[extropy-chat] Hybrid cars not fuel economic in real world driving

[BillK]

<http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-06-11-hybrids-fuel-economy_x.htm>

So many people have complained about disappointing fuel economy of
gas-electric hybrid cars that the federal government is telling
automakers to consider putting more realistic mileage labels on their
cars or do a better job warning buyers that they won't get the
advertised mileage.

Poor fuel economy has been among hybrid owners' top gripes, according to
consultant J.D. Power and Associates, as much as three times as high as
for other small cars and even surpassing that of owners of gas-thirsty
sport-utility vehicles.

"Most of our cars get 10% to 15% less than the EPA (rating) in the real
world," says Toyota spokesman Mike Michels. "A 10% to 15% variance looks
a lot bigger on a 55-mpg (hybrid) car than on (a gas-power) one that
gets 15 or 20."

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Looks like the technology is still too new and needs a bit of work to
optimize it.  Till then a normal small gas engine looks like a more
efficient system.

BillK