HYBRIDS ARE NOT SO GREEN!

From Dealers Edge

CNW Marketing Research Inc. collected data on the energy necessary to plan, build, sell, drive, and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage. The results included a "dollars per lifetime mile" figure, also deemed the "energy cost per mile driven."

According to the report, the most "energy expensive" vehicle sold in the United States in calendar-year 2005 was the Maybach at $11.58 per mile. The least expensive vehicle was the Scion xB at $0.48 cents.

However, the report found that driving a hybrid vehicle costs more in terms of overall energy consumed than did comparable non-hybrid vehicles. One example compared Honda models: The Honda Accord Hybrid had an energy cost per mile of $3.29, while the conventional Honda Accord was $2.18.

According to the report, while the industry average of all vehicles sold in the United States in 2005 was $2.28 cents per mile, the Hummer H3 was only $1.949 cents per mile. That figure is also lower than all currently offered hybrids and the Honda Civic at $2.42 per mile. For the complete list of all vehicles sold in the U.S. in calendar year 2005 and their energy cost, visit www.cnwmr.com and click on "Dust to Dust Energy List."