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Hybrids, fuel economy, and Saabs
Posted by Atul (more from Atul) on Thu, 13 May 2004 09:43:49
In Reply to: Why it seems hybrids do no better than SAAB turbos!!!, JLowe, Wed, 12 May 2004 13:51:45
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The EPA cycle is the root of the problem not just for hybrids, but for many vehicles. Because the highway cycle doesn't get to as high a speed as people frequently travel, (48 mph avg on highway cycle), large trucks with big frontal areas and poor aerodyamic Cds get lower mpgs than the sticker since aero drag goes up with the square of vehicle speed. I also believe the same to be true with underpowered vehicles that have to strain to keep up in real world high speeds. Automatic transmission vehicles that coast a lot (torque converter over-running clutch design?), and perform great on the EPA cycles. This is what I believe makes Saabs get better than sticker fuel economy in the real world. They are more efficient at high highway speeds, (engine doesn't rev too high), but don't fair as well on the EPA cycle because they engine brake requiring the tester to keep his/her foot on the gas to maintain the speed profile.
Hybrids probably do well on the EPA cycle because of the low speeds and lots of decel periods to store energy. I have driven the last gen Prius quite a bit as a competitive vehicle, and I never got lower than 39 mpg, got as high as 47. Cold weather hurts the FE. One thing they don't tell you is that if your battery dies, the Prius (maybe the Civic Hybrid also), cannot be jumpstarted in the normal way. It must be towed to a dealer to get restarted! To add to that, the dealer said you can't let a Prius sit for more than a couple of weeks because the battery will die.
Atul
'04 9-3 Linear - 1,400 miles
'97 900S - 96,300 miles
Detroit
posted by 198.208....
Posts in this Thread:
- Why it seems hybrids do no better than SAAB turbos!!!, JLowe, Wed, 12 May 2004 13:51:45
- Re: Why it seems hybrids do no better than SAAB turbos!!!, Noel, Mon, 17 May 2004 06:35:16
- Something doesn't make sense, TML , Thu, 13 May 2004 17:02:03
- driving habits matter more than anything, JimBlake , Fri, 14 May 2004 06:45:41
- Read my other post below on why I think Saabs..., Atul, Thu, 13 May 2004 18:08:30
- with a lead foot, just under the epa rating (nm), robs, Thu, 13 May 2004 17:06:02
- engine braking and effeciency, jimmythefly, Thu, 13 May 2004 14:45:37
- something's very wrong..., Jason 5W-40, Thu, 13 May 2004 14:25:18
- Re: Why it seems hybrids do no better than SAAB turbos!!!, BobS, Thu, 13 May 2004 10:53:14
- Hybrids, fuel economy, and Saabs, Atul, Thu, 13 May 2004 09:43:49 <-- Viewing This Message
- What's the "City mpg" rating for Saab?, Eiron, Thu, 13 May 2004 07:24:57
- And they can leave you stranded on the highway too, Posidon, Wed, 12 May 2004 19:59:19
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