The Volt gets 127MPG in real-world testing

[sno_duc]

That is a very important point.  My coworkers hybrid camry takes a shit when the them falls below 50F.  It has to run the engine all the time just to keep engine temps up and heater temps comfortable.

While we are at it, all the energy savings from CFL bulbs VS filament light bulbs should only be figured for summer months.  In the cooler temps, that energy loss due to i2R heating is being recycled into helping heat my house, so I don't consider it a loss.


mitt

Dear EPA, we the American car buyers would like you to do real world mileage testing.
Total fuel burn for the following road trips.
1) Phoenix, AZ to Dallas, TX in July/August.
2) Great Falls, MT to Minneapolis, MN via Fargo, ND on December 22nd.(shortest day of the year.....headlights)
                                                 signed cynical

[lethe]

Dear EPA, we the American car buyers would like you to do real world mileage testing.
Total fuel burn for the following road trips.
1) Phoenix, AZ to Dallas, TX in July/August.
2) Great Falls, MT to Minneapolis, MN via Fargo, ND on December 22nd.(shortest day of the year.....headlights)
                                                 signed cynical

they can throw these things my way to test, I'm doing something like 20-30 miles within New York City , 170 highway miles, and 50 miles of decently twisty roads daily. With the hours I work, it's mostly dark and temperatures range from well over 100 in the summer to under 0 in the winter. Snow and rain don't keep me home and I don't go easy on the car. I can kill the weak examples in a year. 

[TAftonomos]

I'll jump in.

I'd love to see a cost effective hybrid vehicle.

Last week I bought a good condition E300 turbo diesel Benz.  1998, 150k miles, $4000.

Car is huge, and gets between 30-35mpg. 

I can buy a LOT of fuel for the $25000 I saved, have more usuable capacity, and argueably safety as well.

By the time the savings become apparent, the hybrid will be wore slap-out.  I commute 20 miles each way, 5 times a week.  If I could find a scooter or similar for CHEAP, that got 75mpg, I would ride everyday that I could.

[sno_duc]

they can throw these things my way to test, I'm doing something like 20-30 miles within New York City , 170 highway miles, and 50 miles of decently twisty roads daily. With the hours I work, it's mostly dark and temperatures range from well over 100 in the summer to under 0 in the winter. Snow and rain don't keep me home and I don't go easy on the car. I can kill the weak examples in a year. 

That's not a daily drive..............that's a forced march. 

bet you would not get 127mph 

[Howie]

they can throw these things my way to test, I'm doing something like 20-30 miles within New York City , 170 highway miles, and 50 miles of decently twisty roads daily. With the hours I work, it's mostly dark and temperatures range from well over 100 in the summer to under 0 in the winter. Snow and rain don't keep me home and I don't go easy on the car. I can kill the weak examples in a year. 

I would like to see that too.  I would like to see a variety of real world testing of hybrids so people can select what is best for them.

Extreme commuting (Lethe)
Heavy traffic urban commuting
Suburban loop
Taxi
Etc.

There is going to be a much bigger variation in fuel mileage from user to user in hybrid cars than conventional cars.  Plug ins complicate the issue more.  Some commuters will benefit greatly from hybrid technology, as will the rest of us.  Others will benefit more from a fuel efficient conventional car.  They have small diesels running around in the rest of the world that are capable of 50 - 60 MPG real life economy.

[Speedbag]

They have small diesels running around in the rest of the world that are capable of 50 - 60 MPG real life economy.

Ding, ding, ding - we have a winner!

It is beyond comprehension that small diesels aren't more prevalent in the US....

[mitt]

It is beyond comprehension that small diesels aren't more prevalent in the US....

Auto lobbyist, big 3, hint hint hint 

mitt

[Speeddog]

I haven't driven a recent small diesel, but the diesel Rabbit I drove briefly a *long* time ago was horrifically slow.

[mitt]

I haven't driven a recent small diesel, but the diesel Rabbit I drove briefly a *long* time ago was horrifically slow.

I had a diesel jetta for a few months while in France, it was a hell of a car - very quick and torquey.

mitt

[The Architect]

Auto lobbyist, big 3, hint hint hint 

mitt

I had a diesel jetta for a few months while in France, it was a hell of a car - very quick and torquey.

mitt

Last year we drove a few small diesels while in Italy.  They have come a long way!  All the infrastructure is in place in the US.  It's an easy transition. 

[gojira]

Along with the great questions posted here on the real-world experiences of hybrids and all-electrics ... one question I have yet to see answered:

If I run out of charge in an all electric, how fast can I fill it up? Or at least for any meaningful charge that I know will drive me x miles? Will I have to bring along a copy of War & Peace AND ponder the meaning of life beyond that? 

As long as filling it up with gas is faster than recharging, anything electric is academic at this point.

[mitt]

Along with the great questions posted here on the real-world experiences of hybrids and all-electrics ... one question I have yet to see answered:

If I run out of charge in an all electric, how fast can I fill it up? Or at least for any meaningful charge that I know will drive me x miles? Will I have to bring along a copy of War & Peace AND ponder the meaning of life beyond that? 

As long as filling it up with gas is faster than recharging, anything electric is academic at this point.

I don't have what the theoretical speed limit is on charging, but the practical times being touted are hours not minutes.  I am not sure what that hour gets you for miles either. 

The tesla site has some good information on their FULL CHARGE charging options from the basic 120V extension cords in a wall outlet (12 hours if I remember right) to a dedicated 90A 240V circuit in your garage (2 hours I think).

mitt

[mitt]

Yahoo just had a story about "electric vehicle range anxiety".  A new disorder caused by people not sure if they will make it home on X charge.  I would certainly have it, since I rarely let my gas cars get below 1/2 tank in case of emergency or disaster.

mitt

[sno_duc]

Then we get back to the temperature vs battery life thing.
30% charge will get you home on a 75* day, at -25* .......maybe it will or maybe you walk.

Googled battery capacity vs temperature and found this.
http://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm
Many interesting points. 

[LMT]

Sunday NY Times has a Volt artical.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/automobiles/17VOLT.html?_r=1&hpw