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MPG Ratings Will Drop Under EPA Proposal

375 messages,  Last post on Oct 02, 2008 at 9:08 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

See this Edmunds.com article! EPA Overhauls Fuel Economy Estimates for 2008 - As the 2008 model-year cars hit the lot, shoppers will notice a big difference — the EPA has changed its fuel economy testing methods to produce mileage estimates that reflect "real world" driving habits. - (more)


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#326 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [larsb] by mattandi
Sep 25, 2008 (8:08 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 25, 2008 7:54 am)

I don't mean to speak for Gary, and he should feel free to correct me if I misunderstand him. I know you guys have differing opinions on whether the test favors hybrids, but I read this post a little differently.
 
The tax system, via credits, does show a bias that favors hybrids. It provides an incentive to buy a fuel efficient car. The incentive is based on city figures, which is where hybrids shine. All other factors considered, a hybrid is going to show greater improvement in the city figure, thus making it eligible for a greater incentive.
#327 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [mattandi] by larsb
Sep 25, 2008 (8:30 am)
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Replying to: mattandi (Sep 25, 2008 8:08 am)

mattandi says, "The tax system, via credits, does show a bias that favors hybrids."
 
Yes it DID, in the old test. But it was COMPLETELY UNINTENTIONAL.
 
The tax credit was based on city mileage because reducing pollution in the CITIES is what is most important in regard to air pollution. So that is where that logic comes from - they did not just randomly say "OK, City is better so we will use CITY as the basis of the tax credit."
 
It just so happened that the old, more severely flawed EPA test was so unrealistic in regard to the way it tested (no cold engine, no air conditioner) REAL-WORLD conditions that the hybrids used a lot of battery during the city portion of the test and therefore had good numbers.
 
Clean diesel sedans driven in the City will pollute in the CITY, which is a more important consideration because of the density of population. Therefore the city number is important in that type of car also.
 
Makes perfect sense.
#328 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [larsb] by mattandi
Sep 25, 2008 (10:13 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 25, 2008 8:30 am)

Well, I don't know that it was completely unintentional. The folks who set up the credits system surely knew that hybrids would be the greatest beneficiaries. Regardless of the relative merits or faults with new test v. old test, it is not out of line to say that the system favors hybrids. (or to think another way, to say that hybrids have the greatest capacity to benefit from this system) The whole system is set up to encourage market activity on cars that show improvement in city MPG. Greatest encouragement goes to those vehicles that show the greatest improvement, and right now, as in the past, that means hybrids.
#329 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [mattandi] by larsb
Sep 25, 2008 (10:26 am)
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Replying to: mattandi (Sep 25, 2008 10:13 am)

Hybrids by their NATURE are better city mileage vehicles.
 
The credit was designed to urge people to buy hybrids to REDUCE POLLUTION.
 
The biggest pollution issues are in the CITY.
 
You do the math. It's not hard. My 9 year old daughter could find the connection.
#330 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [larsb] by gagrice
Sep 25, 2008 (11:49 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 25, 2008 10:26 am)

From the charts submitted above it claims for the 2008 Prius an unadjusted city rating of 66.6 MPG. The VW TDI they rate at 38 MPG City.
 
I still have no idea how they come up with those figures. I do thank the poster for the spreadsheets provided. It lets me know that CAFE figures are as screwed up as the EPA ratings.
 
A clear bias toward hybrids. Been that a long time.
#331 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [mattandi] by gagrice
Sep 25, 2008 (11:53 am)
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Replying to: mattandi (Sep 25, 2008 7:48 am)

Did you buy a car eligible for a tax credit?
 
Not yet. I am leaning toward the X5 diesel when it arrives. Or I may still go for the ML320 CDI. I was hoping the tax credits would be on a par with hybrids. The idea was both cleaner and using less fuel. Why the EPA decided to use city rather than combined mileage is anyone's guess.
#332 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [gagrice] by larsb
Sep 25, 2008 (11:55 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Sep 25, 2008 11:49 am)

Gary, how many times do I have to say it before you understand it?
 
The old EPA test was around LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG before the first hybrid.
 
Thusly, it is IMPOSSIBLE for the test to inherently possess any hybrid bias.
#333 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [gagrice] by larsb
Sep 25, 2008 (11:59 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Sep 25, 2008 11:49 am)

Gary says, "A clear bias toward hybrids. Been that (sic) a long time."
 
Like I have said before - the only "evidence" you have regarding this is your own opinion.
 
I have produced logical evidence to the contrary. Seems like this is a clear-cut case.
 
If this were a court case, the judge would have thrown out the case and fined you for contempt for repeatedly saying the same thing over and over without any concrete information.
#334 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [larsb] by gagrice
Sep 25, 2008 (12:07 pm)
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 25, 2008 11:55 am)

I am sure you also believe that Fannie Mae is above board and honest. EPA is just another corrupt agency of a corrupt Federal government.
#335 of 375
Re: Got letter from EPA [gagrice] by larsb
Sep 25, 2008 (12:29 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Sep 25, 2008 12:07 pm)

Gary says, "EPA is just another corrupt agency of a corrupt Federal government. "
 
Once again, your opinion, with no facts to back it up. At least in regard to the legitimacy of the EPA mileage test. The EPA has indeed broken the law, been sued, paid fines, etc.
 
I have already explained with virtually perfect logic that there is NO WAY the EPA test could have possibly been biased toward hybrids since the test came first.
 
Do you have some contradictory logic, or are you merely issuing your unfounded opinion? Again.

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