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Old 12-11-2012, 10:41 PM   #19
SilverSubaab
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 88288
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Central MA
Vehicle:
.... At this point,
even I have lost track.

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Quote:
Originally Posted by quentinberg007 View Post

My Mkv GTI would ape-rape a Fusion hybrid powerwise, but I still always managed the pre-revised highway MPG estimates over 58k miles. I even hit every onramp like it was my last (pulled over going 80 still on the onramp once). Running the 11 and 13 mile tests with a fully charged, large-capacity battery and a high speed capable electric motor will definitely allow some unrealistic numbers.

Here is a simplified example. My Prius will do 1 mile in EV mode if I have the battery charged to the top. Imagine if the test were a 3 mile cycle that never went over 25mph. Even if my Prius only got 35mpg while it was recharging the battery on those next 2 miles, after nearly depleting it to run as much EV as possible, the "rating" would be 52.5mpg.

I don't believe the EPA test calls out charge level when starting the test or anything about charge level at starting the test versus ending the test. If the Volt didn't have a way to charge other than the gas engine, a 1/4 charged Volt would get an infinity rating even though we know it really doing ~35mpg when the gas engine is charging the battery.

I think the current EPA test is reasonably accurate for IC engines. I think it inflates hybrid numbers and more so when you throw a big battery and a high speed electric motor in the mix. Mild hybrids that require the gas engine to be running all the time are probably OK on the current EPA cycles. Being able to shut the engine off and run solely on electric power leaves a lot of room for the engineers to play.
Mmmmmm......ape-rape.........
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