Hybrid cars, EPA stickers and mountain driving
EPA stickers outdated?
Well, duh. EPA estimates are unrealistic for the majority of drivers in the majority of vehicles, but they are possible.
Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, can achieve EPA standards, if driven differently - you can't be a lead-foot and you must coast when possible. Of course, many of these tactics make a conventional gasoline-engine powered car more efficient as well.
Regardless, a hybrid car offers drivers the ability to save much more gas than a conventional car. And, if you are a lead-foot, a hybrid vehicle will still save you gas, just don't expect to reach EPA estimates on a hybrid, or a conventional car.
Another claimed problem with hybrids is steep hill driving. The Ford Escape hybrid, for example, has been rumored to be sluggish in mountain driving. Yet, a hybrid Escape owner told me that he, "SURPASSED the EPA rating of 31 MPG highway. Over 400 miles of mountain driving I averaged 34 MPG at speeds between 65 and 80 MPH."
34 mpg during mountain driving, in a SUV? Are you kidding me? Those are awesome numbers. Ford and Toyota deserve kudos for that - since Ford leases Toyota's hybrid technology. This too should bode well for the Lexus RX400h hybrid and Toyota Highlander hybrid SUVs.
Well, duh. EPA estimates are unrealistic for the majority of drivers in the majority of vehicles, but they are possible.
Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, can achieve EPA standards, if driven differently - you can't be a lead-foot and you must coast when possible. Of course, many of these tactics make a conventional gasoline-engine powered car more efficient as well.
Regardless, a hybrid car offers drivers the ability to save much more gas than a conventional car. And, if you are a lead-foot, a hybrid vehicle will still save you gas, just don't expect to reach EPA estimates on a hybrid, or a conventional car.
Another claimed problem with hybrids is steep hill driving. The Ford Escape hybrid, for example, has been rumored to be sluggish in mountain driving. Yet, a hybrid Escape owner told me that he, "SURPASSED the EPA rating of 31 MPG highway. Over 400 miles of mountain driving I averaged 34 MPG at speeds between 65 and 80 MPH."
34 mpg during mountain driving, in a SUV? Are you kidding me? Those are awesome numbers. Ford and Toyota deserve kudos for that - since Ford leases Toyota's hybrid technology. This too should bode well for the Lexus RX400h hybrid and Toyota Highlander hybrid SUVs.
Labels: Escape hybrid, Ford, Ford Escape hybrid, Highlander hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles, Lexus hybrid, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:02 AM
1 Comments:
More people should learn about electric cars as a solution. It’s amazing how far the technology has come in just a few years. Plus the savings becomes more and more attractive the higher gas prices go. There’s even an EV that will do 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds (source: zapworld.com). Electric is looking more and more like the way to go.
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