On the Toyota and Honda systems, yes. Coming home from Arizona in February, I set the cruise at (legal) 80 MPH in west Texas, and I got assist uphill, and regeneration downhill. I got about 40-42MPG at that speed bucking a pretty good headwind! The Honda will shut off the engine on long downhills at any speed, it actually closes both intake and exhaust valves for close to a net zero drag.
Still, where hybrids shine is in city driving where most folks do their driving. We were rear-ended last week, and had to put the Civic in the shop. Our 4-banger Altima rental got caught in stop-and-go traffic coming out of the repair shop. It averaged 12 MPG in that traffic--our hybrid would have gotten at least 45 MPG in the same traffic due to shutting the engine down when standing still. After eating, on the way home, the average MPG on the ALtima went up to 24, still about half of what we would have gotten on our car.
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edited 04/07/08 11:23pm by Peralko *
OK, thanks. I wasn't aware that the electrical system would kick in at highway speeds. and yes, I think for an around town vehicle they would shine, but 95% of my driving is at highway speeds.
but all of the batteries and equipment only weighs 70 lbs.? I thought the batteries would weigh a lot more.
bumpy
2manytoyz wrote: Why not just get a VW with a diesel TDI engine? Better mileage than even a Prius. Lots of torque, lots of get up -n- go. Lot more room than that little skateboard.
Not impressed with hybrid vehicles. The next generation of diesel engines will hit soon... netting about 70 MPG.
If the VW is more milage than the Prius then why is it not listed at the top of the Mileage list? It's not even close.
Have you drove a Prius? Been in one? Seen the pickup and speed they do have?
There are people here talking about cars they know nothing about unless they own one which I do. I filled up yesterday, 540 miles on 10.6 gallons. 200 miles in town the other 340 on the hwy. You do the math. How about 50.94 MPG. And the better thing about it, thats with the air on which has no effect on the car, as does do drag from the power steering. They are all electric with NO attachment to the engine. They have to be able to operate when you are in electric mode also.
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edited 04/08/08 04:49am by Don Don *
Bumpyroad wrote: When cruising at 65 on the highway, with toyota/honda hybrids is it the gas motor or electric motors moving you along? If it is the gas motor, is there any mechanism run by the gas motor to recharge the batteries? or do you have to plug them in at home? Do the batteries and electric motors add any weight to the vehicle?
If while cruising it is the gas motor doing the work, and if it has to do extra work to charge the batteries by running a generator/alternator and to move the extra weight, just how is it possible to get better gas mileage? perpetual motion perhaps?
if it does get better mileage then some sacrifice must be made in available power or something?
bumpy
Get one and read the book, or google search how a Prius works and you will see the Electric and Gas engine work together.
Thought about the smartcar as a toad; eliminated it because of the transmission; narrowed selection to a Saturn or Cobalt because of the transmission issue; found a nice red Cobalt LT coupe; awaiting the baseplate to complete conversion.
teddyu wrote: Thought about the smartcar as a toad; eliminated it because of the transmission; narrowed selection to a Saturn or Cobalt because of the transmission issue; found a nice red Cobalt LT coupe; awaiting the baseplate to complete conversion.
The Smart can be towed Flat. What is the issue with it?
Please see my signature - my towed is also my daily driver. There are significant differences between first generation (Civic, Camry, Escape, Mariner, etc.) hybrids and the second generation hybrid (Prius). Suffice it to say that I have averaged over 50 mpg for over 40,000 miles and 70% of that has been on freeways. Hybrids do need to be driven a bit differently than regular cars and do not do well with drivers that race from stoplight to stoplight. By the way, most of those miles were registered in South Florida with the air conditioning on. The electric compressor does affect mileage slightly but not as much as you might think.
The other difference is that the Prius is NOT a small car. The back seat room in a Prius is amazing, particularly the leg room. My son, who is 6' 5" can sit comfortably behind me with my seat all the way back. We have never had another vehicle, including SUVs and Vans, where that was possible.
Bob & Dagmar
Teddy (Shih Tzu)
1999 Monaco Diplomat 36
Cummins 5.9 (275) & Allison MD3060
2006 Toyota Prius Towed on Demco KK370SB Dolly
Bob47 wrote: The other difference is that the Prius is NOT a small car. The back seat room in a Prius is amazing, particularly the leg room. My son, who is 6' 5" can sit comfortably behind me with my seat all the way back. We have never had another vehicle, including SUVs and Vans, where that was possible.
We had the displeasure to ride in the back of a Prius taxi in Vegas. I'm 6'3" and my wife is 5'10". I had to lean forward so my head wasn't rubbing on the roof. The slope cuts into the headroom in the back. We were both hitting our heads on the roof with every little bump bottoming out the suspension. No luggage and it was only 20k mi old. Not nearly as much room as a Suzuki Aerio.
1993 Winnebago Vectra 37'
P30 - JetCo Air Ride w/Tag
The Prius has lots of leg room in the rear, but it is a bit short on rear headroom.
What it needs is a better car platform, better seats, better instruments, and a telescoping steering wheel. Other than that it is a great car!
Bob47 wrote: The other difference is that the Prius is NOT a small car. The back seat room in a Prius is amazing, particularly the leg room. My son, who is 6' 5" can sit comfortably behind me with my seat all the way back. We have never had another vehicle, including SUVs and Vans, where that was possible.
We had the displeasure to ride in the back of a Prius taxi in Vegas. I'm 6'3" and my wife is 5'10". I had to lean forward so my head wasn't rubbing on the roof. The slope cuts into the headroom in the back. We were both hitting our heads on the roof with every little bump bottoming out the suspension. No luggage and it was only 20k mi old. Not nearly as much room as a Suzuki Aerio.
reminds me of when I was in a car pool and one fella had a datsun hatchback. we had fistfights to avoid riding in the back seat and I am altitudely challenged.
bumpy
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