Zell, Chris wrote:
I'd still like to hear more evidence about superior gas mileage on
highway driving , however. It's hard to understand the improvement
in efficiency over a regular car in high gear and cruising.
I do not know about the Ford hybrid. With the Prius, it depends upon
speed. The other day I drove 40 miles on Atlanta highways when there
was some congestion and speed was limited to 55 - 60 mph. My average
came out at about 70 mpg, well above the 50 mpg highway rating. That
seems to be ideal highway speed. The only better conditions are 35 -
45 nonstop country roads, where you can maintain 75 to 100 mpg for
extended periods. At 75 mph or higher, gas mileage falls to 45 to 50
mpg, and the car is noisy.
My guess is that the main savings on the highway compared to a
regular car are from:
1. The regenerative "braking" going downhill. It is not really
braking, just constant speed, but you can clearly see the battery recharge.
2. The incredibly efficient transmission design.
3. Like most modern cars, the Prius is aerodynamic and it is light
but strong, especially compared to cars 30 years ago. However, the
Prius exceeds today's standard.
- Jed
