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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Careful drivers have achieved 100 mpg behind the wheel of plug-in hybrids. (http://www.wired.com/cars/coolwheels/news/2009/05/plugins0506)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Hymotion_PHEV_driven_to_HF2006_from_Canada.jpgScott McCredie - Wired (http://www.wired.com/) - May 5, 2009

Current plug-in conversions certainly leave a lot to be desired... --Ed.

Seattle has outfitted more than a dozen Toyota Prius hybrids with new plug-in technology to squeeze even better fuel efficiency from the eco-wonder.

City officials were intrigued by data suggesting they could cut their fuel consumption in half by using batteries charged directly from the grid. If claims are to be believed, drivers would routinely see 100 mpg using readily available battery packs installed in the trunk.

Just over a year after performing the conversions, the city says it is thrilled with the cars. The plug-in Prius hybrids have used less gas and emitted less CO2 than their conventional counterparts. But the tests also have put a big dent in the plug-in promise.

Having racked up some 17,000 miles, the plug-in Prius hybrids are averaging just 51 mpg. That's raising uncomfortable questions about the value and effectiveness of plug-in technology, even as President Obama pledges to have 1 million of them on the road by 2015.

"Getting 51 miles per gallon sounds fine compared to most gas cars," railed Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat. "But it's a black eye for a technology that trumpets it will get twice that."

Greentrepreneurs routinely cite 100 mpg as the new benchmark for eco-conscious drivers, and even Wired magazine touted the figure in a cover story last year. But it's more than a psychologically comforting number. It's a figure we can achieve with... http://www.wired.com/cars/coolwheels/news/2009/05/plugins0506

How are they getting mileage that low? Isn't that right at EPA for a non-converted Prius? Unless they're forgetting to plug them in, in which case the battery is just a big ballast weighing it down.

It's all right here:

"EV advocates have a simple answer – the drivers aren’t being told how to maximize fuel efficiency, and they’d don’t care because they aren't paying for the gas.

To get the most from plug-in hybrids, EV advocates say, you've got to us a light touch on the accelerator, mind your speed and plug it in at every opportunity to keep the batteries fully charged.

"Drive impact is really huge," said Francfort. "Aggressive driving effects the mileage of all cars, but with plug-in hybrids there’s more of an impact."


Keep in mind that 51 mpg is still 11 mpg better than the same people driving a regular Prius.

Keeping the cars charged is also key. If the battery runs down, the gas engine must work harder – the battery becomes dead weight – and that cuts efficiency. Seattle officials discovered the plug-ins were tooling around with dead batteries nearly one-third of the time. The cars with fully charged batteries got 50 percent better fuel economy than those with dead ones.

I found it. It was in the article already.

Having racked up some 17,000 miles, the plug-in Prius hybrids are averaging just 51 mpg.

That's exactly the running average on my Prius since I last reset the gauge back in mid-March.

Harry

So what you are saying is that it hasn't been worth the $10K per vehicle they paid? :p

Why bother, if you're not going to use the capability?

You'd think the writer would have found out what the fleet average for the near 300 conventional prius was.

If the leadfoots getting 51 from the plug-ins only got 36 from the regulars thats 42% increase.

Lets secretly switch the plug in Prius with an EV and see what happens. I'm willing to bet there would be a bunch of tow trucks hulling around EVs because the drivers would not plug them in.

That would quickly find the culprits. :D

"they’d don’t care because they aren't paying for the gas." and not taking the time to plug them in to charge??

I think this story tells us a LOT about city employees. My guess is, we would see the same
poor results with state and federal employees.

Wasting taxpayers money important?? Nope, they could care less about MPG.
Using these untrained, uninterested people, isn't really a good way to find out about MPG.

I would not be put off converting a Prius to plug-in based on this kind of info.

I bet these drivers have the same driving habits as the Prii that pass me on the interstate. They probably drive 80mph, and accelerate like the Taliban is about to launch an RPG at them.

I had a Prius driver honk at because they thought I was going too slow about 2 months ago. He probably complains that he's only getting 36mpg from his hybrid.

There are some Prii with CT State Gov plates buzzing around CT and they certainly aren't driving economically, or even obeying the PSL.

Once again the perception that cars "get" a certain mpg no matter what the "driver" does.

I was climbing a hill on the local Interstate, doing 60 mph in my Prius, and another Prius went by doing at least 75 mph. The majority of Prii I see on the open road are ramming and jamming.

Harry

You'd think the writer would have found out what the fleet average for the near 300 conventional prius was...

He did mention that the 51 mpg was 11 mpg better than the unmodified version was getting.

So 40 mpg with the conventional. 27.5% increase.

^

Good eye, I missed that.