New fuel milerages coming
#1
New fuel milerages coming
These new rule changes will see the Prius' mileage rate drop to around 45 mpg in the city..
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/i...rop-in-the-us/
I yhink these new figures much better reflect real world conditions..
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/i...rop-in-the-us/
I yhink these new figures much better reflect real world conditions..
#2
Re: New fuel milerages coming
Bah. Lower the standards lower the expectations. If people expected higher mileage they would question why they don't get it and it might cause some introspection. I hate lowering the bar. Maybe if people learned how to drive according to the epa tests we could get those numbers. I say raise the bar. Make people question the epa numbers and learn how to beat them!
#3
Re: New fuel milerages coming
While I agree with Tom, I hope that the new fuel economy standards will put more pressure on the manufacturers. Vehicles will have to become more efficient in order to claim the same numbers that we see today. Not only that, but the lower numbers on the window should serve to drive new car buyers to a more efficient vehicle than they otherwise would have purchased. Rather than going for the compact SUV and thinking that they are going to get 28mpg, they may see 23 or 24mpg on the sticker and decide that a smaller sedan or wagon that actually gets 28mpg will do the job.
It's a little give and a little take, but ultimately I think that changing the test specification is the right thing to do. Some of us are acutely aware of the fact that driving behavior is the primary reason that cars fall so short on the current standards. Unfortunately, I don't have much hope that the general public will make significant improvements on that front until things get pretty dire. Encouraging smaller vehicles, smaller engines, and new technology is probably going to make the bigger difference.
It's a little give and a little take, but ultimately I think that changing the test specification is the right thing to do. Some of us are acutely aware of the fact that driving behavior is the primary reason that cars fall so short on the current standards. Unfortunately, I don't have much hope that the general public will make significant improvements on that front until things get pretty dire. Encouraging smaller vehicles, smaller engines, and new technology is probably going to make the bigger difference.
#4
Re: New fuel milerages coming
These new rule changes will see the Prius' mileage rate drop to around 45 mpg in the city..
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/i...rop-in-the-us/
I think these new figures much better reflect real world conditions..
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/i...rop-in-the-us/
I think these new figures much better reflect real world conditions..
Bob Wilson
#5
Re: New fuel milerages coming
That very funny..
Smug alert
Mini-miler: [embarrassed shrug] I don't know why I can't get above 42 mpg.
Hyper-miler: [semi-gloat] Let me help you understand what you're doing wrong. ( thinking: if you can't get over 42 mpg in a Prius maybe you weren't meant to walk on two feet )
Last edited by kdhspyder; 11-28-2006 at 07:17 PM.
#8
Re: New fuel milerages coming
I still think it's funny that you have to "learn" how to drive a hybrid to get better milage. When it should be the other way around. The hybrid should have a mode that maximizes FE with very little input from the user. I should be able to mash on the throttle within this mode and the car should figure out the best and most efficient way to accelerate (for example).
#9
Re: New fuel milerages coming
I still think it's funny that you have to "learn" how to drive a hybrid to get better milage. When it should be the other way around. The hybrid should have a mode that maximizes FE with very little input from the user. I should be able to mash on the throttle within this mode and the car should figure out the best and most efficient way to accelerate (for example).
1) computer controlled ICE warm-up, NHW11
2) computer controlled auto-glide, NHW11/NHW20
3) computer controlled terrain driving, NHW11/NHW20
4) performance tuning NHW11
I'm already testing the control laws for #1 and with a semi-manual system, it looks pretty good. I have the parts for #2 and know the interfaces. I've already made progress on #4 and that leaves just #3, which will be the most fun to implement.
Bob Wilson
#10
Re: New fuel milerages coming
I still think it's funny that you have to "learn" how to drive a hybrid to get better milage. When it should be the other way around. The hybrid should have a mode that maximizes FE with very little input from the user. I should be able to mash on the throttle within this mode and the car should figure out the best and most efficient way to accelerate (for example).
I am in favor of the EPA adjusting the tests to better reflect the way most people drive on the roads out there. One change that I know will be introduced is the effect of temperature, including running air conditioning -- the weather is something out of the control of even devoted hypermilers, however, one thing that this will mean is that there will be an incentive for manufacturers to design cars with more efficient climate control systems. For example, equipping the cabin of the cars with thermal insulation, and infrared-blocking window glass would dramatically reduce the AC load for drivers in hot climates. As of right now though, such a change that would make a real improvement in fuel efficiency is not reflected in the test.
The only thing that is unfortunate about the fuel efficiency standard is that MPG as a unit is not as intuitive when it comes to determining true fuel cost. A hybrid that "drops" from 50 to 40 in the new standard looks like a big hit -- 10mpg, or 20% of the original value. On the other hand, an SUV that drops from 17 to 14 doesn't look as bad (3mpg drop, 17% of original). For the hybrid owner however, that means buying 5 extra gallons each 1000 mile, for the SUV owner, that's 13 extra gallons each 1000 miles, more than twice the difference in true cost.