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Hybrid Automobile Primer

by Randy Mears

After writing my last blog about automobile technology, I ran across this interactive article on CNET. It covers the basics for today’s hybrid automobile technology. It also contains some nice video presentations that are very well done. If you are interested in this topic, this article is worth a look.

Published Thursday, June 08, 2006 2:55 PM

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Posted by Richard Walton Wednesday, June 28, 2006 4:53 PM

I have been driving a hybrid Prius since 2001, and this page is a good general look at hybrids. Currently, I have a 2004 Prius. One thing that stood out in these pages was that people seem to be disappointed by their mileage not matching the projected figures. As the disclaimer on the mileage estimates say, “Your mileage may vary.”

And, this is true. Real life mileage is not always going to be what they claim. The tests are done in set conditions, in spring-like temperatures, over a set course and set time. Real life driving is not like that. We have shorter trips at times. We have trips in snow or rain. Our stop and go driving is not like that in the tests. Real life MPG for a hybrid is not what they claim. But, MPG is not what they claim for any car. I know I only checked my non-hybrid cars in the best of conditions, and only infrequently at that. The Hybrids make it easier to complain, because the technology allows the car to give you instant feedback of mileage. That makes long-term tracking very simple.

Mileage does vary. Some people cannot get close to the EPA prediction for the Prius of 51 on freeways, 60 in the city. Some people get close to it. Some even exceed it. In summer, my combined MPG average is 52. I usually get the highway figure easily, unless I am driving into the wind. In city driving, I can get stretches of 55-60, but my average trip is short, so it is generally below 55. In winter, it drops to closer to 49 MPG due to wet roads, colder temperatures in general, and a less efficient blend of gas. Overall, my year round mix of driving is just a bit below 50 MPG.

Having a car with so much technology can be intimidating. But, Toyota has very good warrantees on the hybrid components in the rare event that something goes wrong. You can try to maximize your MPG, or you can just drive it and trust the car to run in the most efficient way it can for the conditions at any moment. Either way, if you try a hybrid, you may find that you never go back to non-hybrids.