Hybrids: the Catalyst for Positive Change

I am the proud owner of a 2005 Toyota Prius. I have since changed my views on hybrids since first posting this topic almost two years ago. My Prius gets 45-50 mpg on the I-95. Owning it has revolutionized my life and way of thinking. I will never own an all-gasoline car again.
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Issue Alert from Winningreen A051204

Hybrid-electric cars get less mileage than EPA estimates

By Gretchen Randall

Date: May 12, 2004

Issue: With crude oil topping $40 per barrel and gasoline prices at or near $2.00 per gallon in many parts of the country (nearly $3.00 in California), motorists may be tempted to consider buying a hybrid gasoline-electric car. But before you buy a hybrid vehicle, be aware that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated fuel mileage for these cars is rarely seen in actual practice.

According to Wired News, EPA tests for city and highway mileage are based on estimates derived from actual vehicle emissions tests. EPA states. "The tests measure the waste substances emitted from consuming the fuel, not the actual fuel consumed. From the measurement of emissions, EPA can estimate the miles per gallon achieved by the vehicle on average."

Owners should expect to get only 60-75% of the estimated mileage according to Consumer Reports. In Consumer Reports’ tests, the Honda Civic, instead of getting the estimated 47 mpg in city driving, averaged only 26 mpg. Instead of 60 mpg as EPA estimated for city driving, the Toyota Prius averaged only 35 mpg. (Wired.com)

Since hybrid cars cost several thousand dollars more than conventional cars the same size, even with $2 per gallon gasoline, it would take a long time to pay the difference even considering the $1500 tax deduction for buying a hybrid car.


Comment 1: EPA needs to do real-world tests to make their ratings more accurate, especially for hybrid vehicles.

Comment 2: There are many types of clean fuel technologies in the development stages including a clean diesel fuel, which need some funding and testing to bring them to market.

Comment 3: EPA refuses to test bio-lubricating oil which could dramatically increase mileage while reducing pollution. Congress should direct EPA to search for such real-world solutions to environmental problems.

Links: Read more about hybrid cars at: http://autos.msn.com/
Also, read "Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short " by John Gartner at http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,63413,00.html


Contact: Gretchen Randall
Winningreen LLC
3712 N. Broadway – PMB 279
Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: 773-857-5086
e-mail: grandall@winningreen.com

I don't know about the Civic, but my 04 Prius is getting better mileage in city then the epa est (65+ vs. 60) and I am getting right at the estimate of 51 highway. 650+ miles to a 12 gallon tank is pretty good in my book. [:)

My Prius is getting 54 mpg on an 85 mile rt per day. Not bad, huh? I don't like the fact that gas is going up but my wallet isn't getting to skinny with my Prius.

no, they don't get the EPA numbers, but I regularly get an average of 48 mpg with mixed city and highway driving. I've been as high as 51 mpg on a tank, and as low as 39 (almost all city driving).

So what's your point?

I'd like the hype-bird owners to factor in the increased cost of buying the car into their fuel economy equation. How much more are you paying per month including gas and car payments?

Intellichoice.com says it's 3-4 thousand dollars more over 5 years to own a civic hybrid over a civic DX or LX.