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I always hear about how great they are, so I find this a little surprising: <broken link removed>
Could it be?
Actually spotted a Unicorn at work the other day. (A Prius with an NRA sticker on the back window) Imagine my shock!
A friend had a Prius that averaged 39 mph.
A few years ago, Consumer Reports did a mpg test using "real-word" situations. These included more stop-and-go, use of air conditioning, cd player and other options. CR's conclusions were, in general, hybrid cars' mpg was below the USEPA figures, gasoline cars were on par with the USEPA, and diesel cars did a little better than the USEPA figures. The USEPA admitted that its measuring methods were dated and that the figures are for comparative uses only...but has not changed their testing methods. I warned a close friend about it; he bought a new Prius anyway, averaged about 41 mpg, and was disappointed (YMMV).
I tell people to look at diesels. When people tell me "but diesel costs more", I tell them to do the math. I sold a gas VW Golf and got a diesel Golf. My recorded mpgs were 27 for the gasser and 45 for the diesel. That's over a 60% mpg increase. If gas is $3.90, I would have to pay over $6.50 per gallon before I see no savings. (diesel rant)
No actually we don'tNot trying to poo,poo anyone here, but i am waiting (and hoping) that america will produce either a rock solid hybrid, or a rock solid all electric.. I know we have the ability and technology to do this,, just have to try a sway one of the large 3 ( g.m., ford, dodge.) to make it happen. as soon as my wife wears out her current car ,we are planning on going electric for her, as she only drives around eugene.
No actually we don't
And I doubt we EVER will. If you doubt my claim, look up how many amps it takes to make just 50 horse power at say, 24 or 48 volts.
Then try to put that in a battery with any reserve capacity at that level of output.
Sorry, but that ain't gonna happen.
There are too many wishful thinking eco-peeps that don't understand what kind of energy density a gallon of our favorite refined petroleum fuel contains. Be it gasoline or diesel.
We can make IC engines cleaner with CNG, and for now, I believe that should be our goal. We only have a few centuries worth of the stuff,
So there's no reason NOT to do it.
Unless you believe in the vilification of the people that drill holes in the ground to recover natural resources.
Converting commercial trucking alone would drop our dependence on oil a HUGE amount.