Treehugging Hummer?
The erroneous contention that a Hummer is more efficient and earth-friendly than a Prius over the vehicles' lifetime has sailed across the net for months. The argument defies common sense, and has been debunked repeatedly. The "studies" were flawed by design, but they served the purpose of sowing confusion and doubt. The point by point rebuttal to this nonsense can be found here and here. To take just one point, it is presumed that a Hummer will drive more miles than a Prius, thus spreading out its environmental impact over a longer period of time. Huh? So, when we saw the picture to the right, we had to wonder: is this Hummer a rolling advertisement for bad science or just a twisted sense of humor?
[Source: Where is Holden? h/t to Stefano P.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gsolman6 10:46AM (3/24/2008)
I don't doubt that there may be some phases or aspects of the Hummer's development that might be more efficient than a Prius' but its still not enough to cancel out the real world 15mpg to 42mpg disparity. Isn't the driving part of a vehicle's lifetime responsible for 80%-85% of its impact? If so there is no way you could add that up in the Hummer's favor.
The fact that wiki describes CNW as an "automotive marketing research company" is all I need to know that there is bias in the equation.
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Mike Simpson 10:45AM (3/24/2008)
Check out a real LCA (life-cycle analysis):
http://rmi.org/images/PDFs/Transportation/T07-01_DustToDust.pdf
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kneeslider 11:36AM (3/24/2008)
Don't be too quick to judge. This may be a Johnathan Goodwin Hummer conversion. He does conversions for the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Neil Young, His Hummers are biodiesel, 500 hp, 900 ft lbs of torque and get 19 mpg, more than twice what a stock Hummer gets. He built the 800 hp 25 mpg biodiesel Chevy Impala for Pimp My Ride.
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gsolman6 1:04PM (3/24/2008)
kneeslider: That may figure into future GM engine options but the study was done with the versions available to consumers as is.
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Scatter 1:03PM (3/24/2008)
Also this very polite but thorough demolishing job:
http://www.pacinst.org/topics/integrity_of_science/case_studies/hummer_versus_prius.html
Even if it were running on biodiesel, that Hummer wouldn't be green!
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GSP 2:41PM (3/24/2008)
Hummer drivers are treehuggers too.
*Everyone* loves trees, however some prefer them vertical, others prefer horizontal!
The H2 can be useful to both.
The "vertical people" can use their H2 to go fruther into the woods before they get stuck. Once there, they can enjoy the natural suroundings, and perhaps study the flora and fauna and write up a scientific report.
The "horizontal people" can use the H2 to visit their logging operations in remote locations to supervise their workers.
So, there is nothing suprising about a H2 with "treehugger" plates!
GSP
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Kevin 5:24PM (3/25/2008)
Lets get the facts straight . Hummers are not green now matter what you do to them . (unless they run off of electricity and have a hyrdrogen fuel cell system strapped to their back . )
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GenWaylaid 9:09PM (3/24/2008)
Maybe the owner just intends to wrap the front bumper around a big pine. What better way to hug a tree than with three tons of steel?
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Rick 7:05PM (3/25/2008)
Anyone who spells 'tree' with a '2' has issues in my book.
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