Are hybrids really that great.

[soviet-endlesswaltz]

Every one has seen the sticker mpg for hybrids at 60 + mpg. but the cars actual performance esspecially in cold weather is up to 15% less estemated. some people complain of this discrepancy already, most because of the thousands more dollars for the hybrid engine. technology is getting better but is the hype too much. 2008 standards may be too tough under a more advanced test for mpg to replace the 20 year old current policy.  

[UF6]

AstronomyGirl

Quote:

Every one has seen the sticker mpg for hybrids at 60 + mpg

uh... I haven't. I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't see what's wrong in what you're saying, and I think it's cause I don't understand this.

Well hybrid cars run at hotter temperatures which is good since the hotter the burn the more efficient it is though theses engines are not made of ceramics so they have a lower tolerance to heat and they die in six to eight years unlike a conventional car that can last far longer.  

[soviet-endlesswaltz]

Steven Hawkings

AstronomyGirl

Quote:

Every one has seen the sticker mpg for hybrids at 60 + mpg

uh... I haven't. I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't see what's wrong in what you're saying, and I think it's cause I don't understand this.

Well hybrid cars run at hotter temperatures which is good since the hotter the burn the more efficient it is though theses engines are not made of ceramics so they have a lower tolerance to heat and they die in six to eight years unlike a conventional car that can last far longer.

also in colder weather the battery creates less energy and the gas engine is forced to compensate using far more gas, plus the same thing happens when the ac or radio is going.  

[soviet-endlesswaltz]

AstronomyGirl

Quote:

Every one has seen the sticker mpg for hybrids at 60 + mpg

uh... I haven't. I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't see what's wrong in what you're saying, and I think it's cause I don't understand this.

most people have seen that the miles per gallon listed on the new hybrids is 60+ miles per gallon, but they rarely if ever meet that expectation.  

[lazy bonz]

I have a friend who has a Toyota Prius and he actually gets MORE than the EPA estimate for the MPG. Of course, He's an engineer and he's made a game out of beating the EPA numbers. He actually doesn't drive too slow or anything too weird. He mostly accelerates moderately and plans ahead for the braking. Based on his experience with his Prius, we estimate that Americans could improve the gas mileage of their vehicles by about 15% (hybrid or not) just by driving a little more conscientiously. That might be too much to ask. gonk  

[UF6]

lazy bonz

I have a friend who has a Toyota Prius and he actually gets MORE than the EPA estimate for the MPG. Of course, He's an engineer and he's made a game out of beating the EPA numbers. He actually doesn't drive too slow or anything too weird. He mostly accelerates moderately and plans ahead for the braking. Based on his experience with his Prius, we estimate that Americans could improve the gas mileage of their vehicles by about 15% (hybrid or not) just by driving a little more conscientiously. That might be too much to ask. gonk

Well what we could do is make the engines made of ceramics as I stated earlier, but we can never get a combustion engine more efficant than 40%, due to air circulation among ect. Driving as is a factor.  

[soviet-endlesswaltz]

lazy bonz

I have a friend who has a Toyota Prius and he actually gets MORE than the EPA estimate for the MPG. Of course, He's an engineer and he's made a game out of beating the EPA numbers. He actually doesn't drive too slow or anything too weird. He mostly accelerates moderately and plans ahead for the braking. Based on his experience with his Prius, we estimate that Americans could improve the gas mileage of their vehicles by about 15% (hybrid or not) just by driving a little more conscientiously. That might be too much to ask. gonk

Some may get more and some less. But there are still people complaining. Gas mileage has to do with a multitude of factors, heat, driving aggression, braking, wind, weight, among other factors. driving (illegally) in a normal car you may get 100 mpg. this is more about averages. Was he driving in snowy cold conditions? from what I've read that will hurt your mileage.  

[Deute]

Steven Hawkings

lazy bonz

I have a friend who has a Toyota Prius and he actually gets MORE than the EPA estimate for the MPG. Of course, He's an engineer and he's made a game out of beating the EPA numbers. He actually doesn't drive too slow or anything too weird. He mostly accelerates moderately and plans ahead for the braking. Based on his experience with his Prius, we estimate that Americans could improve the gas mileage of their vehicles by about 15% (hybrid or not) just by driving a little more conscientiously. That might be too much to ask. gonk

Well what we could do is make the engines made of ceramics as I stated earlier, but we can never get a combustion engine more efficant than 40%, due to air circulation among ect. Driving as is a factor.

If using prices and low life expentancy of the hybrid engine as part of the reason why it shouldn't be that popular; then manufacturing a ceramic engine would be insanely expensive and dangerously brittle.  

[engineer-of-doom]

lazy bonz

I have a friend who has a Toyota Prius and he actually gets MORE than the EPA estimate for the MPG. Of course, He's an engineer and he's made a game out of beating the EPA numbers. He actually doesn't drive too slow or anything too weird. He mostly accelerates moderately and plans ahead for the braking. Based on his experience with his Prius, we estimate that Americans could improve the gas mileage of their vehicles by about 15% (hybrid or not) just by driving a little more conscientiously. That might be too much to ask. gonk

I drive a 2002 Dodge Caravan... It's rated 16 city, 22 highway, 18 combined

Over the 120,000 miles I've driven it, I've averaged 23.6 MPG, so yeah, driving habits count for a lot! That's like 30% over the estimate. blaugh  

[almisami]

I don,t think hybrids are all that great. I'd say get a small electric subcompact (Nissan's going to release one song) for urban travel and a 2nd-hand low-mileage 4-door sedan if you need to take a road trip. For the same price as a hybrid, you now have TWO cars that are just as polyvalent and most likely greener if you use each for it's intended use.  

[Alice_K8]

I don't want a hybrid. I'm waiting on electric cars. biggrin