Will New EPA Mileage Standards Rat Out the Hybrids?

Good for you EPA!

— 1uberaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 12:51:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

It isn't over yet. The hybrid is only a pitstop. True energy savings will be found in 100% alternative fuel sources from fully electric cars to hydrogen power.

We'll see. One thing I'm certain is that the hybrid is not a long term solution, more like a bandaid. I don't see the hybrid being a popular option 12 years from now. The reason is a "hybrid" by nature is a compromise between a highly efficient engine (the electric motor) and a more powerful but ineffecient engine (fuel combustion). In the future, when the electric motor can be made more powerful, the fuel combustion engine will be rendered unneccessary, and thus the "hybrid" will simply be all-electric, without a need for a 2nd engine.

— quizz (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 2:01:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Finally. The more realistic MPG for hybrids (and displacement on demand vehicles as well most likely) will finally bring the truth out.

52 city and 45 highway for the Prius is much closer to what people actually possibly average. Looking forward to diesels matching and possibly exceeding the hybrids.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 2:39:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

I cant wait until the standards show ho inefficient huge pushrod V-6s and V-8s are on the highway. We'll see about diesels too.

— 1970toyotamarc (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 3:13:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

The current EPA test allows hybrids to finish the test with a lower state of charge on the battery than they started. That is "cheating" the system.

— TransEngr (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 4:09:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Very old, old, old TDI. Also, those were "replicas" of different driving styles and not a "normal" drive as you would every day. Still, 50/50 for Prius is much below the EPA rating while the two normal powered cars got just around EPA rating.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 6:45:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Xero cool, you are an idiot. This article speaks of a new EPA ratings to make them more accurate so you use a 2004 article? That is the same as Sherwin Williams in 1952 saying how great this lead based paint is. Hybrids are a good step forward, but definately not worth the waste of extra money.

— scottcampbell10 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 6:27:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

??? The current EPA doesn't include stop and go traffic (where hybrids shine)? I think many people will be surprised next year and it wouldn't surprise me if hybrids drop less than people hope (you read that right).

Less highway driving will only hurt diesels.

Do I need to mention the 113mpg Prius again?

It's unfortunate they don't factor in pollution.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 6:58:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The new EPA test will have the same amount of highway and city driving. But different types of driving: higher acceleration/ac use/lower temperature. This will drop normal cars on average 12% in the city and 8% on the highway. Hybrids will get hit harder (should)

BTW, saw the Prius today approach a right turn. It stops, the engine is still running eventough the Prius is stoped. Engine turns of, all quiet (pretty sweet). Two or three seconds later there is an oppening. The gasoline engine turns on again as the Prius has to actually accelerate in order to blend wiht the traffic. The electric engine definately doesn't have the power/juice to accelerate it quicker than a turtle. So the amazing Prius only saved 2-3 seconds of idling. Keep in mind that turning the engine ON most likely requires a bigger squirt of fuel than to keep it running. In other words you keep on biking (easy), you stop and have to start up again on your bike (harder/more energy used). This is my little hybrid story for today. That's all folks.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 7:10:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Let me guess...

My car will have 15/20. Right now, I think it has 18/23 or something. I get 15-17mpg on a daily basis- driving pretty hard.

The Lexus, which we aren't trading in after all (most likely buying a new house instead- we were surprised by a house that fit our needs perfectly this weekend, but if we don't buy it we'll still get the A8 this year), will have 16/21. Right now, it has 17/24.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 9:46:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I've never denied owning a gas pig. Unlike most city ppl and Eurotrash, I live where 3ft of snow is normal.

As I've said, if they get a hybrid IS by the time I get a new car, it'll make a great summer car while the Jeep trucks on in the winter.

It must suck not knowing the feeling of having a double car garage (and needing to fill it) and a 2800sqft home eh? Explains why you haven't got a clue about property maintenance and finances.

As I've said before, Europeans only know how to overpay for cars because most have no hope of ever owning a home, let alone several income properties.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2006 10:28:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Europeans are such bums, they all live on the street. Ever consider that Europe is a much less rural compared to, Canada?

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 12/13/2006 12:12:48 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Hey Huu76, stop bragging about your house, 2800sqft home is not that big and 2 car garage is nothing to brag about since just about any house has a 2 car garage. Stick to the topic. Hybrids are just hype there is not saving in buying a hybrid since the money you save from gas won't cover the premium for the hybrid. It's just the green thing.

— middleman (View Profile)

Posted on 12/13/2006 3:12:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Rupert,
I don't consider the UK a real part of Europe, so you (as much as you hate to hear it) are safe.

Chewy,
Europe being urban isn't my problem. Knowing that fact, Europe should be tripping over yourselves to find ways to pollute less, not more.

middleman,
2800 sqft is more than enough for one person. I'm about 90 min away from Toronto, 45 min away from several large bedroom communities. Closeenough to Toronto, but still far enough away. Anyway, I was just pointing out why Europeans are so hung up on image, that's pretty well all you guys can hope for. My cousin has two townhouses in London and I'd imagine that's quite a rarity.

Ontario is 1/2 the size of Europe, and I'll bet in Jan/Feb, we get atleast the same snow as the Swedes. However, we're self-sufficient in farming, resources and don't have to go raiding another country's fish-stocks.

So what's wrong with the green thing? On top of that, hybrids have proven over and over they out mileage diesel, and the premium isn't that much greater. Let's see how Audi's diesel does here, considering diesel doesn't enjoy gov't subsidization in N.America.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/13/2006 7:03:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

btw Chewy, my Jeep's a 2004.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/13/2006 7:08:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Oh, stop it!

You have French heritage, you know that?

I'm Irish. I'm Russian. I'm English. I'm Polish. I'm German.

And you know what?

I'm American.

And I STILL get offended when you call them "eurotrash". Stick to cars and get off your high horse, Canadian.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 12/13/2006 11:05:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Our French heritage is the pain in the ass that comes back every 5 years or so wanting to separate because they think the grass is greener on the other side of the Atlantic.

Quebec is a welfare province, it's rich and yet it gets transfer payments as though it's one of the smaller, poorer provinces. That's our French heritage.

Stick around Foxy, so you can defend your country when they call you know-nothing American hicks, unless you're a Eurotrash wannabe leftover from the 80's.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/16/2006 12:22:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I must admit though, love'em or hate'em, our French heritage is like an alcholic uncle, you still gotta accept them because they're family. They also make us different from the U.S.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/16/2006 12:31:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1