Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <4825b408$0$30507$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
> Don R <don@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
>> Of course many or most of the hybrids
>> get 40 mpg in the city. As you probably already know, their mileage is
>> better in city than on the highway.
>
> Nope.
>
> Driving the Prius the same way I've driven every car for the last 30
> years, with the climate control set to keep ME comfortable, the Prius
> gives 45mpg in the city and around 50mpg on the highway.
>
> Colder weather will see lower numbers, but colder weather will also
> cause other cars to see lower numbers, too--presumably by the same
> percentage.

It may be by a higher percentage. I believe the Prius has to have its
motor running more because the batteries don't store energy as well when
they are cold (the voltage is lower) and the engine has to be on to give
heat.

> The thought originally was that the savings from a hybrid drivetrain
> would be in the city, and that may be for the Honda's drivetrain, but it
> certainly isn't for the Prius.

While you are correct that many (but not all) hybrid cars and trucks
still have better highway mileage, more fuel is saved in the city. If a
car gets 20 city/ 30 highway without a hybrid system and 30/35 with a
hybrid system, the car will save 17 gallons of gas every thousand miles
driven in the city, but only about 3 gallons every 1000 miles driven on
the highway.


> The Prius is like every other car

Some hybrids still get better city mileage than highway mileage, like
the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute. Of course, these are trucks, not cars.

Jeff

> --get
> it on the highway, set the cruise control, and see better mileage than
> you see in the city.
>