Hybrids, grabbing eyeshare?

People often ask why I’d wrap my personal car in advertising? I usually give them a different answer every time, it all depends on what prompted them to ask in the first place. My reasons are complicated and plentiful.

I’ve been driving hybrid daily cars since 2006 this is a technology that I really believe in, right now there is nothing better available that is truly affordable and has a large refueling network available. EVs are out there but they are very expensive as are hydrogen fuel cell powered cars but they are expensive, not widely available and the refueling network is limited. (I’d take a Honda FCX Clarity in a heartbeat, there’s a hydrogen station less than 20 miles from my house). Natural Gas cars are awesome, but I don’t have anyplace nearby to fill one and my hybrids have gotten me used to small creature comforts not available on the Civic GX and I’m weary of most conversions after the one’s I heard of in Europe (it may have been Mexico) by non certified conversion shops that exploded. Plug-in Hybrids are also cool but I want one done right the conversions out there are hack jobs and only come close to what’s advertised but not close enough.

I’ve had advertising for a hybrid club on my car since 2005 it started with the Gainesville Hybrid Club (FLhybrid.com) and through today with the Midlands Hybrid Club. You know someone is a true believer in a technology when they start a club for it out of the blue. (especially when they don’t even own one as was the case when I started FLHybrid)

What’s the point of keeping all this goodness to myself? I’m trying to encourage people to choose green for their personal transportation I want to put the option out there in their faces, I stick to the slow lane, I’m courteous, I obey the rules of the road. I don’t road rage and I set a good example by helping others get to their destination smoothly (letting them into the flow, helping downed vehicles get assistance, etc) I don’t want everyone to drop what they’re driving now, but I do want them to realize there are other choices available when it comes time to get their next vehicle.

The Honda Civic Hybrid is the best match to my commute today (24-30 miles of mostly highway driving) I haven’t found a reasonable route that avoids the highway, and the Honda Hybrids excel on the open road anyway. It isn’t that I can’t read a map, but I live in Irmo, SC and work right on the border of Blythewood, I can’t even find a route that uses less than 3 interstates to get to work (again a reasonable route). This route ate my Prius alive, way too many hills and too high a speed to work its magic.

“I wouldn’t want to ride in that”, what is your point? I elected for my vehicle to look like that, just like you chose those pants, I wouldn’t choose those, please say something constructive.

Why do you advertise for a dealership (Midlands Honda), usually its asked with the person posing the question trying to find out if I’m getting paid off, that part is none of their business, and I let them know that very politely. Then I go on to explain that Midlands Honda provided the wrap and put my business on all four sides of the car, the least I could do was let them have the rear doors for their troubles. I’m employed by Midlands Honda yes, they are the Club’s premier partner that’s the more important part, though I would have had to give much harder thought to the offer than I did if had they been a company looking to see me out of a job.

“Hybrids are slow”, well first what are you basing your statement on? I can only legally travel at the maximum speed limit, and the minimum speed limit is very generous everywhere I’ve travelled that isn’t named Michigan. In my younger more reckless days I’d give you a first hand demonstration, I wouldn’t do that today because it would thrash my fuel efficiency for the tank I’m working on. Instead I’ll point out that I took my ‘04 Prius to the Gainesville Raceway and ran it several nights, it was sufficiently fast. (I was also the only one adding air to my tires on those nights, everyone else was letting air out.)

“Cool Paint job”, thanks.

“Is that paint?”, No it is a vinyl wrap.

There are many more but those are the big ones, I’m out of time for this writing session.

This is a fun picture of John Bailey and Myself showing off our wrapped hybrids. John wrapped his vehicle to advertise for his business he owns a restaurant in Lexington, SC. We both have the same color as you can see in his mirrors, also as you can tell by the wheels he has a different model year than I do. John has been driving his HCHIII for a year and he loves the faithful service it provides him and his family.

Well, now you have a small idea of why I feel so strongly about the alterative fueled personal vehicles that I’d wrap my personal car in an eye catching design.