Hybrid Gas Mileage Good? Bad? As Expected?

519 messages, Last post on Jan 16, 2007 at 6:14 AM

You are in the Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Hybrids Host for directions! discussion.

What is this discussion about? Hybrid Cars, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Outline

Messages Page 45 of 52: 1; ...; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; ...; 52; Prev; Next; Last

#440 of 519 Mileage in a Prius with A/C by falconone Dec 09, 2005 (7:33 am)
My sister and I along with my nephew drove down to the Delaware shore this past summer. Outside temps were 81 with RH of 52%. We set the A/C at 72 and drove on the relatively flat Garden State Parkway at 68-71 MPH. The MFD at the end of the trip registered 51.3. Gotta love it!!!!
#441 of 519 Re: spend some time resarching this and get back to us Gary... [larsb] by gagrice Dec 09, 2005 (7:59 am)
Replying to: larsb (Dec 09, 2005 7:32 am) Diesel torque has nothing to do with fuel used to air condition a car. I will have to differ unless you have some documented proof to the contrary. I am sure your 5% loss was based on a gas engine. As an example when driving the Mazda 626 and I turn on the AC I can feel the loss of power. When I do the same in the Passat TDI there is no loss. It all has to do with where your power curve produces the maximum. If you are cruising along in a 4C gas car at 2000 RPMS that is about half of the horse power you have at 4000 RPMS. So any little drag on the engine will be felt. I can tell you that I am getting the same mileage now as in the heat of the summer here. Many days over 95 degrees. Mostly short trips. What I am seeing is a lot of excuses made for the hybrid technology and why it is not delivering the expected mileage. I agree with those that feel it should stand on it's own merit and not the skill of the hypermiler. As we know hypermiler's get great results without the aid of hybrid technology. Maybe some sort of hypermiling course should be added to the curriculum of driver's ed classes in school. That would probably have a bigger impact on our oil supply than the over complicated hybrid technologies.
#442 of 519 It's not just hybrids, and I'm not making any excuses by larsb Dec 09, 2005 (8:27 am)
"U.S. drivers use about 7.9 billion gallons of fuel each year to run their air-conditioners, which draw power from the engine." Replies to this message: falconone (Dec 09, 2005 8:33 am) mirth (Dec 09, 2005 9:23 am) gagrice (Dec 09, 2005 9:41 am)
#443 of 519 Re: It's not just hybrids, and I'm not making any excuses [larsb] by falconone Dec 09, 2005 (8:33 am)
Replying to: larsb (Dec 09, 2005 8:27 am) That is an incredible statistic!! I've always read that using the AC is better than keeping the windows open at speed. As I mentioned previously, we easily achieved 51.3 with the Prius on the highway. Not too many cars can keep you cool and get 51.3 at close to 70!!! Prius...gotta love it!!!
#444 of 519 Re: It's not just hybrids, and I'm not making any excuses [larsb] by mirth Dec 09, 2005 (9:23 am)
Replying to: larsb (Dec 09, 2005 8:27 am) "U.S. drivers use about 7.9 billion gallons of fuel each year to run their air-conditioners, which draw power from the engine." Yeah, but we're, like, really hot see.
#445 of 519 Re: It's not just hybrids, and I'm not making any excuses [larsb] by gagrice Dec 09, 2005 (9:41 am)
Replying to: larsb (Dec 09, 2005 8:27 am) "U.S. drivers use about 7.9 billion gallons of fuel each year to run their air-conditioners, which draw power from the engine." I am sure that is gasoline not diesel that is used. Just another reason to switch to a diesel car. My VW TDI is happy to run the AC without wasting fuel. Oh, and my GMC hybrid with climate control keeps pouring out the cold air with the engine stopped at the stop lights. Does your HCH do that?
#446 of 519 Misconception by falconone Dec 09, 2005 (10:10 am)
All cars regardless of gas/hybrid/diesel use additonal fuel for their AC. As Larb said, there is NO free lunch. I'm happy with what I've seen on my sister's Prius. 51.3 MPG 68 MPH!!!! Gotta love dat Prius!!!!
#447 of 519 Gary go to Hybrids diesels/deals or duds to see my latest repsonse by larsb Dec 09, 2005 (10:18 am)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
#448 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [gag by misterme Dec 10, 2005 (6:05 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 09, 2005 7:19 am) "When you turn on the AC at 70 MPH you have to give it considerably more gas to maintain the speed and the AC" Cruising 70MPH you don't notice if the A/C is on with an HCH in regards to engine load. "Diesel is a superior fuel for vehicles without any doubt. No amount of hype can change those FACTS" How about diesel car hype? Let's look at some facts: Diesel cars have a much shorter life span than gasoline cars. Used car listings are solid proof. www.autotrader.com Diesel fuel is considerably more expensive and is harder to find than gasoline. Proof is at your local gas station (Which probably doesn't even sell diesel) Diesel cars, particularly VW continues to be plagued by gross failures from fires to steering parts falling off http://money.cnn.com/2004/11/08/pf/autos/cr_auto_reliability/ Jetta reminds me alot of a '76 Chev Citation http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/tw/images/81citation.jpg But I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Gagrice this is not a diesel vs hybrid thread (But you can see I'm glad to filter out the hype). I understand there's a few people getting almost 70MPG from their '06 HCH over at that "Green" website. Any vehicle that can get over 50MPG is great in my book (Diesel included) but 70MPG is simply fantastic, especially from a gasoline powered car. Replies to this message: gagrice (Dec 10, 2005 6:19 pm) xcel (Dec 10, 2005 9:19 pm) gagrice (Dec 10, 2005 9:52 pm) and 7 more... misterme (Dec 11, 2005 2:00 pm)
#449 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [gag [misterme] by gagrice Dec 10, 2005 (6:19 pm)
Replying to: misterme (Dec 10, 2005 6:05 pm) I understand there's a few people getting almost 70MPG from their '06 HCH I see someone is getting 52.9 MPG which is good. I am sure you have followed this thread, and the debate is why so many hybrid owners are disappointed in the mileage during the summer and winter. What do you attribute the 10-30% loss in mileage during the extreme heat or extreme cold. I know in Atlanta it is 75 degrees year round so that is not an issue with your driving. Replies to this message: xcel (Dec 10, 2005 9:19 pm) gagrice (Dec 10, 2005 9:52 pm) xcel (Dec 10, 2005 10:44 pm) and 6 more... misterme (Dec 11, 2005 2:00 pm)