Hybrid cars, EPA stickers and mountain driving
EPA stickers outdated?
Well, duh. EPA estimates are unrealistic for the majority of
drivers in the majority of vehicles, but they are possible.
Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota
Prius, can achieve EPA standards, if driven differently
- you can't be a lead-foot and you must coast when possible.
Of course, many of these tactics make a conventional
gasoline-engine powered car more efficient as well.
Regardless, a hybrid
car offers drivers the ability to save much more gas
than a conventional car. And, if you are a lead-foot, a
hybrid vehicle will still save you gas, just don't expect to
reach EPA estimates on a hybrid, or a conventional car.
Another claimed problem with hybrids is steep hill driving.
The Ford
Escape hybrid, for example, has been rumored to be
sluggish in mountain driving. Yet, a hybrid Escape owner
told me that he, "SURPASSED the EPA rating of 31 MPG
highway. Over 400 miles of mountain driving I averaged 34
MPG at speeds between 65 and 80 MPH."
34 mpg during mountain driving, in a SUV? Are you kidding
me? Those are awesome numbers. Ford and Toyota deserve kudos
for that - since Ford leases Toyota's hybrid technology.
This too should bode well for the Lexus
RX400h hybrid and Toyota
Highlander hybrid SUVs.
