Can a quiet electric car and a Cape Cod Curmudgeon peacefully co-exist?  Although we like to focus on business and law, sometimes a side trip is amusingly  informative.  It seems that our Cape Cod Curmudgeon was walking the dog along the quiet streets of a sleepy community by the water.  Suddenly he had this eerie feeling that he was being followed.  The dog became jumpy, though didn’t bark,  and he turned around.  There was his neighbor driving behind them.

As the driver pulled around them he rolled down the window and laughed, “You both were nearly run over by a Prius.  Pretty quiet car isn’t it?”

The Curmudgeon waved his fist and said a few things that are not fit for this article.  And then mumbled something to us like:  “It’s not the car, it’s the attitude of these self-righteous drivers trying to save the environment.  This is the kind of guy using up paper plates galore for his barbecues! I’m beginning to turn into an anti-greener.”

He did have a point as he decried the use of  gas-guzzling SUVs and “What about the families with one Prius and one gas-guzzler?  Is that supposed to balance out?”

Our Cape Cod Curmudgeon did bring up an interesting point about the quiet Prius.  But those who own one are shouting its praises from the rooftops.  The Prius is indeed a hot seller. And according to this new report, Toyota is well aware that the competition is quietly creeping up.

We like this article by Clare Dear of the National Post:  “Holy hybrid comparo! Fusion, Insight, Prius face off: Surprise winner.”

She reports, “Not typically a company that gets caught looking, Toyota has responded to the increased hybrid competition with an all-new Prius, which has just hit the streets. This third-generation model moves the industry standard to a new level by delivering more room, more power, better fuel efficiency, plus innovative new features to attract buyers.”

She adds:  “The Insight’s big advantage is affordability. It’s the least expensive hybrid on the market, with a starting price of $23,900 for the base LX edition, $3,600 below the Prius. An upgraded premium model, the EX, lists at $27,500 and includes a navigation system with voice recognition.”

For photos and comparison story: Canada.com/ cars

Green Motorist tells us that Zipcar is about to join in the electric vehicle movement.  “Zipcar provides car-sharing services in cities across the United States and the United Kingdom. Additionally, the company operates on more than 100 university campuses across the nation. The company has recently announced plans to launch electric vehicle pods.”  The Green Motorist.com

In terms of  pricing, you all know the route to  Edmunds.com

A shade of green, but not really — a case for a biodiesel: Now if you MUST drive a heavy duty vehicle that is not necessary green but is apparently respectful of the environment,  this video from GreenCar has some good advice.  And for more about biodiesel,  articles by KJ Collins in this on-line magazine, are a must-read!

Happy Driving!/ Rita Watson

Copyright 2009 Rita Watson