CNW's 'Dust to Dust' Automotive Energy Report
Added April 2007

As 4wd owners we are under constant attack from the greens. The consensus is that hybrids are a better environmental alternative.
THIS IS SIMPLY NOT CORRECT.
Instead of the envy driven propaganda that seems to be influencing the politicians here are some FACTS to answer our critics.
Any logical evaluation of this issue examines the TOTAL environmental impact of a vehicle from "dust to dust "

The following report shows that when compared to hybrids the only downside to the RRS IS THAT IT TAKES UP MORE SPACE.

Note I am only comparing the RRS to the hybrids......there are many vehicles that are more eco friendly. Also note the somewhat surprising answers as to which vehicles these are.
Some quotes from the report. (note to understand what these $ indexes mean you need to read the report.....they are not simply 'running costs' as we know them.)
"#To be quite up front, there is no actual conclusion to this study. It is, hopefully, only a beginning of a discussion about the social cost of energy.
#To put the data into understandable terms for consumers, CNW translated it into a "dollars per lifetime mile" figure, or the energy cost per mile driven. When looked at from that perspective, the Prius and other hybrids quickly morphed from fuel-sippers into energy-guzzlers.

#The Prius registered an energy-cost average of $3.25 per mile driven.

#Ironically, a Hummer, the brooding giant that has become the bête noir of the green movement, did much better, with an energy-cost average of $1.95 over its expected life span of 300,000 miles. And its crash protection makes it far safer than the tiny Prius."

Data from the report (my interpretation of the data)
#The newly listed Range Rover Sport comes in at $2.420 per mile driven and this does not take into account Land Rover’s carbon offset program.
Furthermore these figures appear to be based on the US market which does not yet have the more fuel efficient diesel engines.

I strongly recommend that you read the FULL report. CLICK HERE.

If you don't want to read all 458 pages then at least read this CLICK HERE

Take particular note of the Nickel mining damage shown here CLICK LINK

It is my opinion that unless we take every opportunity counter the anti 4wd propaganda 'spin' we will suffer more severe legislative restrictions.
More worrying to me is that if the vehicle manufacturers sense that in say 10 years time the 4wd market will be severely reduced they will stop innovative 4wd research and design NOW and I wouldn't blame them.

Nice one ivery!  MY12 SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ebony/Piano/Sidesteps/Privacy/Overfinch Olympus/JLR DRLs