Your Mileage May Vary | Green Energy News

September 4, 2005 – Vol.10 No.24

YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY.

That’s the disclaimer car manufacturers give when stating fuel economy for their vehicles. It’s true. Vehicle condition and driving habits can dramatically affect fuel economy.

Hybrid vehicles are no exception. According to the Fuel Economy website offered by the U.S. Department of Energy, the average mileage of 38, 2005 Toyota Prius drivers is 48 miles per gallon. The official rating for the vehicle is an average of 55.

With the introduction of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Ford wants to please customers and make sure that the mileage they may get is close to what’s posted on the window sticker. The Mariner is essentially a rebadged Ford Escape. (As will be the Mazda Tribute Hybrid when it arrives.)

In a two-part program Ford has launched an educational program in the form of a website and a series of fuel economy clinics in major markets around the country that will offer tips for better fuel economy from hybrids. (Any hybrid driver could take advantage of the tips in this website, since all hybrids get their vastly improved fuel economy in pretty much the same manner: stored electricity is used more efficiently to propel the vehicle than thermal energy.)

Most of the recommendations will improve the fuel economy of conventional vehicles as well. Keep tires inflated properly. Don’t drive aggressively. Drive more slowly, etc.

But, for hybrid drivers there are additional tricks. Allow longer braking distances to recapture more of the energy of braking in the vehicle’s battery pack. Keep the vehicle in a garage if possible to keep the battery at a more consistent temperature.

As more hybrids are introduced, fuel economy will be scrutinized by owners, the press, and consumer groups. The next generation 2006 Honda Civic hybrid is on its way to showrooms as you read this.

The car is stated by Honda (not the government yet) as getting 50 miles per gallon in both city and highway driving.

Honda has reportedly changed its hybrid technology to be more like Toyota’s. The new generation Civic hybrid should be able to be driven on electric power alone. The current car can’t. That switch should allow the car to be adaptable to a plug-in hybrid either by aftermarket kits or by Honda themselves.

Further, an announcement from General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and BMW that they will form a global alliance to develop hybrid technology, gives hope that very high fuel economy hybrids, like plug-in hybrids, may be on their way.

The companies say the technology to be pursued is a dual mode hybrid. In city driving the cars will be able to be driven on the vehicle’s two electric motors or by the combustion engine alone. The two drive systems will be able to work together as well.

A plug-in hybrid variation (again by aftermarket or the companies themselves) would be an additional battery pack and charging equipment. There’s no announcement, yet, from any manufacturer that they are considering plug-in hybrids.

Visit Honda at http://automobiles.honda.com/ , Mercury Mariner Hybrid at http://www.marinerhybrid.com/ GM at http://media.gm.com/