Will New EPA Mileage Standards Rat Out the Hybrids?

Good for you EPA!

It isn't over yet. The hybrid is only a pitstop. True energy savings will be found in 100% alternative fuel sources from fully electric cars to hydrogen power.

We'll see. One thing I'm certain is that the hybrid is not a long term solution, more like a bandaid. I don't see the hybrid being a popular option 12 years from now. The reason is a "hybrid" by nature is a compromise between a highly efficient engine (the electric motor) and a more powerful but ineffecient engine (fuel combustion). In the future, when the electric motor can be made more powerful, the fuel combustion engine will be rendered unneccessary, and thus the "hybrid" will simply be all-electric, without a need for a 2nd engine.

Finally. The more realistic MPG for hybrids (and displacement on demand vehicles as well most likely) will finally bring the truth out.

52 city and 45 highway for the Prius is much closer to what people actually possibly average. Looking forward to diesels matching and possibly exceeding the hybrids.

Nevermind, the sticker shown here is for the old Prius. But the same logic still applies.

I cant wait until the standards show ho inefficient huge pushrod V-6s and V-8s are on the highway. We'll see about diesels too.

The current EPA test allows hybrids to finish the test with a lower state of charge on the battery than they started. That is "cheating" the system.

Very old, old, old TDI. Also, those were "replicas" of different driving styles and not a "normal" drive as you would every day. Still, 50/50 for Prius is much below the EPA rating while the two normal powered cars got just around EPA rating.

Xero cool, you are an idiot. This article speaks of a new EPA ratings to make them more accurate so you use a 2004 article? That is the same as Sherwin Williams in 1952 saying how great this lead based paint is. Hybrids are a good step forward, but definately not worth the waste of extra money.

Yes, because many gasoline cars (VW Jetta for example) have the same EXACT pollution rating.
And diesels will have higher pollution ratings (cleaner) than the first/some of the current hybrids [ones not sold in California]

BTW, huu76, like I have said before, please stop being a hypocrite as your 1994 Jeep is dirtier than any new diesel.

The new EPA test will have the same amount of highway and city driving. But different types of driving: higher acceleration/ac use/lower temperature. This will drop normal cars on average 12% in the city and 8% on the highway. Hybrids will get hit harder (should)

BTW, saw the Prius today approach a right turn. It stops, the engine is still running eventough the Prius is stoped. Engine turns of, all quiet (pretty sweet). Two or three seconds later there is an oppening. The gasoline engine turns on again as the Prius has to actually accelerate in order to blend wiht the traffic. The electric engine definately doesn't have the power/juice to accelerate it quicker than a turtle. So the amazing Prius only saved 2-3 seconds of idling. Keep in mind that turning the engine ON most likely requires a bigger squirt of fuel than to keep it running. In other words you keep on biking (easy), you stop and have to start up again on your bike (harder/more energy used). This is my little hybrid story for today. That's all folks.

Well, it's a good thing that the EPA nor car magazines use your less-than-a-minute review period.

Hey, I saw a S55 take off super slow from a red light. Man that thing must be slow.

Come on people!

simple explanation for what you saw: that guy's battery was LOW on juice. low enuff that shutoff of ICE was delayed. low enuff it needed ICE to power off from stop.

Let me guess...

My car will have 15/20. Right now, I think it has 18/23 or something. I get 15-17mpg on a daily basis- driving pretty hard.

The Lexus, which we aren't trading in after all (most likely buying a new house instead- we were surprised by a house that fit our needs perfectly this weekend, but if we don't buy it we'll still get the A8 this year), will have 16/21. Right now, it has 17/24.

Please, PLEASE don't call them Eurotrash. You just started a flame war.

BTW, just about the entire European continent receives PLENTY of snow.

yes. i'm obviously eurotrash...because i'm from europe..
and huu...sweden? snows quite a bit there..the alps? the pyrenees? the sierra nevada? poland?

and bragging about the size of your house? but its probably in the middle of nowhere and is worth about 100000 pounds.

Europeans are such bums, they all live on the street. Ever consider that Europe is a much less rural compared to, Canada?

Hey Huu76, stop bragging about your house, 2800sqft home is not that big and 2 car garage is nothing to brag about since just about any house has a 2 car garage. Stick to the topic. Hybrids are just hype there is not saving in buying a hybrid since the money you save from gas won't cover the premium for the hybrid. It's just the green thing.

Oh, stop it!

You have French heritage, you know that?

I'm Irish. I'm Russian. I'm English. I'm Polish. I'm German.

And you know what?

I'm American.

And I STILL get offended when you call them "eurotrash". Stick to cars and get off your high horse, Canadian.