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Hybrid Cars Don't Live Up to Mileage Claims

Posted by timothy on from the my-wagon-slurps-gas dept.

Omega1045 writes "Wired News is running a great little article about how hybrid cars (specifically Honda and Toyota models) do not come anywhere close to living up to their fuel efficiency claims. The article highlights that the EPA tests are more to blame than the car manufactures. Consumer reports has shown that the mileage for these cars can be as low as 60% of the claims. The article also links to a blog authored by hybrid enthusiast Pete Blackshaw detailing his failures getting any real answers on why his Honda Civic Hybrid isn't getting better fuel mileage. It looks like these cars are more hype than help in the battle against pollution and foreign fuel reliance."

5 of 1,528 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Get an SUV by pe1rxq · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Does this mean I should get an SUV

    Ofcourse! Because if a hybrid is only doing better than a normal car instead of much better you should get the most polluting car you can get.

    Jeroen

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    Secure messaging: http://quickmsg.vreeken.net/
  2. Stupid Hippies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    And all the stupid hippies wasted their money trying to save the planet HAHAHA

  3. Re:Better than nothing by MrIrwin · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    About a year ago I read some figures (in an EU auto magazine) for a hybrid golf prototype developed by a private firm. They split the figures so you could work out what you would expect to get on your itinarys.

    Upshot was that my daily trip to work consumed more than I would expect from a MPI diesel utility, which would also have more performance.

    I think the best way to make a quantumn leap in world ecology is to simply get rid of the Americans.

    --

    And if you thought that was boring you obviously havn't read my Journal ;-)

  4. Could wait until the GM Hydrogen comes out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    You could simply not buy the Jap cars and wait until GM introduces their Hydrogen car. That will be when we once again make the Jap's look foolish and way backwards. The hybrids will ultimately fail as they have them. My neighbor owns a Prius and it has been in the shop more than he has had it - about 3 months so far. Maybe that one was made wrong (girls walking down the assembly line ....). I expect Honda and Toyota to discontinue these lines soon. They loose too much money on them. Besides the later Geo Metro's get better mileage then they do.

    Ahhhhnold has already said he wants hydrogen fueling stations in the major metro areas of California and many highways. GM has a way to get Hydrogen from standard gasoline until standard Hydrogen stations are around.

  5. Re:Better than nothing by Spazntwich · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    The concept of an engine primarily powered by air has been around for quite a while in the form of A STEAM ENGINE, YOU INSENSITIVE CLOD. Your friend is neither intelligent nor creative.