Hybrids

[erpowers]

I watched small part of a car show last night. The show was talking about hybrids. The narrator made the comment that car dealerships sell out of hybrids as soon as they get them even though the cars do not get the gas mileage they claim to get. I always angered by these comments in that there is not one single car that gets the gas mileage that it claims to get. The real problem is the testing at the EPA. The EPA test the cars under unreal conditions. None of the cars tested at the EPA are tested with the air conditioning on, in rainy whether, or going up a hill. In addition, I think the are not tested in stop and go traffic, which can drain gas. I think more people should point out these things when talking about hybrids. It is unfair to hybrids to claim that they do not get the gas mileage claimed and then act as if other non-hybrid cars do get the gas mileage claimed.

[benburch]

1. Depends on how you drive them.

Once you learn to drive the hybrid properly, you get the claimed mileage.

I own a 2002 Prius and love it.

[LisaLynne]

2. I'm starting to see a lot of ...

Priuses (Priusi?) around here in Northern Indiana. I think that's amazing. Even my Fundamentalist friend is seriously thinking about getting one. Amazing. They sure are cute cars!

I honestly am going to get one as soon as my current car dies.

[RobertSeattle]

4. Yep

My wife and I have a 2002 Prius as well. We've been getting around 43 miles per gallon but we commute via bus a great deal so many of our usages of the car are to the grocery story, etc and that is only a mile or so away. Short trips don't let the Prius mileage really show off - along with Seattle's hills.

But we took a 3000 mile roundtrip from Seattle to Tetons in 2003 and got over 50 mpg even though great parts of the trip were over 6000 feet above sea level.

[corbett]

5. That's Exactly Right

Anyone trying to use the mileage issue to discredit hybrids (which do sell out very quickly and have a long waiting list) should consult the wonderful EVWorld.com website. It regularly receives input from readers about real-world hybrid fuel efficiency results:

http://www.evworld.com

[earthside]

3. Actually-Better

I've had a Toyota Prius for over two years now. Actually what they say is true - I am not getting the gas mileage claimed -- I'm getting better mileage!

I've found that as you learn to drive the car with gasoline consumption in mind (you can monitor this with the in-dash computer), there are ways to drive that increase the miles per gallon.

I usually average about 50 miles per gallon in the city. Toyota actually says you will get a little worse mileage on the highway, but by using the hills and momentum, I often times get even better mileage on the highway.

Best car I've ever owned.

[Catbird]

6. Pleased with Prius

I have had a Prius for a couple of years now. It is great little car. I have been getting slightly over 41 mpg in almost exclusively stop-and-go city driving. Every other car I have ever owned has also gotten less than the EPA rated mileage.

This is the only car I have ever owned for which I have gotten lots and lots of comments and questions from strangers everywhere -- in parking lots, on the street, while waiting at red lights, at car washes, etc. I still sometimes have to explain the difference between a hybrid car and an electric car. Mostly people just want to know how I like it, how it drives, and what gas mileage it gets.

[natrat]

7. i rented one for a day and liked it

i only wish the gas engine would kick in at 55 or 60 rather than 35 or whatever. Because driving in the city you blast up to 50 for a few seconds and then back to 20 and it seems a shame to run the gas just for that,,,,even though the transition is preety seemless

[AndyTiedye]

8. Hybrids Rule

I have an Escape Hybrid, and am very happy with it. The mileage
I'm getting is only a little below EPA, with a lot of mountain driving
and it being winter. It still burns less gas than my old Rav4.
Performance is better, since the electric motor and the gas engine
can work together, and the electric can deliver power more quickly.

There are so many conditions that can affect gas mileage, the EPA
cannot test for all of them. Certainly the hybrids are making no
secret of their gas mileage, it is usually on display in real-time
on an LCD screen somewhere.

> I think the are not tested in stop and go traffic, which can drain gas.

That's where the hybrids really shine. Some of them (Escape Hybrid
and the Prius?) can creep along on electric power with the
engine off. Pollutes a lot less too. Idling engines pollute horribly,
and the EPA doesn't test for that either.

[Stealther]

9. We have a 2004 Prius

And it is a WONDERFUL car. During the summer of '03, the transmission in our old car died a painful death. Faced with a $3k repair estimate, we decided to defer those repairs, and put a down payment on the Prius instead. (Given the current waiting lists, we're SO glad we did this.)

We ordered it sight unseen, because the '04 model year wasn't out yet -- but we figured 'Hey it's Toyota, what can go wrong?' (Nothing has, either.) Also, we got one of the maxed-out option packages. GPS map navigation. Voice activated controls. Keyless entry and operation (our friends freak when they see us unlock and operate the car without using a key anywhere, you just have to have the transponder somewhere on you). Lots of other goodies.

Our top mileage so far has been 54mpg, on a long vacation trip -- and we were doing 80mph at times on the highways. More commonly, we get about 40-45.

As other posters have noted, the way you drive the car makes a difference in the overal mileage.

Personally, I think it's insane that these cars aren't THE standard. They have as much power as a standard car, often more.