A 2009 engineering study of modern vehicles showed the Toyota Prius has a much larger carbon footprint and petroleum energy usage than thought before when all factors are considered. But Toyota also says that the UCLA Engineering study uses an unrealistically low estimated lifetime for hybrids, and that there's no data to support its assumptions in this. For instance, according to the study the average Prius is expected to go 130,000 miles over its lifetime, while a Hummer H2 would go 220,000 miles. Professor Arnt says about hybrids: “…these are generally secondary vehicles in a household OR they are driven in restricted or short range environments such as college campuses or retirement neighborhoods.”
One other area of the study that some critics have found to be misleading is that it only included the so-called design and development cost of models sold so far, not on the potential volume of that technology in the long run. When you consider ruggedness of design, assembly, the dealer and manufacturing network required to support the vehicle, the Hummer is the clear winner over the Prius.
One other area of the study that some critics have found to be misleading is that it only included the so-called design and development cost of models sold so far, not on the potential volume of that technology in the long run. When you consider ruggedness of design, assembly, the dealer and manufacturing network required to support the vehicle, the Hummer is the clear winner over the Prius.
Considering all factors, the carbon footprint of the Hummer over the life of ownership is almost identical to the Prius with both using regular gasoline. If you consider the new Hummer H2 running on E85 ethanol for 60% of the time the Hummer beats the Prius, the Accord, the Civic, and many foreign econo boxes in petroleum usage and carbon footprint, even when the carbon footprint and energy usage to manufacture E85 is factored in.
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