Right Lane Cruiser
04-13-2009, 07:26 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg The DOE started testing of plug-in hybrid cars in partnership with private and public fleet owners in 2006. (http://seekingalpha.com/article/130552-testing-plug-in-hybrids-what-the-results-mean)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Hymotion_12kWh_Li-Ion_equipped_FEH.jpgUcilia Wang - Seaking Alpha (http://seekingalpha.com) - April 12, 2009
These machines are still very dependent upon specialized driving for maximum mileage. --Ed.
When it comes to plug-in hybrids, your mileage will vary. All over the place. Look at Google's highly touted, seven-week test of converted plug-in hybrid electric Priuses. The results showed that the cars were able to achieve an average of 93.5 miles per gallon. "The plug-ins did great, getting as much as 93 MPG average across all trips, and 115 MPG for city trips!" boasts Google.org on its website.
That's good and fits in with the 100-mile-per-gallon standard often associated with the cars. But a close look at how Google did the tests, and it became apparent the tests don't reflect real-life.
Google hired five professional fleet drivers from a local shuttle service and had them drive on designated city and highway routes mostly located in flat Silicon Valley and under mild weather. Each trip was designed to allow the tester to complete it with power from a fully charged battery pack. (Google said some trips used up the entire battery before they ended).
Google also instructed drivers to accelerate moderately, though it claimed it didn't otherwise teach the drivers tricks for getting the best mileage.
The Department of Energy conducted its own tests in a more hoi polloi fashion and got about half that.
As major carmakers get ready to launch mass-produced plug-in hybrids over the next few years, everyone from government agencies, private car fleet owners, utilities and researchers are carrying out more road tests to gauge just how good of a fuel economy you could expect from a plug-in hybrid. The plug-in hybrid passenger cars that can be seen on the road today are regular hybrids – mostly the Prius or Ford (F) Escape – that have been outfitted with an extra... http://seekingalpha.com/article/130552-testing-plug-in-hybrids-what-the-results-mean
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Hymotion_12kWh_Li-Ion_equipped_FEH.jpgUcilia Wang - Seaking Alpha (http://seekingalpha.com) - April 12, 2009
These machines are still very dependent upon specialized driving for maximum mileage. --Ed.
When it comes to plug-in hybrids, your mileage will vary. All over the place. Look at Google's highly touted, seven-week test of converted plug-in hybrid electric Priuses. The results showed that the cars were able to achieve an average of 93.5 miles per gallon. "The plug-ins did great, getting as much as 93 MPG average across all trips, and 115 MPG for city trips!" boasts Google.org on its website.
That's good and fits in with the 100-mile-per-gallon standard often associated with the cars. But a close look at how Google did the tests, and it became apparent the tests don't reflect real-life.
Google hired five professional fleet drivers from a local shuttle service and had them drive on designated city and highway routes mostly located in flat Silicon Valley and under mild weather. Each trip was designed to allow the tester to complete it with power from a fully charged battery pack. (Google said some trips used up the entire battery before they ended).
Google also instructed drivers to accelerate moderately, though it claimed it didn't otherwise teach the drivers tricks for getting the best mileage.
The Department of Energy conducted its own tests in a more hoi polloi fashion and got about half that.
As major carmakers get ready to launch mass-produced plug-in hybrids over the next few years, everyone from government agencies, private car fleet owners, utilities and researchers are carrying out more road tests to gauge just how good of a fuel economy you could expect from a plug-in hybrid. The plug-in hybrid passenger cars that can be seen on the road today are regular hybrids – mostly the Prius or Ford (F) Escape – that have been outfitted with an extra... http://seekingalpha.com/article/130552-testing-plug-in-hybrids-what-the-results-mean