Ranger1 wrote:
At least with mine, I'm getting 23 mpg with winter fuel, a Digi CR tuner set to E, and 30 mpg highway on winter fuel with normal to brisk acceleration, no special treatment to increase mpg's. My city fuel economy was up to 24 -25 mpg before the winter weather hit, highway as high as 32.5 mpg.
Practically identical to what I've been getting, only real performance mod being the muffler. From what I've seen so far, think I've managed to bump up the combined MPG by a mile or two using the OD lockout trick while commuting to work.
In defense of hybrids and the oft-reported failure to get their EPA ratings, I'd have to say that the biggest problem in that regard, IMHO, is the nut holding the steering wheel!
People tend to think that hybrids are some magical creation that will automatically give them high MPG regardless of how they drive. The way some of them drive, they wouldn't be able to get decent mileage out of a frakkin bicycle! It doesn't matter what type of vehicle it is, you have to know HOW to drive it to get the best fuel economy, and then DRIVE it that way.
I'll go back to the Honda Insight again. I personally know 3 people in different areas of the country that own these, fellow electric vehicle enthusiasts. They opted for the 5 speed manual tranny instead of the CVT, and took the time to learn how to drive them to get the best mileage. EPA rating for the 5 speed is somewhere around 60 to 65 MPG, and these guys routinely manage to achieve 80 to 90 MPG highway, nearly 50% better mileage than the EPA rating! (Of course, Consumer Reports would probably find a way to only get 11 MPG
)
Same with our favorite diesel. I'll admit that I was ignorant when I first got this beast of the tips and tricks used by long time diesel owners to get the best fuel mileage, and drove it just like a gas vehicle. But by reading, listening, learning, about things such as BSFC and the 2000 rpm sweet spot, experimenting with locking out OD, TRYING to drive it to get the best fuel economy, now I'm managing to get fuel mileage that makes the EPA ratings look like a ridiculous understatement.
The vehicle is only half the equation, the driver has to do their part as well.
Also, the type of driving hybrid owners do can have a lot to do with poor fuel mileage. Where most hybrids shine is in stop and go urban driving. If the majority of an owner's driving is high speed interstate, then basically they've bought a vehicle that doesn't suit their needs or driving conditions to begin with.
When driven properly and used in the right setting, hybrids can and do meet or exceed their EPA ratings.
But in the end, we still come back to that final, ultimate question - what happens when the batteries wear out, and how much will it cost to replace them?
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. At least with mine, I'm getting 23 mpg with winter fuel, a Digi CR tuner set to E, and 30 mpg highway on winter fuel with normal to brisk acceleration, no special treatment to increase mpg's. My city fuel economy was up to 24 -25 mpg before the winter weather hit, highway as high as 32.5 mpg. I was able to get it as low as 22 mpg by using agressive city driving, WOT at each stoplight. Not too bad for a modern, egr equipped 4300 lb diesel SUV. At nearly 17K, it seems to be breaking in very well. I still use PS White/Gray for winter/summer driving in every tank, right from the first tankfull. Also use B20 whenever I can get it.
