Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short

[$cirisme]

News: [url=http://www.wired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,63413,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1]Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short[/url]

But after a few months of commuting to his job in Cincinnati, Blackshaw's hybrid euphoria vanished as his car's odometer revealed that the gas mileage he was hoping for was only a pipe dream. Honda's Civic Hybrid is rated by the EPA to get 47 miles per gallon in the city, and 48 mpg on the highway. After nearly 1,000 miles of mostly city driving, Blackshaw was getting 31.4 mpg.

"I feel like a complete fraud driving around Cincinnati with a license plate that says MO MILES," says Blackshaw, who claims that after 4,000 miles his car has never gotten more than 33 mpg on any trip. The tenor of Blackshaw's blog shifted from adulation to frustration after his Honda dealer confirmed that his car was functioning properly, and that there was nothing he could do.

© source where applicable

31.4 mpg is pretty good, but wow, that's a lot less than advertised.


The article goes on to say...

The EPA tests pre-production vehicles in a lab to simulate vehicle starts and stops on crowded city streets and open road conditions. According to the EPA website, "The tests measure the waste substances emitted from consuming the fuel, not the actual fuel consumed. From the measurement of emissions, EPA can estimate the miles per gallon achieved by the vehicle on average."

They sure like doing things the hard way, no?

[Jimmy Higgins]

Jimmy Higgins has a lifetime mileage of 64.8 mpg in his Insight over a distance of 51500 miles, which will go up a bit because its warm again. Jimmy Higgins drove yesterday, averaging 82.4 mpg in his project laying out tour of Northeast Ohio, going from Cuyahoga Falls to Warren to Parkman up to Kirtland and back home in Akron. The mileage was lower that it would have been if Jimmy Higgins didn't have to stop as much when laying out the job near Warren.

Jimmy Higgins' mileage from Akron, OH to Plymouth, MA was 75.6 mpg even when traveling through the Berkshires on Route 2 instead of I-90. And Jimmy Higgins did make it from Akron to Plymouth on less than a single tank (10.6 gallons) when using I-90 as his main roadway.

The mileage of Hybrids is as real as it gets!

[$cirisme]

cirisme hates it when people talk in the third person.

[Ghettochild]

ghettochild wants to design a new lateral hybrid based engine with indefinite shifting for maximum efficiency

[Amazing Rando]

News: [url=http://www.wired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,63413,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1]Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short[/url]

But after a few months of commuting to his job in Cincinnati, Blackshaw's hybrid euphoria vanished as his car's odometer revealed that the gas mileage he was hoping for was only a pipe dream. Honda's Civic Hybrid is rated by the EPA to get 47 miles per gallon in the city, and 48 mpg on the highway. After nearly 1,000 miles of mostly city driving, Blackshaw was getting 31.4 mpg.

"I feel like a complete fraud driving around Cincinnati with a license plate that says MO MILES," says Blackshaw, who claims that after 4,000 miles his car has never gotten more than 33 mpg on any trip. The tenor of Blackshaw's blog shifted from adulation to frustration after his Honda dealer confirmed that his car was functioning properly, and that there was nothing he could do.

© source where applicable

31.4 mpg is pretty good, but wow, that's a lot less than advertised.


The article goes on to say...




They sure like doing things the hard way, no?

I just bought a 2003 Civic Hybrid, and I've been averaging between 46 and 50 miles per gallon on ever tank since I bought it in September.

[$cirisme]

I just bought a 2003 Civic Hybrid, and I've been averaging between 46 and 50 miles per gallon on ever tank since I bought it in September.

Great, what kind of trips do make? Lots of stopping or long highways?

Why do you think the Consumer Report's test came up so much shorter than the EPA's and your results?

[Amazing Rando]

Great, what kind of trips do make? Lots of stopping or long highways?

The funny thing is, I get better mileage with lots of stopping than I do on the highway. When I cruise down the PA Turnpike at 75mph, I get about 43 MPG. But when I'm driving in my rural/suburban neighborhood and township near Philly, I get 48-50.

My theory is because of the auto-stop feature. When I come to a red light or a stop sign, the engine completely shuts off! It becomes eerily quiet to be sitting at a red light with no sound at all! Then when I take my foot off the brake, it starts up again!

Why do you think the Consumer Report's test came up so much shorter than the EPA's and your results?

They're lead-footed drivers? I have no idea. But I love my car! It's saving me lots now with gas prices so high as they are.

[Jimmy Higgins]

I just bought a 2003 Civic Hybrid, and I've been averaging between 46 and 50 miles per gallon on ever tank since I bought it in September.

Yeah, ye olde liberal media speaking more mistruths about hybrid technology. Netscape had an article about how emergency workers were afraid of electricution because of the hybrid battery. I guess the whole combustible thing doesn't frighten them enough.

[$cirisme]

The funny thing is, I get better mileage with lots of stopping than I do on the highway. When I cruise down the PA Turnpike at 75mph, I get about 43 MPG. But when I'm driving in my rural/suburban neighborhood and township near Philly, I get 48-50.

My theory is because of the auto-stop feature. When I come to a red light or a stop sign, the engine completely shuts off! It becomes eerily quiet to be sitting at a red light with no sound at all! Then when I take my foot off the brake, it starts up again!

It also recharges the batteries as you stop and slow down IIRC.

Even the article says that stop and go traffic will get better mileage than highway driving.

They're lead-footed drivers? I have no idea. But I love my car! It's saving me lots now with gas prices so high as they are.

It's great that you like your car. I've considered getting a hybrid before, but I live in the country and every time I go anywhere I don't do much stop and go, so I don't know if the results would be that great.

I do wonder why so many people have such large variations in experience.

[Jimmy Higgins]

I do wonder why so many people have such large variations in experience.

1) Driving skill. The biggest gasoline saver is momentum conservation. The more momentum you conserve, the less gas you use. So when you are driving, its important to always stay moving, even when dealing with lights and what not. This also leads to the conclusion that driving slow doesn't get you an automatic high mileage. You must drive smart. Do pick up speed to quick, do lose it too quick.

2) Patience. You want to drive 75 mph, you won't get 100 mpg.

[Jimmy Higgins]

For good info on the article check here.

[Gilgaron]

How long do the batteries in these fellows last and how much do they cost to replace?

Or is the primary reason to buy one to conserve fossil fuels?

[Jimmy Higgins]

How long do the batteries in these fellows last and how much do they cost to replace?

Or is the primary reason to buy one to conserve fossil fuels?

Its probably a few grand to replace the battery including labor, right now. But as it becomes more standard, the price should drop. As to how long they last? No one is really sure. Honda says its good for 80k atleast.

[Christianotaku]

I love dirtying up the atmoshpere with smoke its the greatests sensation liberals have just never felt that sensation and really considering liberals are the most irresposible people in the world

[anthrogirl]

I love dirtying up the atmoshpere with smoke its the greatests sensation liberals have just never felt that sensation and really considering liberals are the most irresposible people in the world

you're a funny cat Ctaku!

love,
anthrogirl