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This was posted on ecomodder by a GM tech and thought it was pretty interesting. This is the break down for the percentage of mileage increase per alteration on the Malibu Hybrid. As you can see, the hybrid system only accounts for about 1/3 of the actual mileage increase. Sadly, you don't find the other 2/3s of the alterations on the non-hybrid versions of the Malibu. :(


4% to Auto Stop (Hybrid Function)
1% to Regen braking (Hybrid Function)
3.5% to new Defuel Cutoff (ECM Programming)
3% to LRR tires
4.5% to Engine/Trans/Driveline optimizations (some of this is also in ECM programming)
0.5% to Aerodynamic modifications

16.5% total gain
10.5% from simply optimization
5% from hybridization

I brought that same question up over at GreenHybrid when the Civic Hybrid first came out. Since they always include aero drag reduction as part of the hybrid package, how much of the FE improvement seen in the hybrid over the non-hybrid forms of the car is due to the improved aerodynamics versus the hybrid powerplant.

My car is a good example of what is possible in the non-hybrid realm via aerodynamic improvements.