CodeVerity

Prius Owners are Environmentalist Posers

Thursday, May 13 2010

The big push to own a more fuel efficient vehicle and help the environment seems to be what drove the popularity of the Prius:

Photo from: www.treehugger.com

There are a lot of skeptics out there when it comes to how environmentally friendly the Prius actually is. There is little doubt that the environmental cost of manufacturing a Prius, especially the hybrid technologies in it, are far greater than comparable non-green technologies, but let’s just say that doesn’t matter…

I believe Prius owners are posers because here in New England not a day goes by that I don’t get passed on one of our highways by a Prius that is clearly doing 15-25 (yes 25) MPH over the speed limit. Now, I know those pesky black and white signs are just suggestions and they only really count when a state trooper is nearby but come on. If you went and spent the extra money to own an “environmentally friendly” vehicle, it seems logical that you would be aware of the fact that the faster you go, the worse gas mileage you get.

The more gas you burn, the less friendly a car you drive. Hold on, you might say. I still get better gas mileage than you! So what is my answer (and at 75 I doubt it). You are “saving” the environment by not burning as much gas when you drive 75 or 80mph. That is a fallacious argument. You can’t save anything by spending more. It’s like saying “it was on sale so I bought two.” You still spent $500 even though you saved $100. That “Saved” isn’t money that someone put back in your pocket, it’s money you didn’t give away. The same goes for burning fuel. Just because your car is fuel efficient, doesn’t mean you can drive faster and burn more fuel (setting aside the obvious safety issues of doing 80 in that tiny thing).

Own a Prius? Don’t be a poser. If you want to drive 80, then go buy a Ford Mustang Cobra that way you aren’t trying to lie to yourself and everyone else.