It is definitely dependant on driving style, especially for the Prius. To get the best MPG the car needs slow starts and stops and consistent speeds. If one is a jackrabbit, jump on the gas, hit the breaks at the last second driver then the MPG will suffer for it.
Also, the Honda and the Toyota use the electric components in different ways. The Honda is optimized for gas savings. It is a smaller, lighter car. The gas engine is always providing power to the wheels; the electric engine is used for extra power and bursts of energy for acceleration allowing the gas engine to run at a consistent efficient speed. The Prius is optimized for low emissions. The electric engine is used for starting and up to about 25 mph. The gas engine is used for recharging the batteries and cruising at highway speeds. When stopping the electric motor as a generator to slow the vehicle reclaiming some energy. Thus slow consistent driving gets the best results. -------------- Ian Skinner Web Programmer BloodSource www.BloodSource.org Sacramento, CA "C code. C code run. Run code run. Please!" - Cynthia Dunning ....-----Original Message----- ....From: Aaron Rouse [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ....Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 7:40 AM ....To: CF-Community ....Subject: Re: Hybrid Cars .... ....I think it comes down to driving style and conditions. Reason I think ....that ....is I have seen many people complaining about their hybrids not getting ....what ....was advertised and then many people stating high numbers. So something ....must ....be causing the differences in mpg reported. Either that or the cars are ....just ....inconsistant ;) .... ....On 4/27/05, C. Hatton Humphrey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: ....> ....> On 4/27/05, Ian Skinner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: ....> > > "People are starting to flock to the high-mileage, low-emission ....> vehicles like the Toyota ....> > > Prius and Honda Insight." ....> > ....> > I can say I am pleased with our 5 day old - new to us, slightly used ....> 2004 Prius. We're ....> > at 50+ MPG average and still climbing. ....> ....> I've heard local anticdotal reports that the hybrids aren't performing ....> as well as originally predicted. Anyone hear/see anything about that? ....> ....> Hatton ....> ....> .... .... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:155562 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
