While your argument is valid, it falls short of addressing the real benefits of the Prius.
For example, I drive a Prius for work reasons in/for the City of Toronto. All trips are 90% city driving. Toronto City traffic is terrible just like any other major city. In fact I can Walk a city block faster than getting there in a car. But sometimes you need a vehicle to carry large items and other materials.
My argument is this; On a 1 hour drive in the city I am stopped more than 60% of the time. All this time there engine is COMPLETELY off. This means i'm cutting down my idling time to none.
So think of it this way, I can be siting in traffic all day long without emitting a single gram of pollutant. Doesn't that make sense? To achieve the same results in a gas car, you'd have to turn it off every-time you hit a light.
Gas powered cars had more than half a century to evolve, while the hybrid technology is just budding. Hydrogen powered/full electric cars are not viable, yet...Once we figure out how to supply hydrogen safely there will be no reason not to switch to Hydro-cars.
I dont know if you've driven the new Prius. It holds its own when it comes to performance, its in class of course. That electric motor/engine combination has so much torque when going up hills. (and its instant) On the hwy its not a slow poke and I pass semi's confidently.
In Europe they do not get nearly the amount of snow we see every winter here in Canada. I like to see a little 3 cylinder make it through a foot of snow everyday.
You can argue that most Prius purchases are because of the mee-too attitude, or pseudo environmentalism. And since you are coming from an "engineering" perspective, you can certainly appreciate the topics I've brought up.
Finally, if you dont want to be bored while driving take a look at the TCH. It is lots of fun to drive while still getting an average economy of 40+ MPG
OH: I forgot to say that the new Prius' have a electric AC compressor, so that it can run off the battery instead of the gas engine.
Thanks for listening,
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CamBOT
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