Here in hilly Portland, without exception the first thing anyone asks me is "does it have enough power?" Everyone assumes that electric cars are slow and can't make hills.<br><br>Every morning my commute to work takes me up the "Sylvan hill", which is a climb of about 500 feet in a mile or two on the freeway west of Portland, up and over the big ridge. In my '87 Celica, I always took that hill in the left lane, staying with the fastest traffic at 55 to 60 mph. Likewise in my '94 V6 Taurus. Likewise in my Prius.<br><br>Prius drivers, show the public that a hybrid is not an underpowered enviro-sacrifice. Show everyone it's a real car. You might use a little more gas (not much more in my testing), but if you get just one other driver to end up in a hybrid, just think of all the gas and emission that will save!<br><br>Prius- just drive it fast.<br><br> --Mike (Oregon plate LOW CO2)

I'm with you, Mike.<br><br>It's a blast to be stopped at a traffic light with some gas hog to my left. Then I innocently glide away accelerating more and more leaving the guzzler in his own exhaust. Second and third traffic lights with same "opponent" continue to cause consternation as no amount of effort allows him to get out in front. I feel like a kid again. And even with my lead foot I'm getting good mileage--for any other car at least.<br><br>Keese [I didn't wait--bought the demo--never had to drive my old Camry again]

Mike,<br> Please flash your lights to pass me if I get in your way :-) Since getting my Prius I'm driving less on Sunset Hwy and staying on surface streets for lower speeds / higher mpg!<br><br> The downside to getting the Prius is that I now drive into Portland occasionally instead of riding MAX. <br><br>Craig in Aloha

...show the public that a hybrid is not an underpowered enviro-sacrifice. Show everyone it's a real car...<br><br>I do my duty on this level by taking fast starts from stoplights whenever I can. It is just amazing how quickly the Prius accelerates from a standing start. I've gone a half-block before the other cars even clear the intersection. The Prius doesn't even work hard to do it!

...I find people trying to get in front of me when they could have more easily gotten in line behind me...<br><br>I find that with my Honda minivan, too. It makes no difference that I am driving well in excess of 70 mph -- I'm a minivan so I must be slow. The mind is a very powerful instrument of self-deception.