tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424335.post912155986993780021..comments2023-07-31T07:17:53.443-06:00Comments on Lurp's Lounge: The Volttysquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952080446650385939noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424335.post-26814586658636100912012-06-23T06:22:11.409-06:002012-06-23T06:22:11.409-06:00You are awesome. And it's awesome that you ha...You are awesome. And it's awesome that you have a place to park it right outside your workplace! I'm so impressed.Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984958622793967730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424335.post-83676378253102358442012-05-22T22:50:04.381-06:002012-05-22T22:50:04.381-06:00That car is awesome! I would love to own one espe...That car is awesome! I would love to own one especially here in Canada where gas is at about $1.35 a litre. When I get settled in with a job after school I think this will likely be the direction I go because not only will it be about time for a new car, but it fits my lifestyle and future financial goals with family expenses. <br /><br />Not to take this into the political realm too much, but I am afraid we would take some serious heat from a few of our extreme right wing family members who believe anything "green" is evil, which still boggles my mind how wanting a fuel efficient eco-friendly car can be considered a bad thing. Have you caught any flack from driving a eco-car in a state where "green" is a swear word? <br /><br />I think it was a wise purchase on your part and it will save a ton on gas and also lowers your carbon footprint to boot, not bad at all!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10658983375331802829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424335.post-24104803765674199042012-05-22T22:34:44.182-06:002012-05-22T22:34:44.182-06:00Alison just reminded me that I failed to mention i...Alison just reminded me that I failed to mention in this post that we are off-setting the electrical charging of our vehicle with wind-power purchased through Rocky Mountain Power's Blue Sky program. This will add a few bucks to our monthly bill in addition to the costs already outlined.tysquihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03952080446650385939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424335.post-11967616000608955712012-05-22T22:31:05.301-06:002012-05-22T22:31:05.301-06:00EDIT: Our power bills increased $11.94 per MONTH (...EDIT: Our power bills increased $11.94 per MONTH (not per day)...<br /><br />@Sabrina - When the Prius first came out in 2000 (2001 model year) everybody expected the batteries to be the weakest part of the vehicle. When we purchased our Highlander Hybrid last year this was also a concern of ours. We found a Consumer Report article following up the Prius after 10 years of sales in the US. They re-evaluated the 2001 Prii and found that less than 2% of the vehicles had required battery replacements. In addition, the averages for all of the other tests on the vehicles were within 1-2% of their original benchmarks. After that article and others, we felt comfortable purchasing a vehicle with a large battery system.<br /><br />On the Volt, the battery is obviously much larger, but it has the benefit of a decade of R&D as well as a liquid cooling and heating system that runs throughout the battery compartment to ensure that the batteries never get too cold or too hot. With the coddling the Volt's batteries receive I expect them to last a long time. If they don't though, then the battery system is under warranty for 8 years/100,000 miles. We felt this purchase was low-risk as well.<br /><br />On my 9.9 mile drive to work, I used just under 2.3 kWh. At $.087/kWh, my costs are $.0199/mile. In comparison, on the last fill-up of my Prizm (at 36 mpg) my costs were $.0999/mile. I probably average 30 electric miles per working day. At $.0199/mile I expect our electric bills to increase around $11.94 per month. If Rocky Mountain Power had reduced rates during the night-time hours, then I could save even more by setting the car to only charge during those hours. You've got to remember that electric rates in Utah are some of the lowest in the nation, thus making an electric vehicle even more palatable.tysquihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03952080446650385939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424335.post-26265727751319256392012-05-22T22:12:03.541-06:002012-05-22T22:12:03.541-06:00Congrats on the big purchase! It looks really nice...Congrats on the big purchase! It looks really nice. I actually do have a couple of questions for you. First, a few years ago I had read that a downside to the Prius was that the battery technology was new enough that they were certain how long the battery life actually was, but they estimated about 3 - 5 years and then the battery would need to be replaced. That wouldn't be a big deal except the batter cost another $10k. I don't know how batteries are now, or if their estimates came to fruition, but it did make think that kind of built in maintenance cost was a little steep. Have you heard / do you know anything about that?<br /><br />Second, obviously you saving a bundle in gas. Do you have any idea how much more you pay in electricity to charge the car? Our electric bills are already obscene in the summer because we have to do so much cooling. I am curious what kind of effect it would have on an electric bill.Sabrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15431022305793390323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424335.post-52013253527273101922012-05-21T11:26:48.810-06:002012-05-21T11:26:48.810-06:00You crazy tree hugger! ;)You crazy tree hugger! ;)Cherycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04336766755093437799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424335.post-91796976282456874422012-05-21T10:03:45.042-06:002012-05-21T10:03:45.042-06:00Sweet ride.Sweet ride.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04071805147387125008noreply@blogger.com