KEY POINTS:
Cars are a modern-day "evil" for Auckland City councillor Neil Abel, but driving an electric-petrol hybrid offers him some environmental redemption.
"There is no doubt it is evil, but it's the lesser of the evils," says Mr Abel of the 2001 Toyota Prius he drives to the council chambers whenever he can persuade his wife to part with its keys.
"My wife and I fight over who gets to use it - she usually wins.
"It is an amazing car, it's a wonderful feeling pulling up at the lights in a stream of traffic and not putting fumes into the air."
Mr Abel, a Green Party member, is keen to demonstrate how the car's petrol engine cuts out automatically whenever it comes to a halt in congested Auckland traffic.
"It is like an electric drill - when it stops, everything stops, and you are not burning any fuel and not consuming energy."
Although novices sometimes assume the car has stalled, it moves off effortlessly as soon as the foot goes back on the accelerator, and the driver has to take care not to run over pedestrians who may be lulled into a false sense of security around it.
Even when the car is back in motion, the interplay between its electric motor and petrol engine ensures a high level of fuel efficiency, which is further enhanced on downhill runs by the use of its brakes to re-charge its long-life battery.
As well as harnessing energy which would otherwise be wasted, the regenerative process also reduces wear on environmentally-polluting brake pads.
Although the petrol engine does not kick in at low speeds on flat ground, extra torque provided by a combination of both motors has the car accelerating effortlessly up the Greys Ave hill without the high fuel penalty against conventional vehicles reliant on low gears for fast climbs.
Mr Abel says he gets about 20km a litre from the Prius while driving around the city, and up to 23km on runs to Hamilton to visit his daughter.
A strangely compelling LCD monitor on the dashboard tells him exactly how much fuel is being used, as well as displaying an easy flow diagram of how the motor and engine are working with the battery and brakes.
He bought his pride and joy as a used Japanese import in 2004 for about $25,000 from Auckland's Clean Green Car Company - compared with Toyota's recommended retail tag of $43,650 for a new Prius - and says its performance is worth the price premium over petrol-only vehicles.
He also expects it to last longer than conventional vehicles.
But Mr Abel has a dark secret lurking in his garage. The vehicle he is left with on the days his wife gets the Prius is a turbo-charged Nissan 200 SX.
HOW THEY RATE
* Toyota Prius Hybrid
Price of new car: $43,650.
Engine: 1.5-litre petrol, with electric motor.
Manufacturer's fuel rating: 4.4 litres/100km (91-octane petrol). Toyota says the hybrid combination delivers the power equivalent of a car with a 2.4-litre petrol engine such as its Camry models (price: $36,500, fuel rating: 8.8 litres/100km).
AA EnergyWise rally performance: 4.02 litres/100km (overall winner of 2004 rally, driven by former motor racing champion Chris Amon. Was not entered in 2006 rally).
Running costs over 1622km rally course: Auckland to Wellington return (slightly shorter than 2006 event): $81.42c (at 2004 prices). Carbon dioxide emissions over course: 149.97kg.
Pros and cons: Despite having half the manufacturer's fuel consumption rating of the Toyota Camry, a new Prius would have to be driven for more than 103,473km before reaching break-even point against its higher retail price. But the Prius owner would have the comfort of contributing 10.47 tonnes less carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than if the distance was covered in a Camry, and rising petrol prices would also reduce the payback period. The Clean Green Car Company in Auckland, which has price listings starting at $15,995 for a 2001 Prius, says less engine wear from the hybrid motor configuration means the vehicle tends to hold resale values better than conventional petrol models. Although rechargeable nickel metal-hydride battery packs for the Prius will not last forever, Toyota offers a warranty on those in new vehicles for eight years or 160,000km - whichever comes first - and the Clean Green Car Company says they are far less damaging to the environment than their lead acid counterparts. However, the company does not recommend towing loads with the Prius.
* Honda Civic Hybrid
Price: $35,300.
Engine size: 1.3-litre petrol engine, with electric motor.
Manufacturer's fuel rating: 4.6 litres/100km (91-octane petrol). Honda says the hybrid combination delivers the power equivalent of a car with a 1.8-litre petrol engine, such as its automatic Civic (price: $29,500, fuel rating: 7.4 litres/100km).
AA EnergyWise rally performance: 4.72 litres/100km (overall winner of 2006 rally, for lowest running cost). Rally running cost over 1624km course: $105.80c. Carbon dioxide emissions over the course: 176.34kg.
Pros and cons: Although it has a smaller price premium over its non-hybrid Honda counterpart than the Toyota Prius has over the Camry, the fuel consumption saving is also lower. That gives the Civic Hybrid a break-even point of 131,938km, assuming a continuation of today's petrol prices. Carbon dioxide emission savings over that distance would amount to just under 8.5 tonnes. Honda also funds the planting of 10 native trees for each car sold, whether hybrid or otherwise, and its sales agents provide for three more.
* Smart Fortwo Coupe
Price: $22,900.
Engine: 700cc petrol.
Manufacturer's fuel rating: 4.8 litres/100km (95-octane petrol).
AA EnergyWise rally performance: 4.53 litres/100km in 2006 rally (winner of environmental award for lowest fuel consumption, adjusted for carbon dioxide emissions). Rally running cost (2006): $105.96c (slightly above Honda, of higher-octane fuel). Carbon dioxide emissions: 169.23kg.
Pros and cons: Head-turning vehicle, great to manoeuvre about town and easy to park, but no rear seats and can struggle to keep up with other traffic on long trips. Has airbags and anti-skid brakes, but small size lessens survival odds in a collision.
* Fiat Grande Punto
Price: $26,990.
Engine: 1.3-litre diesel.
Manufacturer's fuel rating: 4.6 litres/100km (diesel).
AA EnergyWise rally performance: 4.34 litres/100km in 2006 (lowest fuel consumption, except when adjusted for carbon dioxide, for which 2.6kg is emitted for every litre of diesel compared with 2.3kg for petrol). Running cost over course: $121.37c ($69.16c for diesel plus $52.21c for road user charges). Carbon dioxide emissions: 184.47kg.
Pros and cons: Great fuel economy complicated by having to buy road user charge licences in advance for every 1000km of driving. Low greenhouse gas emissions partly countered by lack of particulate filter available in larger European diesel cars, although Fiat says the small size of the Punto's engine means minimal air pollution.
