The Myth of Fuel Economy and High Gas Prices

I tell folks who complain about a Prius being too slow that we are both in a race to the gas pump . . . and we are letting them win and win and win.

Bob Wilson

 

While I generally agree I argue that maybe it has to do with too many people with too much disposable income. Fuel prices are already becoming an impediment for the truely poor and this will hopefully sway them to purchase efficient cars instead of '72 Cutlass Supremes and Yukons. It is for the truely poor that I refrain from laughing when I see fuel prices over $4/ga. As for the asshats that fly by me at 85mph in their gas guzzling ego on wheels, well I'll just keep my opinion of them to myself. I used to be one of hem afterall.....

 

My sentiments exactly. While I use to own a V-8 extended cab long bed '97 F-150 that I owned since new, I always drove it very conservatively and got a decent 17.5 MPG. But that was when fuel was still a $1.00/gal.

But even with fuel approaching $3.50/gal here I still see many people driving very large autos often at WOT throttle or close acceleration from traffic lights. Typical speeds on the highway are usually 80 MPH plus. If it was the autobahn, the average speed would be well over 100 MPH.

So I don't buy it that our country is in a recession. Driving habits have not perceivably changed and traffic jams and uninhibited fuel consumption are still at a high. OPEC and the oil companies blew it big time; by not figuring out that the average world consumer would have easily paid $100/bbl and more for oil years ago as they do today.

Rick
#4 2006

 

I think people are noticing the gas prices rising, here in South Florida there are more large 4WD Hummers on my commute to work than I can count on all of my fingers and toes, but I am noticing an increase of small fuel efficient cars like the Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris as well as an increasing number of Hybrids like the Prius, Civic and Camry. I just paid $3.42/gal, close to work, but where I live the price is $3.52/gal, both were Shell stations.

I took my kids camping this weekend and although I tried and could fit really tight all of the camping gear, clothes and food into my Prius, I decided to take my wife's 06 Oddysey minivan instead. I noticed something when I arrived at the park where I was going that surprised me a bit, 5, that's right, FIVE Prii parked in a parking lot of roughly 30 cars on it. That is he highest concentration of Prius cars I have ever seen outside of the dealership. One of them had hooked on a small bubble like trailer, I could not find the owner to ask him where he got it and it had no markings on it.

Driving habits are a hard thing to change in people, one thing that makes it easier while driving a Prius to drive conservatively is the real time MPG information you get, and the consumption screen telling you how you performed during different phases of your 1/2 hour commute, to me its like playing a game in which I try to better my score.

 

There are a variety of pop-up motorcycle campers that would probably do great on a Prius! Most run ~250 lbs, and many have a little kitchen built in!

Scooter Schooner

rob

 

I think one of the problems is that people conceive that gas is expensive but they are insulated from it.

Back in the day, people would put $20 into their tank. With the advent of the ATM/debit card, they just fill 'er up.

I don't think people with large vehicles actually LOOK at the cost of filling up. In other words, I think it would really hit home if they had to pull out their wallets and pony up $75 to the gas station attendant. They might then realize just how expensive it is to fill up their tanks and that maybe there may be a more sane way about this.

Yeah, and while I'm in my little dream world, I'd like a pony too.....

 

We spent the month of March in South Texas. We pulled our motorcycle trailer behind the Prius 3400 miles. Averaged slightly over 50 mpg tried to never get over 60 mph on the highways, but did have to travel at 65 a couple of times. Not as much fun as being on the Goldwing but got better fuel mileage than we would have on the Wing. It only gets in the low 40's.

 

Hello,

I´ve been saying this for months now: the oil industry does more for the environment than all the politicians do.

"Just increase the prices and then tell the people how to save fuel."
It´s a real slow change yet, but it´s continuosly going on.

Hopefully the prices rise up to 10 - 12 dollars per gallon in the next few years. (we already pay here in europe around 7,50/gallon)

I want to see all the SUVs die from thirst!

I travel about 1000 miles a month in the prius and pay for this 75,- euro (110.- dollars). What could all the stupidheads around me do with the money they´d save...

kr
wogue
(doing 50,5 mpg thats 4.7 l/100km)

 

That's just ... awesome.
.
But you're right, a lot of people probably just wave their
speedpass and go on their merry way, which detaches them
sufficiently from the point of sale that they don't think
about it at the time and just pay the bill when it arrives.
.
Like we're gonna do with China...
.
_H*

 

Maybe their just running the hell out of them, racking up the miles, while they still can still somewhat afford it.

 

When I see the trucks and SUV's doing the speed limit, Than I'll know the price of gas is high!!

 

Personally, I don't think people realize that their driving style impacts their fuel economy. I bet that 70% of drivers just think that their car gets whatever # of miles per gallon that the sticker on the car said the EPA measured, and thus gas prices don't affect their driving.

 

+1 People at work ask me all the time about my gas mileage and all say that they would like to get a more efficient car, on the way home they all drive like maniacs, weaving through all 3 lanes down the highway constantly hitting their brakes.

 

i think the cost of gas is a delayed effect. i work in what is almost considered an "essential" industry and i am seeing growing pressures on our customers to manage their monthly bills over other expenses.

i have personally talked with a growing handful of customers who are now looking to save money in other areas of their life so they can afford to buy more gas.

things will come to a head this summer and it will not be pretty. its sad to see so many people suffering, but we should have been at this point at least 3 years ago. i would much rather have seen a much more gradual increase resulting from increased taxes with the money to fund or subside BEV projects. if that were the case, we would have viable alternatives now.

instead, private companies have been on their own, small and struggling for the most part. that is why i drive a BEV with a laundry list of limitations. my Zenn does save me a ton of money, but it is only a niche product. i have rearranged my life, made some sacrifices, etc to make it as big a niche as i can. i am lucky i have the opportunity and the means to be able to pull it off.

most are not so lucky. many are stuck in leases or loans or long commutes. but lets face it. cheap gas is why we are screwed. ya we thought we were deserving but in reality we were getting screwed and didnt know it. the perfect scam...

 

I agree, don't think that the average person really thinks that anything he/she might do in terms of driving affects mileage, other than traveling a given number of miles. Even though they've all heard about how much gas you save by slowing down, by keeping air in your tires, by avoiding short trips and stop/go traffic, etc., they really don't get it because they simply don't pay attention. I think that gas prices are causing increasing awareness of those things, but it's gradual at best.

Real time feedback via the Prius' MFD, or another vehicle via a ScanGauge or built-in mileage computer is invaluable. OTOH, a friend of mine who drives an Explorer which has a real-time mileage meter told me he turned it off because seeing it was "too depressing". Ostrich, meet hole-in-the-sand!

 

I am frequently approached by fellow employees and strangers who want to know about my Prius. I keep detailed records on a spreadsheet and always have one handy to give to the person - pointing out the last tank and cumulative fuel economy (27k mi, avg. 50 mpg). They either respond with "I don't believe it," or "I am thinking of getting one of these."

In most cases, poor or rich, people do not see an alternative. Light and high speed rail is limited. Amtrak is frequently delayed or not convenient. Many have invested in a large SUV and now committed, feel stuck with their payments and poor fuel economy because "I have stuff to haul."

The 2010 PHEV Prius will push the paradigm shift forward and attitude and buying habits will begin to change. As China and India compete on the world market for oil, water and food, our US lives will become more expensive and people will complain, but begin to make changes to greater efficiency.

 

Four years ago I drove a Prius belonging to a friend. I knew I wanted one. Finally, two years later the old Chevy started showing her age. The Toyota dealer talked me out of a Prius (2006) and I ended up with a Camry. "After all, you can buy a lot of gas for the $6K difference. And with your driving style, you really don't need the Prius." I can't say he was wrong, then.

Fast Forward: Gas is $1.50 more and no end in sight. Back to the dealer. "I would like to look at a Prius." He asked me about my driving, how much, city, or highway, etc. We got in the golf cart and rode around the lot. He showed me all of the Corollas with their pretty colors and nice wood trim and I left.

WAIT! I never even saw a Prius. A carefully worded ,and nice, e-mail to the General Manager and I received a personal invitation to come back and see him, so I did. He introduced me to his "best" salesman and said to make sure I was happy. I AM! (When the GM introduces you to a salesman, he works very hard to make sure you are happy. <smile>)

But, I digress from the point. For the majority, I believe, driving their existing 4+ year old gas hog is the result of their financial situation, not ego that prevents them from buying a fuel efficient vehicle. That was me 20 years ago. Living from paycheck to paycheck with an older car, that was paid for, made trading next to impossible.

I try to give them a break and hope that someday soon they too will be able to afford some of the finer things of live that I have been fortunate enough to obtain. (Yes, there are some jerks out there where it is all about ego, but most are hard working folks trying to keep their lives together.)

<Soap Box Off>

Bob

Bob

 

I live in Houston and so far the only effect of fuel prices doubling in two years is whining. I mean whining like you never heard, from people who still aren't even considering making any kind of substantive change. Gotta run, almost time for my park-and-ride bus!

 

Still see them almost daily making the rude left pass that almost scrapes the paint.

Last week, one guy took it to the road rage level and after the FU pass, slamed his breaks and went too slow to even hypermile. I'd loved to have the Dallas Police involved! He had two lanes to the left of me - he went out of his way to demonstrate he needs his license revoked.