EPA "city" test
Posted on 06/01/2005 8:34:45 AM PDT by gridlock
The problem now is that so many vehicles are being designed to the test. The new Dodge 300/Magnum takes advantage of the 18 second 0-60 times in the EPA test by accelerating without ever using four of the eight available cylinders. But in real life, the driver puts the foot down, uses all 8 cylinders, and goes 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. This leads to dramatically lower actual real-world milage for almost everyone.
But the worst offenders in this respect are the Hybrids. The rule says that each vehicle starts with a fully charged battery. Much of the work of running the test is done by the battery, but the engine is never run to recharge the battery before the test is over. In the extreme case, if somebody built an all-electric car capable of completing the test, it would show an infinite number of miles to the gallon. Automakers might not be able to claim that with a straight face, however.
The test has been around so long, the automakers are finally designing ways to get around it. Customers, however, will not stand for this for long.
The funny part is that I'm one of those people whose driving style allows them to usually slightly exceed the EPA mileage ratings on vehicles - and I'm usually not found below the speed limit. Quite the opposite, actually...
I take the EPA ratings with a 25lb bag of salt.
Of course, the watermelons don't like my bug cause it is a diesel and not a hybrid.
"Automakers might not be able to claim that with a straight face, however.
You might be surprised how bold advertisers can be.
But...when trade him in the trade-in will make me whine due to all those incentives....
The problem is not with the EPA, or with the method. The numbers are not "wrong". The problem is people, ignorant of science and the scientific method, and functional morons when it comes to analyzing any related information on their own.
The EPA tests all cars in the laboratory, under simulated conditions that ignore such details as wind, humidity, rolling resistance, friction coefficient and probably more that I can't think of.
In real life, each different car, shape efficiency and tires affect the EPA results in different ways, but they are all tested exactly under the same conditions , which allows comparing apples and apples.
How the cars react to real life conditions and driving styles is almost impossible to quantify, so the range of 10 to 20% reduction is reasonable.
In my Prius, the most "efficient" speed, mileage wise, is around 45 mph, an absurd speed for commuting on I5.
So "mileage may vary" takes on a whole new meaning.
My personal experience at first was a whopping reduction from the advertised 60mpg to around 42, a reduction of a whopping 30%. But that was at 70mph with occasional burst of 80.
Having adjusted driving style a bit, more recently, my average is now 46-50, a reduction of roughly 20%, still significant, at speeds of 62-65, and never exceeding 70mph.
All it takes is a grasp of the real world, and somewhat of an understanding as to why the EPA numbers were never intended to reflect the real world, but are simply one attempt at objective comparison.
The professional idiots can't seem to buy a clue.
If the standard is changed to reflect reality, the effect can't help but be the exact opposite.
Suddenly the average corporate mileage figures will plummet!
Hell, I would love to get 80% of the range in the slick color brochure that helped to sell me the 2003 model.
The least discussed design disaster in the prius is that, rather than the 600 mile range advertised, it is closer to 400, since the fuel management computer never allows you to really fill the tank (by 1 to 3 gallons), then to add insult to injury, it does not allow you to use the last 1 to 2 gallons before sutting down!
EPA "city" test
The complaint here is that changing the testing procedure to give much lower results while leaving the requisite scores as before will have the same effect as increasing the required scores under the old system.
Using real numbers, pretend GM's 2005 car fleet scores 27.5mpg under the current test, meeting the 27.5mpg CAFE standard and thus can be sold without penalty. A new test regimen will give the exact same cars a new score of 22.0mpg. This will no longer meet the CAFE standard, and would have to be made 25% more efficient to be sold without fines. This would be just like RAISING the CAFE standard to 34.4mpg using the old test procedure.
Small Euro type turbo diesels...
But the US doesnt seem too interested..
My Cummins TD gets better mileage than most of the so called
economy cars..
My vehicle was rated 15-20MPG.
It gets 17.9 on my work commute and if I drive down into town (600 foot drop over a mile or so) and back it gets about 100MPG going down and about 1MPG going up.
My vehicle should have been rated 5-20MPG. Stop and Go traffic is akin to opening a spitcock and draining the gas onto the pavement.
For some reason I see this as behind Cantwell's bill. The hybrids are having a very difficult time in meeting thier EPA numbers. Hybrids are the darlings of the left and the MSM and this just cannot be so.
I can't think of a single vehicle I've owned over the past decade thad did not meet it's EPA numbers. And I have a lead foot and drive 80mph on the hwy.
As a matter of fact, some have done even better (2000 VW Diesel Beetle).
My suggestion would be to save money by moving. You can get gas well below $2/gallon in Texas, Mississippi or Georgia. (The cheapest I've seen is about $1.93 in Mississippi - prices may be lower away from the interstate).
The offenders aren't the hybrids or their manufacturers. The federal govt makes the rules. My Prius averages around 48 mpg overall. No one really thinks it gets 65 mpg in town. The automakers don't make the claims, the govt requires that the numbers get reported.
I've read that diesels are useually understated. I don't understand why.
Funny thing about the watermelons and their hybrids, the old diesel Focus (available in Europe) gets 60mpg, better than the prius or insight.
Oh, and I am NOT a lefty. I like the car because it is cool, and does get pretty good mileage. My favorite thing about it is the smart key. I never have to take the key out of my pocket to unlock it or start it. I tell people it "knows" me... I am just a gadget guy.
"Americans expect government data to be accurate,..."
BWAAAAAHAAAHAAAAAA!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.