Road & Track Special Feature: Hybrids: Perception vs. Reality - Two Part Series
02-01-10, 10:55 PM
#1
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Road & Track Special Feature: Hybrids: Perception vs. Reality - Two Part Series
02-02-10, 12:34 AM
#3
Takeaway point from the last section:
To a great extent, reality coincided with perception: We think of hybrids as being particularly fuel-efficient, and indeed our hybrid Prius posted best mpg readings in every driving situation. Maybe even more important, though, the data suggest that the best of today’s cars are already well along toward that mandated 35.5 mpg fleet average (recall the cars’ contribution in 2016 is pegged at 42 mpg). Clearly the hybrid concept offers benefits, but conventional gasoline and diesel will play important roles as well.
02-02-10, 07:00 AM
#7
I'm with you Joe, unfortunately although a lot of my driving is on the freeway, I get caught in traffic a lot where the hybrid would work a little better. My lifetime average on the 350 currently stands at 26.8 and I can usually average 28-29 until traffic starts settling in. Thankfully, I work early enough to avoid the worst of it.
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02-02-10, 09:31 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
Series-hybrids, on the other hand, usually do better on the road because they can't run on the pure-electrics alone...they operate more like a conventional car, with the electric motor simply serving as a power-boost and engine start-stop device.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-02-10 at 02:15 PM.
02-02-10, 12:57 PM
#10
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I also noticed that Jack Bauer has been sporting a Malibu hybrid recently. I wonder what kind of mileage he is getting.
02-02-10, 01:11 PM
#11
Interesting on the HS hwy miles.I like more power,though.
I'm still a gas or diesel engine fan over any hybrid except maybe the GS450h but then MPG's aren't very good.
Maybe sometime in the future I'll feel differently.
Depends on the type of hybrid. Parallel-hybrids ususally do better in the city, with stop-and-go driving, because they can run for a while on pure electric power alone, and the gas engine does not run as much. On the highway, with continual motion, the gas engine cuts in more, to keep the battery charged, because the battery gets drained quicker.
Series-hybrids, on the other hand, usually do better on the road because they can't run on the pure-electrics alone...they operate more like a conventional car, with the electric motor simply serving as a power-boost and engine start-stop device.
Series-hybrids, on the other hand, usually do better on the road because they can't run on the pure-electrics alone...they operate more like a conventional car, with the electric motor simply serving as a power-boost and engine start-stop device.
02-02-10, 01:53 PM
#12
Lexus Champion
BTW, averaging about 58mpg with my Prius...90% of the commute is at about 52-53mph...only 10% on freeway at 70mph.
02-02-10, 02:39 PM
#14
the Prius is NOT a small car, much bigger than the IS350 I had, much more room than my buddy's 06 Jetta TDI...its pretty big...go sit in the back seat of one...tons of legroom.
BTW, averaging about 58mpg with my Prius...90% of the commute is at about 52-53mph...only 10% on freeway at 70mph.
BTW, averaging about 58mpg with my Prius...90% of the commute is at about 52-53mph...only 10% on freeway at 70mph.
I've never sat in one.Maybe I should.
02-02-10, 02:46 PM
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Oh man, the backseat in my dad's IS is horridly cramped. You can really spread out in my sister in laws backseat of her Prius. Perfect taxi cab vehicle.