D.C. Watch

Hybrid + Air Conditioning = Not so Friendly

Earlier findings from an ongoing DOE study suggests that, hybrid cars, with their AC cranked up yields 15 to 27 percent lower fuel efficiency. This on top of reports that hybrid car gas mileage is 30 to 50 percent less than promised and the high price of these cars makes a strong case for new car buying “fence sitters” to opt for [hybrid’s] conventional counterpart.

To make matters worse, the DOE research team also determined that the computer dashboard readings for fuel economy – which most drivers use to base their judgment rather than manually calculating the actual mpg -inflates mileage numbers by somewhere between 10 to 20 percent.

On the brighter side, the testing dispelled a persistent myth that the rechargeable batteries need to be frequently replaced.

Hybrids, once thought out to be “the solution” to lessen the pollution burden of gasoline hungry Americans just might be a Wolf in Sheep’s clothing. My contention, “a market squarely focused on Hybrid is limited and lacks technology diversification. We need to develop small cars with small engines, reducing the weight of vehicles by using more plastic, and stopping marketing SUVs as safer vehicles.” Hybrids, well, if that is how Diaz and DiCaprio feel connected to planet Earth, let em pass.

Originally posted at environment.thoughtmechanics.com

Source: Hybridcars.com

 

Tags: Oil, Hybrid, DOE, Engineered, Activism, Engineer, Sustainability, Environment, Energy, Technology

Posted by Moderator on August 8th, 2006 filed in Activism, DOE, Energy, Engineer, Engineered, Environment, Hybrid, Oil, Sustainability, Technology Discuss now »