outdated/stupid EPA mileage tests partly responsible for hybrids' disappointing performance

[ElFenix]

from wired

The EPA tests pre-production vehicles in a lab to simulate vehicle starts and stops on crowded city streets and open road conditions. According to the EPA website, "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."

Johnson says the test was created so that it could be affordably reproduced, not to be as accurate as possible. "It's complicated to simulate all of the engineering factors in a moving vehicle," says Johnson, and hybrid cars, which use batteries to assist the gasoline engine, make the task all the more daunting.

that is retarded. why don't they measure the amount of gas going in rather than the emissions coming out? it would be just as easily repeatable and probably far more accurate for every car. (though i pretty much get my EPA highway on the dot, probably right at the city mileage too)

 

[zephyrprime]

Yeah that's lame. And I don't see how the heck emmissions measurements are easier to do than a straight measurement of how much gas was used?

 

[alphatarget1]

KE=(1/2)mv^2

nothing we do is gonna change that. hybrid might get back some of the power from braking and charging the battery up again but no, you still need a certain amount of energy (chemical energy from gasoline) to run the car.

 

[Ryan]

Mah - the Honda Insight reaches it's MPG estimates, some members of insightcentral.net have even got as high as 80 mpg

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Mah - the Honda Insight reaches it's MPG estimates, some members of insightcentral.net have even got as high as 80 mpg

People I have talked to with these things report that they never see less than 60 mpg.

The Thugs at the Oil Rich SUV behemoths own the EPA and all of the Govt so they have purposely kept the real numbers down to "soften" the impact of the Gas Guzzler sales.

 

[Crimson]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Mah - the Honda Insight reaches it's MPG estimates, some members of insightcentral.net have even got as high as 80 mpg

People I have talked to with these things report that they never see less than 60 mpg.

The Thugs at the Oil Rich SUV behemoths own the EPA and all of the Govt so they have purposely kept the real numbers down to "soften" the impact of the Gas Guzzler sales.

Wife and I just bought a car with a new 3.8L V6 in it, sucks gas down.. feels good. Glad I can do my part to offset you tree huggers.

 

[Bowmaster]

The Thugs at the Oil Rich SUV behemoths own the EPA and all of the Govt so they have purposely kept the real numbers down to "soften" the impact of the Gas Guzzler sales.

TEH WINNAR!!!

 

[Strk]

2006=low sulfer diesel=win

Diesel cars can also take biodiesel once it becomes widespread too.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Crimson

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Mah - the Honda Insight reaches it's MPG estimates, some members of insightcentral.net have even got as high as 80 mpg

People I have talked to with these things report that they never see less than 60 mpg.

The Thugs at the Oil Rich SUV behemoths own the EPA and all of the Govt so they have purposely kept the real numbers down to "soften" the impact of the Gas Guzzler sales.

Wife and I just bought a car with a new 3.8L V6 in it, sucks gas down.. feels good. Glad I can do my part to offset you tree huggers.

Now we can hope, after paying for gas, you don't have enough money for kids.
--------
Sorry, I felt your intelligent remark warranted one on a similar level.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Mah - the Honda Insight reaches it's MPG estimates, some members of insightcentral.net have even got as high as 80 mpg

People I have talked to with these things report that they never see less than 60 mpg.

The Thugs at the Oil Rich SUV behemoths own the EPA and all of the Govt so they have purposely kept the real numbers down to "soften" the impact of the Gas Guzzler sales.

How many people have you talked to with a Honda iNsight - NOT a Toyota Prius, nor a Honda Civic Hybrid, - A Honda INsight?

http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=f6f8ecd4ac67d22e80c323990f054e96 - visit here, and read some of the post - MANY people are achieving MPG numbers WAY larger what the car is rated at. Sure there are some people who don't get the numbers, but Hybrids can't be driven with a heavy foot or you'll dramatically loose MPG.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Crimson
Wife and I just bought a car with a new 3.8L V6 in it, sucks gas down.. feels good. Glad I can do my part to offset you tree huggers.

wow. Just wow.

I bet you hated it when your mom told you not to play in the street as a kid...

stupid mom, trying to do what's best for you:roll:

 

[klah]

The EPA relies on the manufacturers to conduct the tests and submit the results. They test few vehicles themselves.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#estimates

Manufacturers test pre-production prototypes of the new vehicle models and submit the test results to EPA. EPA re-tests about 10% of vehicle models to confirm manufacturer's results.

The test used to determine the city fuel economy estimate simulates an 11-mile, stop-and-go trip with an average speed of 20 miles per hour (mph). The trip takes 31 minutes and has 23 stops. About 18 percent of the time is spent idling, as in waiting at traffic lights or in rush hour traffic. The maximum speed is 56 mph.

The test to determine the highway fuel economy estimate represents a mixture of "non-city" driving. Segments corresponding to different kinds of rural roads and interstate highways are included. The test simulates a 10-mile trip and averages 48 mph. The maximum speed is 60 mph.

The city estimate is lowered by 10% and the highway estimate by 22% from the laboratory test results. Experience has proven that these adjustments make the mileage estimates in the Fuel Economy Guide correspond more closely to the actual fuel economy realized by the average driver.

There are tools available that easily test fuel use. TechMate and Floscan both have digital fuel flow meters for gas engines and Caterpillar has a good unit for diesels.