The dumbest questions you were ever asked about your Prius

I've never been asked a dumb question about either my Prius or my Xebra. In the early days, some people asked if I had to plug it in. That's not a dumb question. It merely shows that the person does not know how the car works. I've been asked what mileage I get, and whether I like it. Nobody's ever asked me how fast the Prius goes. (I've been asked how fast the Xebra goes. That's a reasonable question, with the limits imposed on NEVs.) I've been asked how long the battery will last; but that, too, is a reasonable question to ask.

The most common question about the Prius is, "How do you like it?" but even that is less common as the car becomes more common.

The most common questions about the Xebra are range, speed, cost, and charging time.

All good questions. It's never dumb to ask a question you don't know the answer to. It's only dumb if a reasonable person who has no previous knowledge of the item should be expected to know the answer based on common sense.

"Can it fly?" would be a dumb question to ask about the Prius.

 

I've never been asked a dumb question about either my Prius or my Xebra. In the early days, some people asked if I had to plug it in. That's not a dumb question. It merely shows that the person does not know how the car works. I've been asked what mileage I get, and whether I like it. Nobody's ever asked me how fast the Prius goes. (I've been asked how fast the Xebra goes. That's a reasonable question, with the limits imposed on NEVs.) I've been asked how long the battery will last; but that, too, is a reasonable question to ask.

The most common question about the Prius is, "How do you like it?" but even that is less common as the car becomes more common.

The most common questions about the Xebra are range, speed, cost, and charging time.

All good questions. It's never dumb to ask a question you don't know the answer to. It's only dumb if a reasonable person who has no previous knowledge of the item should be expected to know the answer based on common sense.

"Can it fly?" would be a dumb question to ask about the Prius.

 

"Is that a Prius?" while standing at the rear of the vehicle.

Runners-up:
"So you plug it in every night?"
"Where do you get new batteries?"

 

"Is that a Prius?" while standing at the rear of the vehicle.

Runners-up:
"So you plug it in every night?"
"Where do you get new batteries?"

 

"Well, it gets good city fuel economy, but it only gets 25 mpg highway, right?"

Sadly, that was more a statement of fact than a question, but I included it anyway.

Harry

 

"Well, it gets good city fuel economy, but it only gets 25 mpg highway, right?"

Sadly, that was more a statement of fact than a question, but I included it anyway.

Harry

 

"When the batteries go bad it's gonna cost $5,000 or $10,000, right?"

When I tell them it'll be closer to $3,000 and probably lower, it's still a reason not to get a Prius as they don't want to spend that much for repair; ignoring the fact that they probably just spent that on their transmission.

 

"When the batteries go bad it's gonna cost $5,000 or $10,000, right?"

When I tell them it'll be closer to $3,000 and probably lower, it's still a reason not to get a Prius as they don't want to spend that much for repair; ignoring the fact that they probably just spent that on their transmission.

 

"so how long does the battery last?"
me, about 5 times longer than the transmission in your car.

 

"so how long does the battery last?"
me, about 5 times longer than the transmission in your car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 12 2007, 08:40 AM) [snapback]511214[/snapback]</div>

Daniel, I like this viewpoint. I suppose I tire of the "How far can it go?" and "Where does it plug in?" questions, but each time someone asks, I should refrain from rolling my eyes and take the opportunity to thank people for their interest and offer kindly and considerate explanations. Unfortunately, this may take some adjustment on my part.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 12 2007, 08:40 AM) [snapback]511214[/snapback]</div>

OK. You've got me. The answer is . . .?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 12 2007, 08:40 AM) [snapback]511214[/snapback]</div>

Daniel, I like this viewpoint. I suppose I tire of the "How far can it go?" and "Where does it plug in?" questions, but each time someone asks, I should refrain from rolling my eyes and take the opportunity to thank people for their interest and offer kindly and considerate explanations. Unfortunately, this may take some adjustment on my part.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 12 2007, 08:40 AM) [snapback]511214[/snapback]</div>

OK. You've got me. The answer is . . .?

 

Daniel is right. It is clear that people do not have a clue how a Prius works. I am an engineer and work in an office full of engineers. (mechanical, electrical, etc). You would think that they would be more likely to know how a Hybrid works. Nearly all of them have asked me if it needs to be plugged in, and how long the batteries last. One guy also stated that there is no way that it could get 50mpg on the highway without depleating the battery to get extra energy. I explained that the engine runs on the Atkinson cycle(more efficient than the Otto cycle - he is a chemical engineer, so he understood that) and the car is very aerodynamic. Thus, it can exceed 50mpg even at 65mph.

It is truly a revolutionary car which is very different than a "normal" car. Its operation is much more complicated that a normal car. It is expected that people do not understand it.

 

Daniel is right. It is clear that people do not have a clue how a Prius works. I am an engineer and work in an office full of engineers. (mechanical, electrical, etc). You would think that they would be more likely to know how a Hybrid works. Nearly all of them have asked me if it needs to be plugged in, and how long the batteries last. One guy also stated that there is no way that it could get 50mpg on the highway without depleating the battery to get extra energy. I explained that the engine runs on the Atkinson cycle(more efficient than the Otto cycle - he is a chemical engineer, so he understood that) and the car is very aerodynamic. Thus, it can exceed 50mpg even at 65mph.

It is truly a revolutionary car which is very different than a "normal" car. Its operation is much more complicated that a normal car. It is expected that people do not understand it.

 

How can you afford it? Isn't a Prius real expensive?

 

How can you afford it? Isn't a Prius real expensive?