid models. Such numbers certainly reflect the times. So you might say there’s no reason for a gasoline version to exist in the first place…but I don’t think that’s the case at all.

 

[vtec]

thats a lot of hybrid models to be sold, i wonder if this will be consistent with other nations that get the hybrid model or if it will be different in some ways.

 

[cfrp]

id say globally there is a push for hybrid vehicles

not just north america.

 

[Red]

Hybrid vehicles are not going to save the planet. Think about this, the problem the world has is human lifestyle, we're trying to solve a lifestyle problem with lifestyle products. Hybrids and EV's are just a stylized image of doing something.

A dependance on fossil fuels is the issue at hand, and before you get all snarky and tell me hybrids use less fuel, consider where they are produced, where does the elctricity come from, where do the batteries come from, where and how are they mined, what energies go into the production of said transportation? And you know what for all Californias focus on greening their state and their perpetual war on cars why do they still have the highest smog levels in the country? OH I know, CARS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM...

Hybrids just kick the can down the road, we can all pat ourselves on the back for doing something progressive to save the earth

Anyways, on that note there has been speculation the HR-V will be electrified...Won't solve anything except a premium extraction from your checkbook...

http://insideevs.com/2015-honda-hr-v-ideal-platform-hondas-next-electric-vehicle/

 

[Harry_Wild]

I had a friend that had an early Prius. It very costly to replace the battery pack! Around $5K in about 5 years time. So, it not a cheap car to maintain! Most people who going to Hybrids never think about replacing the lithium battery. They think it is plug and play like their cordless drill or grass trimmer!


I would not buy a hybrid since it not cost effective!

 

[cfrp]

and the cost to replace the batterys cut right into all those gas savings you've been having

hybrids are a lease type of vehicle

same with electric cars

 

[Ganbare]

thats a lot of hybrid models to be sold, i wonder if this will be consistent with other nations that get the hybrid model or if it will be different in some ways.

Hybrids are particularly popular in Japan thanks in part to tax breaks, but I don't think the hybrid could achieve even a 50% share elsewhere if it were even to be offered. Anyone know what percentage of Jazzes (Fit) sold in Europe are hybrids? That would probably be the best comparison and perhaps justification for Honda to either bring an HR-V hybrid to North America or not. I do think though, because of the new focus and improvement in fuel efficiency in Honda's latest hybrid tech, that looking at previous hybrid sales would be comparing apples to oranges.

 

[vtec]

what are the tax breaks like in Japan?

 

[Ganbare]

what are the tax breaks like in Japan?

I'm not up on the latest as there was recently a tax hike and some of the "eco car" tax exemptions have expired, but I can give you an idea of what it was like when it was started in 2009. There are several different taxes that people pay on cars in Japan:

1. General consumption tax (sales tax). Until April 1 of this year it was 5% on standard cars and 3% on kei cars. Now it is 8% on standard cars and I'm not sure about the current kei car rate. Scheduled to increase further to 10% in an effort to balance the budget.
2. Weight tax. Based on the size of the car and is due on registration and each car inspection (roughly every 2 years).
3. Road tax. Based on the engine size and is due each year.

So in 2009 the government introduced tax exemptions to promote cleaner vehicles. Depending on the car's rating in comparison to the emissions targets they set cars received an exemption from 25% to 100% on the consumption tax and first couple rounds of weight tax. Additionally since hybrids have smaller gas engines compared to similarly sized vehicles they paid less in road taxes every year. 2009 marked the year that the Toyota Prius became the best selling car in Japan and has been every year since until last when its smaller brother the Aqua (Prius C) bumped it to #2 . Since 2009 the hybrid market has grown each year to wher it stands now at about 1 in every 5 cars sold is a hybrid or pure-electric vehicle.

So far this year, about 60% of the Fits and almost 80% of the Vezels sold in Japan are hybrids. And this is after some of those exemptions have either been reduced or expired altogether.

 

[Ganbare]

Hybrid vehicles are not going to save the planet. Think about this, the problem the world has is human lifestyle, we're trying to solve a lifestyle problem with lifestyle products. Hybrids and EV's are just a stylized image of doing something.

A dependance on fossil fuels is the issue at hand, and before you get all snarky and tell me hybrids use less fuel, consider where they are produced, where does the elctricity come from, where do the batteries come from, where and how are they mined, what energies go into the production of said transportation? And you know what for all Californias focus on greening their state and their perpetual war on cars why do they still have the highest smog levels in the country? OH I know, CARS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM...

Hybrids just kick the can down the road, we can all pat ourselves on the back for doing something progressive to save the earth

Anyways, on that note there has been speculation the HR-V will be electrified...Won't solve anything except a premium extraction from your checkbook...

http://insideevs.com/2015-honda-hr-v-ideal-platform-hondas-next-electric-vehicle/

Actually studies that have taken into account the energy and resources needed to manufacture batteries for hybrids still conclude that they are "greener" than gasoline only cars. Also keep in mind that technology to recycle the batteries and the percentage of electricity produced from renewable resources is only going to increase in the future. So while I agree with you that they are only a bridge to less dependence on fossil fuels, I am equally confused by all the anti-hybrid rhetoric coming from fellow motorists.

 

[Red]

Actually studies that have taken into account the energy and resources needed to manufacture batteries for hybrids still conclude that they are "greener" than gasoline only cars. Also keep in mind that technology to recycle the batteries and the percentage of electricity produced from renewable resources is only going to increase in the future. So while I agree with you that they are only a bridge to less dependence on fossil fuels, I am equally confused by all the anti-hybrid rhetoric coming from fellow motorists.

Because they don't wean us off of fossil fuels. My issue is not WITH hybrids, some of the technology is unreal. For example Le Mans this weekend, stunning display! MY issues is with the lifestyle promotion. Hybrids are simply an attempt to kick the can down the road, a form of conspicuous consumption designed to make people feel like they've done a ton when their lifestyle remains unaltered. They don't change our dependence on fossil fuels it simply relocates the input. See no evil, speak no evil mentality.

Who commissioned the surveys? Who benefits from their findings? Cui Bono...

The problem is there is no replicating the working power of cheap hydrocarbons. No matter how many battery packs and times we jump up and down screaming ITS DIFFERENT THIS TIME, its always a losing trade. This is what people don't get (you might, I'm not sure) we're in a world of diminishing NET Energy and hybrids do not change that fact one bit... Neither will solar, wind or hydro (what form of energy is used to construct wind farms or Hydro dams or manufacturing solar panels?)

It will always be about oil. If we really want to do ourselves a favour we need to start designing a world that IGNORES oil. That includes manufacturing, shipping and consumption, but that's HARD isn't it because EVERYTHING you see around you was built on the back of cheap hydrocarbons. We're talking about reverting to the mean, PRE industrial revolution, localized clusters of small communities supporting each other because all you've got are legs, or a horse if you're lucky. Ah but that doesn't sell, its not a sexy world view that we can bandy on talk shows and its certainly not a money making world view. Much easier to save the planet this way

This rant was not directed AT you, Its just your comment was the jumping off point

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