Stan, your math is off. 3.2L/100km is nearly 73mpg. In the late 1990s, VW had a Lupo that did under 3L/100km (sometimes as little as 2.5L/100km) which is nearly 100mpg.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [USMA:41214] RE: LTE - Hybrid & Diesel Economy Math
From: "STANLEY DOORE" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, June 24, 2008 10:10 am
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
3.2 L / 100 km = 52.5 miles per gallon.
Recently, I got 51.3 miles per gallon on my hybrid gas-electric Prius over
473 miles. That's NOW. Therefore, the VW Lupo is not "much better than a
Prius" and the Lupo will not be available until next year. Also, diesel
fuel costs 10-15 percent more than regular gasoline which makes the fuel
economy of the Prius better cost-wise . And, Toyota will add a plug-in
option to the Prius next year which will increase the miles per gallon even
further.
Stan Doore
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Palumbo" <mike@mikepalumbo.com>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:42 AM
Subject: [USMA:41211] RE: LTE - Hybrid & Diesel Economy Math
> For whatever it's worth, the new VW Lupo diesel does just over 3.2L / 100
> km. Very efficient indeed, much better than a Prius, and cheaper than one
> as well. It should hit North America next year as a 2010 model.
>
> I do think fully electric cars will be the obvious solution in the future,
> hydrogen has no distribution network, and the cost of petrol/diesel will
> continue to rise. Hybrids are likely to become a stop-gap solution as we
> increase battery efficiency, or for those who need long range commuting
> without recharging times.
>
> The one thing I do love about hybrids...regenerative braking. Seems so
> silly to lose all that kinetic energy in heat.
>
> -Mike
>
> brian@bjwhite.net wrote:
>> With all due respect to the hybrid jocks on this list, give me an
>> efficient and modern turbodiesel every time. 51mpg, that's fine. But
>> diesels do just as well, and most of the time better.
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: [USMA:41209] RE: LTE - Hybrid & Diesel Economy Math
>> From: "STANLEY DOORE" <stan.doore@verizon.net>
>> Date: Tue, June 24, 2008 8:13 am
>> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
>>
>> I understand that the cost of electrical propulsion cost for
>> cars is now about one quarter of that for gasoline and diesel only
>> vehicles. And, as batteries are expected to improve, the
>> difference will be even greater. Toyota is expected to have a
>> plug-in option next year and li-ion batteries will increase the
>> range. I recently got 51.3 mpg on a recent tank of regular
>> gasoline (473 miles). Also, electricity can be generated from
>> many different energy sources.
>> Stan Doore
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> *From:* title=wfp@wfpconsulting.com
>> <mailto:title=wfp@wfpconsulting.com> href=""http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose">wfp@wfpconsulting.com"
>> target=_blank mce_href="mailto:wfp@wfpconsulting.com">Bill Potts
>> *To:* title=usma@colostate.edu
>> <mailto:title=usma@colostate.edu> href=""http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose">usma@colostate.edu" target=_blank
>> mce_href="mailto:usma@colostate.edu">U.S. Metric Association
>> *Sent:* Monday, June 23, 2008 3:34 PM
>> *Subject:* [USMA:41203] RE: LTE - Hybrid & Diesel Economy Math
>>
>> Regarding your last paragraph, Stan, we mustn't forget that
>> plugging in and charging doesn't come free. You need to add
>> that component of your electricity bill to your total cost.
>> And, from an environmental point of view, we must remember
>> that most of the electricity in the U.S. is generated using
>> fossil fuels (particularly coal). Canada is, of course, much
>> better placed in that respect, in that most of their
>> electricity is produced by hydroelectric power stations
>> (which, although they don't pollute, do create their own
>> fairly serious environmental problems).
>> Bill
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Bill Potts
>> Roseville, CA
>> http://metric1.org/ [SI Navigator]
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> *From:* owner-usma@colostate.edu
>> <mailto:owner-usma@colostate.edu>
>> [mailto:owner-usma@colostate.edu] *On Behalf Of *STANLEY
>> DOORE
>> *Sent:* Monday, June 23, 2008 11:17
>> *To:* U.S. Metric Association
>> *Subject:* [USMA:41201] LTE - Hybrid & Diesel Economy Math
>>
>> "*/Hybrids and diesels save, but math can be tricky/*"
>> in the June 20 issue of The Washington Times explains
>> various elements to be considered in evaluating auto
>> purchases; however, they are not easy to use.
>> Consider standardizing on some basic numbers. For
>> example, use 10,000 km and 20,000 km (6200 miles and
>> 12,400 miles respectively) driven per year. Then use the
>> price of $4.00/gallon for gasoline and $4.50 for diesel
>> fuel to drive those distances. These round numbers
>> simplify the math and will help people to understand the
>> differences in savings quicker.
>> The keys are total distance driven, fuel used and the
>> cost of fuel. Although miles per gallon or km/L has
>> increased for new diesel fuel vehicles, it doesn't tell
>> the full story about the additional cost compared with
>> gasoline hybrids.
>> Hybrids with electric drive provide added torque and
>> better fuel economy than new diesel powered vehicles. And
>> with an electric plug-in option, hybrids will have even
>> better fuel economy compared with diesel only vehicles.
>> Stan Doore
>>
>
>
