Changing 48 MPG City and 44 MPG highway

Because driving conditions and the behavior of the driver are such crucial contributions to the actual mpg reached.

I routinely clobber the old, higher EPA city ratings on my last two cars (1987 BMW 325i, 2002 Audi A4 1.8T), driving around Albuquerque. In fact, I usually beat the highway ratings in town.

But Albuquerque is not New York City (lots longer runs between stops), and I am not an average driver (I don't accelerate toward red lights, which by itself probably makes me above average in Albuquerque).

Folks should stop asking the EPA to match their own personal mpg numbers. They can't, and never will. They should ask the EPA to get the rank order about right by including the major effects in roughly a typical location/owner relation, so that we can have reasonable hope that the rank order will be somewhat close to right, and the relative values at least approximately right.

 

I think thats just it. The EPA number was never intended to tell you what you would get. It was a single controlled circumstance under which to compare car A vs. car B. Many people complained that they were getting well under the old EPA numbers, so they updated them to try and reflect more realistic driving conditions. The best they can do with 2 numbers is try and strike an average that will apply to as many people as possible. Most people in the US don't live in the city proper anymore, they live in the burbs. So I think it quite likely the "city" metric is skewed towards that population. Given that driving style can affect efficiency by a factor of 2 or more, and that the majority of people tend to be on the more aggressive end of that continuum, the new numbers are weighted accordingly.

Rob

 

Hi ctbering,

The test methods are published on government websites. If you read them you will find the "city" test speeds and stops are similar to your D.G. driving experience, and actual Chicago Downtown driving is not tested for at all. Ever drive around Dayton, Ohio or other smaller cities? Its similar to D.G. Not downtown Chicago. That is why the test is the way it is. Although that Finley Road southbound just north of Ogden is just like downtown Chicago. That is a route I do not use anymore. I run low on battery about 2/3's through that log jam.

 

as you already know when you drive and aren't moving you are getting 0 MPG regardless of the vehicle you drive. If you drive or live in a city where you spend as much time or more at a standstill or a crawl then driving then its the road and highway infrastructure of that city that is unable to meet your expectations.

 

Would like to suggest you to take a look following EPA site.
How Vehicles Are Tested
Fuel Economy Test Schedules

Ken@Japan

 

I agree the highway mileage is higher than the city mileage. That's my experience. That's because in most cities or suburbs, there is an overabundance of traffic lights. And it takes gas to start up from zero, even though you aren't using gas waiting at the light--as most others with conventional cars are.

I live in a suburb, a Republican-governed one at that, and the local politicos don't have a clue about conservation. The minute a soccer mom complains about cars going through her neighborhood, they put up another traffic light--at the taxpayers' expense. America does not yet have a conservation mentality, and that must change if we are to survive as a major industrial country.

 

Three words will explain it.. Newton's First Law.

More simply, stop-and-go traffic such as in congested Chicago will deteriorate your fuel economy because nothing can obviate Newton's First Law. When you come to a dead stop it takes a lot of energy to overcome the inertia of sitting still. With the hybrids your performance economy-wise is far far superior to any other fuel-powered vehicle but Newton's First Law wins in the end.

If you can keep rolling, even slowly, then you will do much better ( Downer's Grove traffic ).

My own experience in NYC. I used to commute to lower Manhattan in the Dark Ages before hybrids when the price of gas was inconsequential. Two years ago I retraced a typical commute from the Jersey suburbs to Lower Manhattan in my Prius. ( all in moderate/cool but dry weather conditions ).
I-80 at 65 mph for the first 20 miles I averaged about 47 mpg
I-80 across the GW Bridge to the FDR Drive at 30-50-30 mph but constantly moving ( ~ 50-55 mpg )
Down the FDR at 20-25 mph but moving constantly ( ~60-65 mpg )
Off the FDR and going crosstown from light to light to light ... 35 mpg !!!!
Turning down 7th Ave and Bway in very heavy traffic - but moving - at about 15-20 mph .... 70+ mpg !!!

Want to improve your fuel economy in the City ... don't stop. Seriously. Try to plan a route or time the lights so that you don't have to fight Newton's First Law.