EPA Lowers Prius mpg

I can't help but think that now they are lowballing fuel economy. I get about 45 mpg in freezing temps with short trips, and I easily get 50 mpg going 75 mph in cold temps. I guess now nobody will be dissapointed with fuel economy; this could only raise the satisfaction rate of the car

 

Yeah, I get 48 regularly and that's with more than 50% freeway driving.

And it's not just the Prius that got lowered, ALL cars got lowered. My concern is, how did they go about lowering everyone? Retest everyone? Lower everyone by 20%? Just how arbitrary was it?

But I think if it this way. Now ALL of us can beat the EPA.

"Hardest hit in the government change is the Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid in the world. The 2007 Prius has a 60-miles-per-gallon rating for city driving. The new EPA calculation drops that by 12 mpg, or 20 percent, to 48 mpg. Highway mileage falls by 6 mpg, or 11.8 percent, to 45 mpg.

Note, though, that because the fuel economy ratings for virtually all vehicles are being dropped and no other vehicle had anywhere near the fuel economy rating of the Prius. Toyota's midsize hybrid sedan maintains its spot as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in America.

Remaining the second-best vehicle for fuel efficiency is another hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid, whose fuel economy rating also is going down.

In the government estimates, city mileage for the 2007 Civic Hybrid drops 18.4 percent, from 49 mpg to 40 mpg, while highway mileage declines 6 mpg to 45 mpg."

 

People complained because the EPA estimates were too high. Now watch as they complain the new EPA estimates are too low. If this is the biggest problem we have, we're in damned good shape.

 

And to think I just got 61.1 mpg for 30 mostly highway miles an hour ago. Hey, I guess that is 125% of the EPA number!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abq sfr @ Apr 3 2007, 04:39 PM) [snapback]417292[/snapback]</div>

Yup. The "I beat the EPA!" thread is pretty worthless. My last two tanks were over 54 MPG. That's well above the 46 MPG combined. It's great to be able to exceed the EPA numbers by 17% and there are quite a few folks who can do a lot better than that. How many other cars can say that?

 

No doubt. Now pretty much everyone will at least be achieving the estimates and the majority will be beating the estimates.

 

Well, considering I was beating the EPA estimate on the NEW Prius with my Classic Prius my improvement over the EPA rating will keep on climbing. I'm already at like 15% over and with the lowered ones I'll be pretty close to 40% more than the EPA estimate.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Apr 3 2007, 09:10 PM) [snapback]417319[/snapback]</div>

Hello all

JimN I agree with you on this. All anyone has ever heard and especially about the Prius is where in the World did the EPA get 61 MPG. This was just one of the Hybrids as has been noted in these post. All Hybrids have went through the "Negative" Press of not getting the FE that was on their Window Stickers. I have owned two Civic Hybrids and I can tell you that they do not get what is on the EPA window sticker for FE. I now have a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid (HCHII). Driving this car in a completely normal manner it is delivering somewhere around 38-40 MPG. That is it folks like it or not. On the interstate I drive with the flow of traffic at speeds like 70-80 MPH. I choose not to hold up traffic when I take off from stops. I don't just floor it but I also have consideration for those behind me and just accelerate in a normal manner not to hold up traffic.

This all being said about driving my Hybrid it now looks like when New-Owners are looking to see what these Hybrids are going to Deliver for FE it will be much more Real-World IMO. I'm glad the EPA is making the FE Facts so more and more people can see on the front end what to expect from the Hybrid of their choice.

Terry (tiger)

 

The UK economy is listed as 65.7mpg (UK gallon) for combined urban and extra-urban driving. This is around 54mpg US. I have a lifetime average of 58mpg which is around 48mpg US - which equals the new US EPA figure. The UK also has a classification ranging from A to G, so cars are grouped together on cabon dioxide emissions.

As for the numbers, I am sure that I can't get 0 to 60 in 10.2 seconds or do 107 mph under normal traffic conditions so why not water those down too?

I see the fuel economy figures as a target to aim for. The concern has to be will the new lower figures take away the incentive to try that little bit harder. I would rather know what the car can do rather than what Mr and Mrs average can expect.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abq sfr @ Apr 3 2007, 06:39 PM) [snapback]417292[/snapback]</div>

Being the highest mileage car, it makes sense it's the hardest hit. Do the math: Knock 20% of a Prius and you loose 12mpg. Knock 20% off a hummer & you only loose 2mpg.

 

Sweet now I beat the epa every time I drive no matter the time of year. I used to struggle to get over 55 avg and 60 was damn near impossible. When the weather is warm I can get upwards of 56 if I am really good with my driving. Now I have nothing to try for, as my yearly avg is 48. Well I say yearly but my car is only 10 months old with 11600 something miles.

[edit]

you know what I love. People tell me under the new epa my car gets lower mpg like it only affects the prius. I just remind them they to get lower mpg. But they should be monitoring their mpg because they will be surprised what the real number is. My friend drives a truck (for work) he thought he was getting 12mpg and was surprised to find it is more like 6-8 depending. But he also tows stuff and caries equipment. Why do people take the epa as to be exact no matter how they drive?

 

"This time, the EPA is adding new testing to account for drivers accelerating more quickly than in previous tests, driving at higher speeds and using air conditioning. It also is taking into account lower outside temperatures. All these factors can lower a vehicle's fuel economy..."

Hmmmm....

--Quicker acceleration should have an effect on all cars about equally, I'd think...

--Higher speeds? It's too bad they don't factor aerodynamic drag into their calculations! This seemingly would favor cars over trucks...and I'd guess, the Prius especially. But right now the revised tests would seem to benefit cars with a high final drive ratio (lower numerically) and a trans calibrated to get into top gear as quickly as possible at the EPA's throttle settings...something that's easy to tweak for better test results in a car with a normal transmission but perhaps more difficult with the Prius(?) So I'd guess all the SUV's out there will now be re-geared to do better in this area of the testing (but perhaps not in real life).

--Air conditioning? Isn't the Prius' system very efficient compared to conventional belt-driven A/C pumps? I'd think this would be a wash or perhaps favor the Prius.

--Lower outside temperatures? Again, I'd think this would have an effect on all cars equally.

I'm kind of at a loss to see how the Prius lost so much mileage, although (honestly) forecasting the mid/high 40's --and with a good chance to beat that in the real world-- still sounds pretty darn good to me!

 

Since there are so many factors invovled when driving a hybrid - temp, style of driving, terrain etc. I am glad to see the EPA being more realistic with the advertsied number - yes a few out there get 50-60 MPG but on the whole my self and 6 other prius owerns here in the Silicon Valley get on average 45MPG.

 

the numbers on all the cars i've looked at have gone down, hybrids as well as others. But, I must admit that I absolutely love it that i'm now Beating the crap out of the EPA estimates!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: