I notice that a lot of hybrid models only get about 5 to 10 more MPG that the regular (and cheaper) standard versions of the same car. Is it better (for environment and pocketbook) to get a 50+ MPG Diesel and use bio fuel, or go with the hybrid?
by 
Tom
ANSWERS: 4
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If you do a thorough life-cycle analysis of a product or service, you'll usually (but not always) find that the cheapest way of doing something has the least environmental impact. That seems to be true with hybrid cars, too, though you could say that buying them today funds the research that will make them truly energy-efficient in the future. My sister-in-law gave me a booklet called 99 ways to save the earth and we were already doing about 95 of them, not because I'm so eco-friendly but because I'm such a blooming cheapskate. I squeeze the nickel till the Indian rides the buffalo (oops, buffalo belching adds a lot to carbon emissions!)
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I am not completely sold on hybrids and need to do a bit more research. With good driving habits (for fuel conservation) it is possible to get 50 mpg with a Honda civic (and other small cars with good fuel mileage ratings). I have not looked into it but have heard that the replacement of the battery bank (batteries can only be cycled so many times before they loose the ability to retain their charge) is very expensive. You need to figure large maintenance items like this into the owing and operating cost of the vehicle. The other draw back of hybrid vehicles is that once you take those poisonous batteries out of the car what do you do with them? I assume that they are recycled but if not there could be a negative environmental impact associated with the disposal of all these batteries.
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It's probably about a wash, but it depends on how you like to drive. If you like to drive and tap the vehicle's power at least on occasion, then get the diesel with a manual. If you like to simply put it in drive and putter around, then the hybrid is more suited to your needs. Likewise, diesels are far more efficient highway cruisers than hybrids.
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It depends on how you drive the hybrid. The MPG ratings are averages. If you're in stop-and-go NYC traffic on a daily basis, for example, some hybrids get 99+ miles to the gallon, since most of the time it's running on electricity. Hybrids, however, aren't the thing to drive on road trips cross-country.
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