OK, so the EPA test numbers are calculated rather than observed. That's one flaw, but real world there are things like wind resistance, hills, cross winds, speed fluctuations, under inflated tires, lead footed drivers, underpowered cars that need to be driven harder to keep up with traffic, etc etc.

If you are on a highway in a hybrid, running at 75 to keep with traffic flow, how much of your power comes from the engine and how much from the batteries? My guess is there is more engine doing the work (in the real world) than in the tests. And every time you hit a hill, you are probably going to nearly wide open throttle, since the cars are marginally powered, sort of like an old air cooled VW beetle.

IMHO, even if they can do 35 to 40 on a real world highway and 28 to 30 around town that is not enough better to be worth the sacrifice of comfort, safety, handling, and power-on-demand of a turbo Saab. Even at today's gas prices, there is just not enough of a difference. If you drive 15K a year averaging 26 in a Saab (city and highway) and just put in mid-grade gas at $1.90/gal it costs $1096 for gas. In a hybrid averaging 35 it costs about $815. Not a real big difference.

And I really want to see how these hybrids are doing at 150K to 200K miles.

n




posted by 69.163.4...

• 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 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: Why it seems hybrids do no better than SAAB turbos!!!, JimBlake , Mon, 17 May 2004 09:18:01
  • 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
  • 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
    • uh, so can a gas engine, Brian_in_MA, Thu, 13 May 2004 03:56:46

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